NUMEROUS WRECKS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17078, 16 April 1927, Page 7

NUMEROUS WRECKS.

BSG DEATH ROLL REPORTED. AN AIRMAN TO THE RESCUE. (Australian and N.Z. Cabie Assn.) MADRID, April 14. Violent gales arc reported from Meliilu, on the north coast of Spanish Morocco. Numbers of vessels have been driven ashore or sunk in the Mediterranean, it was impossible to rescue the crews of the latter. A Greek steamer, tiic Nicolas Patcras, the crew of which is reported to have mutinied is aground in a dangerous position. A hospital ship, the Catilla, is almost a complete wreck. Hundreds of fishing and other vessels has been lost with many lives.

All traffic lias been stopped in Melilla and the business firms have closed their premises. The toivn is in darkness. The damage is estimated at more than £2,700,000. A message was received at Gibraltar saying: “Can you ask the Navy to help save the crew ol' the steamer Collingdaie?’’ This was sent by wireless by a Norwegian vessel, the Valto, which was herself aground off Melilla. The Admiral Superintendent despatched the destroyer Viscount to tow the Gibraltar lifeboat to the Collingdale, but this was impossible owing to the heavy seas. The Viscount therefore proceeded alone. An airman in a seaplane succeeded in dropping a line to th< Collingdale’s crew, who, after difficulty, were enabled f o leave the ship. A tempest of equal severity raged at other Mediterranean ports and numbers of vessels were wrecked. A cyclone at Malaga, on the south coast of Spain, destroyed many houses. A peculiar reddish-coloured rain fell in torrents. The customary Holy Week processions had to be abandoned.