SALVAGING OPERATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18339, 27 May 1931, Page 9

SALVAGING OPERATIONS.

JAPANESE BOAT SAVED. AN OUTSTANDING TEAT. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyright. FREMANTLE, May 26. Shipping authorities regard the refloating of the Japanese steamer Shunsei Maru, which was stranded on a reof at Point Cloates, 630 miles north of Fremantle, some months ago, as an outstanding salvaging feat. After blasting a channel with dynamite the salvage party laid seven anchors and connected them with the stranded vessel by. cables more than a mile to length. The ship was then drawn from the reef through a narrow channel into the open sea. The crew found It impossible to maintain a full head of steam and the' engines were stopped. The Shunsel Maru again- be'gafi to drift helplessly toward the reef. Her sole anchor, however,- was dropped, and held until she was taken In tow well out- to sea where she was able to proceed under her own steam to Sourabaya and was docked.

The Other stranded Japanese vessel, Chofuku Maru, which struck the same reef to trying to render assistance to the Shunsel Maru, was- burned to the water’s edge and Is now a complete wreok.

The Shunsel Maru was stranded at Point Cloates on February 8,- and the Chofuku Msiru,- which went to her assistance,- struck a reef 12 -miles from the sceife of the Shunsei Maru’s mishap. WRECK LOCATED. £1,000,000 IN’ GOLD ABOARD, United Press Assn.—Elec, Tel. Copyright. LONDON, May 26. The Dally Mail says that after a six hours’ search in the misty waters of the North Sea the mystery concerning the destination of the salvage ship Reclaimer has been solved. A few minutes after the Reclaimer had located the sunken Dutch vessel Turhantla,- for which she had been searching for about a week, Mr A. Lindsay, representing the salvagers, said diving would begin immediately. When the hulk has been examined it will be broken by means of gelignite fired electrically. The Reclaimer, which had been secretly fitted out, sailed from Sunderland With an expedition to search for gold bullion valued at more than £1,000,000 in the wreck of the Dutch steamer Turljantia, Which was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea in 1916, The Turhantla carried securities valued at millions of pounds as well as the bullion. They were intended for use to bolster up Germany’s credit in South America. The departure of the vessel in 1916 and her mission were kept so secret that a German submarine torpedoed her off the coast of Belgium.