BRITISH STEAMER SINKING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 1

BRITISH STEAMER SINKING

Seas Too Heavy for Rescue

TWO FREIGHTERS STAND BY

Storm in Mid-Atlantic

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 10.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Monday. FE liner France reports by radio that, owing to heavy seas and head winds, she is unable to aid the British freighter Volumnia, and is proceeding to New York. She is leaving the sinking ship with its crew aboard in mid-ocean, with two cargo boats standing by, unable to help.

The France’s brief message said her captain received the Volumnia's S.O.S. on Sunday, and went to her, but the sea was too rough for the lifeboats. After a radio conference with the Volumnia and two unnamed cargo boats, it wa. decided that, since the France carried mails and passengers, it should proceed. The Volumnia left Wales for Philadelphia and Boston on November 15, but was disabled the same day, and put back to Falmouth, whence she departed on November 18.

The Volumnia, a steamer of 5,60 S tons, was built in 1911 by Russell and Company, at Port Glasgow. She is owned by the Volumnia Steam Ship Company, and her port of registry is Glasgow.

FIFTH DAY OF STORM

ITALIAN STEAMERS SUNK BY TEMPEST LIVES LOST ON LAND British Official Wireless Reed. 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, Monday. The week-end weather exceeded in violence any experienced in England since accurate wind-speed records have been kept. The fifth day of storm is now here and the wind reaches gale force in gusts, while exceptionally heavy seas are still running round the coasts. The cross-Channel services were resumed this morning, despite high winds and seas. More than 30 large steamers, most of them with two anchors down, have been sheltering off Deal, and as already reported, numerous casualties have occurred to shipping. Some of the older members of the lifeboat crews, although exhausted by their ordeals, have refused to consider tlie suggestion that volunteers, plenty of whom were available, should take their places in the lifeboats. They, were responsible for saving numerous lives. During the week-end the British Royal Mail liner Arlanza, bound for Brazil, rescued the crew of the 5,000-ton Italian steamer Casmona in the Bay of Biscay, and the German steamship Hansa took off the Casmona’s captain. The Arlanza lost a boat during the rescue operations, but no casualties occurred. The Casmona was abandoned in a sinking condition. On the land, several people have been killed by falling trees and chimneys. The Hull steamer Britannic, tons, was adrift yesterday off the Pembrokeshire coast in the hurricane, which prevented the approach of a tug. French reports state that several steamers are in imminent danger oft the coast of Brittany. The Italian cargo vessel Chieri sank and six of her crew were rescued from rafts. The Cunarder Lancastria, 16,243 tons, en route to New York, was struck by lightning on Saturday. Her wireless and other electrical apparatus was disabled. The White Star liner Homeric, 34,351 tons, was hove to for some hours. The promenade deck, which is 60ft above the waterline, was swept and damaged.

The dry-dock Vulcan, of 11,000 tons, which tugs were towing from Hamburg to Rotterdam. waa caught in the tempest, and broken asunder. She sank and two of her crew periahed. The 111-fated Radyr. which was lost on the Devon coast, with her crew of 21, was the only steamer to put out from Cardiff In the teeth of Friday night’s gale. The wireless operator, Mr. Meredith, was sending out the S.O.S. call when the vessel foundered. His was the only body to be washed up. The liners bound for English ports have had the most terrific voyages of recent years. The velocity of the wind was sometimes as much as 108 miles an hour. Many of the Channel lifeboats are out and the harbours are crowded with damaged craft. LEONARDO DA VINCI SAFE The Italian steamer, Leonardo da Vinci, which is bringing the Italian art treasures for the London exhibition, reports by wireless that she Is quite safe, and is holding her own in the Bay of Biscay against a severe gale. She expects to reach London on Thursday afternoon. The high winds caused a rapid rise in the Thames and considerable floods at Maidenhead and elsewhere. The Ministry of Air predicts a continuance of the fierce weather. The Channel coasts are strewn with wreckage. The seas were lashed mountains high, and the wind left a trail of desolation across Southern England. Trees were uprooted, including 16 giants at Hampton Court over 200 years old. Telephone wires were wrecked and walls levelled. The Folkestone-Boulogne steamer services have been suspended since Friday. The Channel Islands have been cut off for four days. Wirelese stations are pfoktag up a stream of messages reporting damage and distress. The Tasmanian Transport reached Falmouth with her cabins flooded and boats smashed. The Cunarder Valacla, bound from Antwerp to New Zealand, has sent a wireless message saying the ship was unmanageable, and she has stopped until the gale moderates. Two seamen coming home for Christmas leave were washed off the destroyer Walpole between Portsmouth and Chatham and drowned.