THE SILENT NAVY.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5605, 30 April 1919, Page 2

THE SILENT NAVY.

HOW IT DID ITS WOBK STORY TOLD AT WELLINGTON A remarkable story of the silent Navy and bow it did its work in the great war was told by Captain G. Doorly, K.N.8., at the Wellington, Town Hall. Captain Doorly said he was pioud of the distiiutiou of having commanded the smallest troopship which bad made the longest voyage with troops, That was the Navua, and the trip was from Fort Chalmers to Plymouth (England). It was on that trip that the Navus was in convoy with the Mokoia and Aparima. Well off the English coast they fell in with a light cruiser, who told them that their convoy of destroyers had been detained in (port by ,bad weather. Under tbe circumstances there was nothing to do save Jo go on, so that there were three of them in the worst pari of the dapger zone entirely without protection. Just before the cruiser disappeared it signalled that the destroyers had left, and should be Jooked out for, Darkness fell, and all lights were put put. He wondered how they were to find the destroyers or the destroyers to find them under the circumstances. Then ho got a wireless signal to flash on hip-navigation lights, and as soou as be did so the navigation lights of three sniall steamers not a mile away could be seen—they were the dpstroyer#, who had picked them up in the dark. The signal came to “ douse lights,” and they stood on. Then a wifeless message was received—“ Is that the Navua?” Captain Doorly said he thought how wonderful it pll was. There was a little steamer all the way from Port Chalmers, picked up in the dark, and known at once (pr what it was. The leading destroyer asked for the where; abonls of the Mokoja. The rpply wap that she had slpanjod away ahead opt of sight. !he destroyer wept racing ahead, half-covered in spume, and m a minute or so whs lost to view.