PRECAUTIONS AT SEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 243, 14 October 1939, Page 10

PRECAUTIONS AT SEA

EXPERIENCE OF NEW ZEALANDERS L I I A description ot the precautions i taken at sea when travelling from J | Vancouver to New Zealand was sent I by a southern resident to a friend in ■ Wanganui.' The letter states that the vessel in ' which they were travelling was three • days out from Vancouver on its voyI age to New Zealand when the passengers were advised through the ship's newspaper that war had been declared. A later edition of the ’ newspaper contained a message from the captain of the ship which stated:--"As you are all aware, Great Bri-i I lain is at war. It is my duty to carry I lout all instructions to the letter. The I ship will be darkened until further nonce. Although we are in one of the ''safest oceans it does not say we [should relax or depart from instructions issued by the authorities in charge. Passengers can help me b, carry out these instructions by seeing that ail ports in the cabins are kept ! covered oy curtains and by refrain- ’ ing from smoking on deck during the hours of darkness." The passenger., were quite calm about it, but Uie news of the sinking ' of the British liner, Athenia, in Hie Atlantic heightened to a considerable extent the fears of all that German submarines or raiders mignt be roving the Pacific. Portholes were screwed down and either painted black or pasted over with biack paper. Doors

opening on deck were kept closed. The result was that passengers complained of the heat. “Dancing in the Dark” became ‘i reality instead of the title of an a1m0.4 forgotten song. Walking on the deck was made hazardous because one was liable to bump into some one. The red. 6 green and white lights which all ships 1 ordinarily display at night as a vvam--1 ing to other ships were extinguished. 1 Charts displayed on the vessel were removed so that passengers did not 1 know where they were, but many were of the opinion that the ship had veered ’ from its customary course. The life- " boats were prepared for instant use - The canvas covers were r-i.ioved and Lsea painters were attached. Sea paint* ‘ler.s were ropes fastened to the bow iof each lifeboat and also tied to th . (ship so that when the boots were low- ■ ered they would be unable to drift ■ away from the ship. The vessel arrived at Honolulu li hours ahead of schedule and no other vessels had been sighted after war ! had been declared. Before leaving' ■ Honolulu passengers had to be on j 1 board at a certain time. The exact ‘ time of sailing was not announced. I i Many passengers who had intended go-| ing further than Honolulu cancelled' ■ their plans and disembarked there.