BRITISH “MYSTERY” SHIP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15782, 2 April 1919, Page 9

BRITISH “MYSTERY” SHIP.

encounter with submarines f

.(Per United Press Association.!

AUCKLAND, April 2

Mr Westmore, chief officer of the Cuefic, now in port, is a brother of Lieut.-Commander Westmore, who was in command of the “mystery ship” whose exploit made Lieut.Commander W. B. Sanders ,V.C., famous. He states that his brother’s crew were all volunteers, and Sanders was second in command. At 6 a.m. they heard firing in the distance and afterei| their course. Presently they sighted two German submarines near a steamer which was carrying stores to Salonika. The steamer having been torpedoed, the crew bad taken to the boats. When the mystery schooner was close enough the commander of the nearest submarine ordered her to stop. Instead, the schooner lowered a boat containing about six men, who pulled as though they had abandoned tbe ship. Commander Westmore,. Lieut. Sanders, and some gunners lay concealed on the schooner. When she had drifted within 80 yards of the submarine she broke the White Ensign and fired her four guns at point blank range. The submarine was practically blown to pieces, and sank instantly. A second submarine attempted to attack the schooner, but received a second salvo from her guns at 400 yards. The enemy craft disappeared below the surface and was not seen ajafiin. The steamer was not vitally damaged, and her crew returned on board and took her to port with the schooner in tow. Commander Westmore received the D.S.O. and the chief gunner received the D.i.C. Lieut. Sanders was' also decorated and given command of the mystery ship on which he eventually gained the V.C.