HOW THE ADMIRAL ESCAPED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12284, 5 April 1918, Page 7

HOW THE ADMIRAL ESCAPED.

Admiral Limpus’s Adventure with the Turks. Admiral Sir Arthur Limpus, who recently received his K.C.M.G. from the hand's of his Majesty at Buckingham Palace, had a curious and interesting experience at Constantinople at the time when the Turkish Government went over to Germany against the Allies. Sir Arthur, it will he recalled, was lent to the Ottoman Government a few years ago by the British Admiralty for the purpose of reconstructing the Turkish Navy. When Admiral Limpus went out to Constantinople he took with him a staff of British officers, and during the few years of their residence in the Sultan’s capital thn relations between all those gentlemen and the high officials of the Sultan’s entourage were very cordial. WHEN THE SULTAN’S DECISION CAME. Tire Admiral himself became on very friendly terms with his neighbours, most of them pashas and beys of the old school, ox-officers, some of- them, living in affluent retirement, and tacitly at least opposed to the politics of Enver Pasha and his associates. One or two of these gentlemen, indeed, had boon educated in England, and all were quietly British in their sympathies. There were, however, other members of th's aristocratic Turkish community who were openly anti-British, and with them the English Admiral’s relations were purely formal and almost strained. Then came the- time when the Sultan's decision to join our enemies showed itself irrevocable, and Sir Arthur Limpus and the officers of bis staff, having tendered their resignation, prepared to have Constantinople. Hostilities had not yet begun. A FRIENDLY WARNING. On thn eve of embarking the Admiral was surprised to receive a- visit from one of the most anti-British of all his neighbours. But be was still more astonished when his visitor nervously disclosed the object of his call. It was. bo explained, his desire to give Sir Arthur a friendly but earnest warning. ‘‘ The v essels of this steamship company,” he said, “are bad seacraft and not well found. Sometimes even they are far from safe. My master (a friend of Enver Pasha’s) desires me to express to you his earnest hope that yon will not embark to-morrow on the sliip. It is unlikely that she will have a prosperous voyage. •‘Ho further desires me to say that be tenders you this advice merely as from one gentleman to another.” The intimation was received ns it had been intended. Much of the baggage of the, English travellers was left on board the steamer, but themselves were missing when the vessel sailed,at dawn, and were instead steaming merrily down the Marmora in a launch lent them for the purpose. They passed safely through the Dardanelles and were taken on board a British ship that met (hem outside. The steamship carrying (heir luggage met. with an accident. She unaccountably blew up and sank inside the straits, not tar from Gallipoli,