Pacific Liner Survives

4 Years of War

A PUBLICATION received recently in Australia gives late information about a ship well-known to people of the Pacific Territories—a fast, hand some vessel which took care of passen gers, mails and cargo. She was built onlv five years ago.

When war broke out, she left the South Seas and became one of the Admiralty’s armed merchantmen. For a couple of years, she did good service—mostly con voys—on the West Coast of Africa.

When the great invasion fleet was assembled, to carry the British and American armies into North Africa, “This Ship” was part of the armada which went to Algiers. There was a boom across the harbour. A destroyer smashed the boom, but was herself inca pacitated. A second destroyer entered, but had to retire.

Then “This Ship” attacked, and got successfully inside. But the electrical system between bridge and engine-room was damaged in the shooting; the engin eers did not receive the “Slow Ahead”; and “This Ship” crashed into the con crete pier to the depth of seven feet.

All available tow-boats were engaged for two days in pulling her off. She came off without a leak, and her own engin eers effected necessary repairs. All the time, she continued to act as a flag-ship, and as parent-ship for disabled smaller craft.

Later, “This Shin” carried many important people to the Casablanca Con ference. * She has come through such dangerous times and hazardous waters that we now may hope that she will sur vive, again to plough the peaceful blue seas around our recovered Pacific islands.