CABLE NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

THE STORY OF A SINKING

(■'OKIEL," in .Melbourne "Argus.") Jt'.s a wav we have in the Navy Olfice.

Monday. The mails despatched to Australia by R.M.S. Malvolio have been lost in the. Indian Ocean. (Note.--This is not to he taken in any way as implying that misfortune has overtaken the Ma'.vofio. Possibly the mails wero blown overboard, or else the captain may havo staked them at bridge and lost 'them in that way.)

Tuesday.—Two boatloads of passengers from "the Malvolio, including several Australians, are reported to have arrived at Bombay. (Xnie. —The practice of encouraging aquatic sports in midocean has long boon a. tradition of the X. and V. Steam Navigation Company. It is gratifying to find Australians occupying so many positions in the winning crews.) \Vcdnosday.--The Malvolio's pas> sengers will rut urn to Australia by a. steamer from Singapore. (Note.---The foregoing message would seem to hullcat,, that the .Malvolio has been requisitioned by the Admiralty for war purposes.) Thursday.—A Bombay message says that the" masts of the JNlalvolio are just visible at low tide. (Note. It is hard to imagine why the .Malvolio should have anchored so far below the. horizon. Possibly the monsoons prevalent at this time of the year have prevented her berthing closer to the quay.; Friday.- - Divers have commenced salvage operation on the sunken .Malvolio. (Note. -The cable message does not specifically stale which .Malvolio is referred to. Lloyd's Register for ISIo mentions a Malvolio, a, schooner ot 1.57 tons, employed by Messrs Chutney and Pickles in their curry powder trade. Possibly so old a. vessel may have been sunk purposely as a menace to floating mines. In any case, the ship mentioned in the message should on no account be confused with the well-known X. and Y. mail boat, of the same name, which is now on her way out to Australia.; Saturday.—"We are now authorised to release tho following item of news for publication by the Press: — '•'The X. and Y. liner Malvolio has been sunk in the Indian Ocean. The censor also states that Queen Anne, is dead, but, if is not known whether she was among the passengers or not."