As Ship Sin[?]
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Dramatic Save As Ship Sin[?]
From our Noumea Correspondent I The loss of the “Volontaire”, j miles off Mare Island, was caul by her having struck a submerg object. Her captain and part-own Captain H. Helbig, has revealed b in Noumea.
THE Volontaire sank on June (see Shipping section, p. 10 There are no casualties—thanks quick action by the Navy plus a laj slice of luck.
Captain Helbig said he didn’t knr what the object was. It slid along bottom to the stern, where it da aged the rudder sleeves and letj water. This was at 4.30 a.m., s an SOS was sent at 8.30 when it v found the pumps couldn’t handle water.
The deck cargo was thrown ov board—it included 74 drums of pet two tons of corrugated iron and shipment of timber. A Fleet , Arm Lancaster stood by ready i drop rafts if necessary. The rest ship arrived just as the last put packed up, and picked up passeng and crew from lifeboats. An h« later the Volontaire turned over, s sank within two minutes.
Cargo valued at three mill francs was lost with her, and oc some of it was insured. It incluu two cars and 90 tons of cement.
• Ocean Island Strife
Gilbert and Ellice Islands phosphd labourers on Ocean Island struck ; June 7 for the second time siii April. They returned to work j June 13. A report said the stroke v a “minor affair, caused by a m understanding”. (See p. 125.)