THE GERMAN RAIDER.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14650, 2 March 1918, Page 5

THE GERMAN RAIDER.

SINKING OF THE WAHtTJNA.

I FIRST OFFICER'S STORY

(Australian and N. Z. Cable Association)

London, Feb. 28

The Australian Press1 Association secured interviews with passengers on the Igotzmendi.

Mr Thomas Rees, .first officer of the Wairuna, said the vessel was going to San Francisco on March 31st, when aeroplares suddenly stopped ier south of the Kemaras Islands.

The aeroplanes were sent by tte Wolf, which was lying at back of the islands.

The Wairuna's crew of 42 were taken on board the Wolf sand the Wairuna was^unk.

During the cruise Mr Rees saw tie Wolf sink nine ships, of which some were neutrals. Two of the Wairuna's officers escaped one night when the Wolf was anchored near the Kemaras Islands. Subsequently 160 prisoners from the sunken steamers were locked up for 28 days in tte hold, and only allowed fresh air for one hour daily. They suffered terribly in the tropical heat.