DEEDS OF DARING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16032, 24 January 1920, Page 5

DEEDS OF DARING.

ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND. BOTTLING GERMAN SUBMARINES, New Zealand people realise very little of the great services rendered to the Dominion as well as other parts of the Empire during the war by the Royal Navy. The heroic feats of arms when the Navy bottled np the harbours of Zeebrugge and Ostend were marvellous exploits, illustrating to the fullest British seamanship, resourcefulness, endurance and courage. Last night at the Opera House the story of these two deeds of daring was related in clear, direct language by one who was there. Lieutenant -Commander R. Bourke, Y.C., D.S.O. The story simply told, with no attempt at anything theatrical, illustrated with 140 fin© lantern slides taken from Allied official photographs or photographs captured from Germans, brought to those who were privileged to hear it a greater realisation of what the Navy has done for us. The Mayor presided, and in a few brief and appropriate words introduced the lecturer of the evening.

THE DOVER PATROL,

Lieutenant-Commander Eourke first of all described the work of the Dover Patrol, and the means adopted from time to time to defeat the Huu submarines and destroyers. Drifters, destroyers, monitors and motor launches, in the latter of which services Lieu-tenant-Commander Eourke served, all played their part in this patrol, and a heroic part it was, too. A submerged net with contact mines attached was stretched from the Goodwin Sands across the Channel to near Dunkirk and then up the coast towards Ostend and Zee'll rugge. This prevented submarines from coming south through the Cniumel under water, and a ceaseless watch day and night blocked them from slipping through on the surface. They could still yo round the north of Scotland and harass the Atlantic shipping, until their bases were rendered useless by tho blocking operations. BOTTLING OPERATIONS. On April 23rd, 1918, simultaneous raids were made on Ostend harbour and the entrance to the Zeebmgge-Brugca canal. The latter was completely successful, but the former was not so owing to ihe Germans having shifted a guiding buoy and misleading the navigators of the hlockships, Brilliant and Sirius, which grounded away from the harbour entrance before they could regain their course. At their own wish the commanders of these block ships made a second attempt on May 10th, in spite of tho fact that the Huns were forewarned and prepared and could train 100 guns on the ships. Ifioutenant-Com-mander Bourlce ga-vo 3 full description of these operations and spoke particularly of several individual heroic exploits of New Zealanders who participated in th© attacks. Sixteen hundred volunteers were called for and 3500 responded. The men who were picked received special training in secret. THRILLING EXPLOITS AT ZEEBRUGGE. The lecturer first dealt with the Zeebrugge raid. The canal entrance was sheltered by a concrete mole 80 yards wide and a mile long, which was connected with the land hy a steel viaduct. The canal was to be blocked by sinking in its entrance the Thetis, the Intrepid and the Iphigenia. Near the seaward end of the mole was a sin battery, and on the lighthouse extension were smaller guns, while the coast defences comprised 225 guns, of which 136 were of from six to 15inch calibre. As the block ships had to pass within point blank range of the mole it was considered necessary to put the 5-inch battery out of action. Landing parties on the Vindictive, the Iris and the Daffodil were given this task. Motor launches were told off to pick up the crews of the block ships after they had been sunk. The shore batteries were bombarded by monitors and destroyers. At 11.50 p.m. the Vindictive emerged from the smoke screen and headed for the mole under terrific fire. The mole was reached at 12.1 a.m., just one minute after scheduled time, and three or four minutes later the Daffodil and Iris appeared, and the former pushed the Vindictive against the mole while the landing party, carrying Lewis guns, rifles and bombs, forced their way from the swaying deck up specially built gangways (of which 12 out of 14 had been shot away) to the top of the mole, 30 feet above. The Iris attempted to effect a landing further in, but was beaten off and then landed her men over the Vindictive. The battery was out of action when the three block ships rounded the mole.

The Thetis led, but through fouling protective nets with her propeller, grounded somewhat prematurely. The Intrepid got inside the canal, and the Iphigenia completed the blockage, blowing her sinking charges at 12.45 a.m. The rescue of the crews by M.L, 282 was a wonderful performance. At 12.50 the recall was sounded from the Vindictive, and in ten minutes every survivor had left the mole and the vessels withdrew from the scene of their glory. 'SUBLIME COURAGE. Perhaps the most inspiring instance of heroism in the Zeebrugge raid was provided by six men on the obsolete submarine C 3, which, loaded with explosives equal to 40 German mines, was deputed to breach the steel viaduct and cut off the mole from the shore. If a shell had struck the submarine a terrific explosion would have occurred and the men knew it. The chances of their coming back alive were almost negligible, hut they ran their craft at a speed of nine knots against the steel framework of the viaduct, while a line of Huns above grinned and thought they had trapped the submarine. The fuse was lit, and under heavy fire the crew, several of them disabled, launched a boat and pulled away. By a miracle they escaped to a distance of 200 yards before what was probably the largest explosion ever deliberately caused in naval warfare occurred, and the Huns and a length of 120 feet of the viaduct shot up into the air. The submarine crew were rescued.. THE OSTEND RAIDS. . It was in connection with the Ostend raids that Lieut.-Commander Bourke received his decorations. On the first occasion his launch took a prominent part in rescuing the crews of the stranded ships, though the speaker made very email reference to his part

in the exploits. The Vindctivo, then remitted, and the Sappho were deputed as block ships on the second occasion (May 10) but by the fortune of war, not enemy action, the latter broke down on the way, and could not take part. The Vindictive carried on alone, and in consequence of a change of wind diverting smoko screens, missed the harbour entrance at the first attempt, Naturally the surroundings were far from peaceful, but Commander Goodsall felt about until tho piers were sighted, and the vessel ran in between them and was sunk, hut did not completely block the entrance. The commander was killed on leaving the armoured conning tower at the last moment in order to more effectually place his craft. Lieut.-Commander Bonrke’s launch was in reserve in case of mishap to other rescuing launches. When tho launch that nad picked up the Vindictive’s crew came out of the harbour he could not hear whether her commander said he had or had not picked up all survivors. Accordingly M.L. 276 was put into the harbour, and while she was cruising about Lieut.-Commander Bourke heard shouts and _ eventually discovered three men clinging an overturned boat. The return journey was beset with many dangers which were bravely overcome. On the motion of Mr A. G. BignelL a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Lieut.-Commander Bourke iog hi> instructive and interesting address.