SHIPS RESPOND TO SOS CALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19987, 20 December 1934, Page 9

SHIPS RESPOND TO SOS CALL

NOBLE TRADITIONS OF THE SEA

BATTLE AGAINST GREAT STORM British Official Wireless RUGBY, December 18. Ships of three nations, four of them great liners, to-day raced through a violent Atlantic gale to the help of the Norwegian steamer Sisto, of 1120 tons, which sent out distress calls. The Sisto was on a voyage from Quebec to Europe and a message from her stated: “Need urgent assistance; rudder apparently broken; hurricane, and tremendous sea. The ship is drifting broadside to the wind. The lifeboats were washed away and the bridge partly smashed.” The Norddeutscher-Lloyd liner Europa and three United States vessels, the Washington, Manhattan and President Harding, together with the s.s. New York, the Canadian-Pacific Company’s Beuverdale, and the Vacuum Oil Company’s tanker Mobiloil, the last two registered in London, answered the call. Terrific Weather. The weather was such that the President Harding, 14.000 tons, had to heave to, and the Manhattan 24,000 tons could only make ten knots. When the Washington arrived she found the British tanker Mobiloil already standing by the Sisto, pumping oil to the windward of her. The Mobiloil signalled —Urgent need for vessels with more oil, as her supply was insufficient. The Sisto’s crew wished to be taken off. A later message stated that the s.s. New York was nearing the scene. British Coasts Swept. Rough weather was also experienced round the British coasts to-day and the Wulmer, Deal and Lowestoft lifeboats answered calls from coasting craft in distress.