ESCORTING FLEET FINDS THE NAUTILUS DRIFTING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 188, 10 August 1931, Page 1

ESCORTING FLEET FINDS THE NAUTILUS DRIFTING.

Submarine Reaches Port After Receiving Help.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received August 10, 9.30 a.m.) TROMSOE, August 9. A steamer bearing the reception committee, and scores of fishing boats which went out to escort Sir Hubert Wilkins’s submarine Nautilus to harbour, found her drifting owing to damage to her electric steering gear. After receiving assistance the Nautilus reached the quayside, which was gaily decorated with Rags.

The Nautilus broke down in midAtlantic on June 14 while on her way to begin her great adventure under the Polar ice. She was towed into Cork harbour on June 23 with her bridge swept away and with many of her crew in a state of exhaustion. She was towed for 1500 miles by the United States warship Wyoming, which took charge of her when the engine breakdown occurred. Ten miles from Cork harbour the tug Morsecock took over the towage from the Wyoming and brought the submarine into port.

Sir Hubert Wilkins was on the submarine’s deck, taking photographs while the vessel waited for the tug. He looked up from his camera to say

“ All’s \ >ll ” to inquirers who had gone out in motor-boats. One of the crew of the Nautilus said: “ It has been an extremely trying time for us all. Many of us were frightfully ill on the journey over here, and even now I feel almost poisoned by the fumes from the exhausts. “ Towards the end of last week we ran short of bread and meat, but the Wyoming gave us some provisions. “ One member of the crew offered £lO to a small boat which came alongside us once for a bottle of beer or a glass of water. Some of us would have been willing to pay that even for an orange. “ While heavy seas swept over us we were cooped up inside, and were almost suffocated by the fumes.”