10
By Torpedoman
Albert E. Pratt
One of the crew of H.M.S.
Natal at the time of
the disaster
T is said that the two beetling headlands, -scarcely a mile spart, which form the bottle-neck opening to Cromarty Firth in Scotland, are called "The Sutora," because on the crest of each there used to live a cobbler with only one last between the two of them.
This, says legend, they shared by throwing it bacitwards and forwards an required"sutor" being the Latin and an old Scottish word for cobbler.
But, whatever you may think of this local lore, there can be no doubt that nowhere on the
coast
of Great Britain is there a better protected or more sequestered natural harbour.
was
Thin 19 the reason Cromarty Firth
one of the most impor- tant naval basca during the war. Some of the swiftest and most vital naval dramas had their beginning in that. twenty-mile stretch of water with the straggling burghs of In- vergordun
the one side and Cromarty on the other.
on
A Pulse of the War
The Admiralty was constantly in touch with this northern stronghold, for sometimes the entire High Sea Fleet would be moored there In readiness for action.
Special trains often left London secretly in the middle of the night and riced non-stop over those 700 miles that lay between London and Invergordon carrying with them munitions, food supplies, and not infrequently some of the big rinval chiefs in a special saloon conch at- tached to the rear.
Cromarty Firth was one of the pulses of the war.
An urgent message flashed from -'one of the Sea Lords in London
would in a few minutes send squadron of our greatest ships steam- ing between "The Sutors."
Towards the end of 1915 there considerable movement in the
Was
Firth.
"The Sutors" had been fortified. A mine-loading station had been established at a local distillery. A Jine of oil tanks for the refuelling of the great men-o'-war of the Fleet stretched for a quarter of a mile along the northern shore.
were
The water was dotted with every description of craft. There battleships and cruisers, dentroyers and submarines, torpedo-boats and aircraft carriers, mine-layers and minesweepers, and auxillary craft of various kinds-eighty to a hundred In all
Canadian
Trans-Pacific
Empress of Japan Empress of Canada Empress of Russin Empress of Asia Trans-Canada
The Dominion Soo-Dominion Train 2
Trans-Atlantic Empress of Britain Empress of Australia Duchess of Atholl Duchess of Bedford Duchess of Richmond Duchess of York-
Montcalm
Montrose
Montclare
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MONDAY, JANUARY
1937.
SPARE MOMENT PAGE
TO-DAY IN THE PAST
The Story Of The
Blowing-Up
of
H.M.S Natal
in
To-day a naval man tells of the blowing up the Cromarty Firth on New Year's Eve, 1915, of the armoured cruiser Natal. Four hundred persons on board were killed.
Among the medley of craft an- chored off Cromarty was the 13,500 tons armoured cruiser Natal, one of the last ship of the pre-Dreadnought age.
She had been built a good many years before at a cost of £1,218,244, including her six D.2 and four 1.5 guns, and, normally she carried complement of 704 officers and men, On the morning of December 30 there was a good deal of activity aboard the ship, for it was known that the commissioned ranks were giving a New Year party that sume afternoon to which their brother nflcers from other boats had been invited, as well as friends and re- fations living on shore and nurses from the hospital ships,
fact that the party, excepting a number of 'helpers from the non- commissioned ranks, was only for offlers and their friends, we non-
ones had our commissioned
own particular pastime football match Cromarty between the petty officers and men of the Natol.
After the match I happened to take a look at the Natal, which Ing below the playing held alongside her sister ships-the Shannon, the Cochrane, and the Achilles.
t
A proud "ronelad" she looked, indeed, with the Union Jack flut- fering from her musthead. I won- dered how the party was going and if the children were enjoying them-
And it was at this moment that there occurred a sight that froze the blood in my velns, that lives with me to this day in nightmares-a sight that set me shouting to my hes footimil friends and impelled The and all to rush pellmell down to the
The cook had been ordered to prepare a special feast, with all the customary dishes and delicacies of celebration, and the officers' quarters were gally decorated with flags, bunting and coloured balloons, ship's band was to play and there waterside. was to be dancing, a cinema show also was included in the programme, and games for the children, of whom a number were to be present.
Lord Jellicoe en Sie Jellicoe -- und Lady Jellicoe, who were at Invergordon, had been sent an. Invitation, and were expected aboard the Natal during the festivities.
one
A tower of sickly yellow flame had suddenly shot up from the aft of the ship.
It
It leaped above the masthend. Jolin seemed even to dwarf'the mountains
in the background.
I remember that day very well- dull and dry, with a cold wind sweeping across the Firth from the
It struck terror to the hearts of all who saw it-and they say its
THOM
launch. He gripped the rope with was in harbour 'trim with all her Black Isle, us they call Cromarty-
thus drawn to water-tight doors open. to port. Over, over she blowly went, his teeth and was
and the surrounding locality, is Those of her crew and others who safety,
No one will ever be able to relate constantly reminded of the tragic Not one of the civilians who had what actually happened in those fate of that proud ship and those had by then reached the deck slid
who were aboard in the grim. into the water like beans from a gone aboard the cruiser, however, few terrible minutes.
None in fact, has was to be seen. shavel.
Of those who were in the very monument that every day emerges none survived, from the water when the tide ebbs. Same who managed to cling on ever been found from that day to heart of the ship to the ship's fixtures made frantic this.
they were alive after for even
Then the long line of the Natal's No doubt they were imprisoned in the explosion their escape was cut "bilge" keel can be, plainly seen. ciforts to scramble up the repldly
Glumn- the ship where the party was being off through the concussion steepening deck,
several feet above the protruding Further, further she wont, til her held
ming and jamming the doors of water ice the humped back of m Perhaps they were already dead the interlor gangways... them open beacon to safeguard roll touched the water with her bilge
whale, surmounted each end by a before, the ship sanie, for although,
kad to hack Salvors
shipping keel pointing heavenwards,
For a moment she lay there, while considering the magnitude of the when working on the ship.
channel. straggling line of survivors foun- disuster, the detonations were com- Of those who were picked out There she lies, masts downwards, dered on her slimy bull
paratively small, it was apparent to the water alive shortly after the at a slight angle which brings up Yet another explosion from her when salvage work on the boat be disaster every one was, too dazed her "bilge", keel squarely from the depths co muffled that it seemed gan same years later that the force of to give a coherent story. In all 428 water's surface.. there like the dull throb of a pulse the concussion must have been terri- officers,
Occusionally men, nurses and civilians -and with Q great shudder the fic.. Natal had disappeared.
in the
the ferryman who... were lost. A number of survivors plies between Cromarty and Inver- The entire stern of the ship was later succumbed from their injuries. Fordon will leave his usual line of It all happened in less than five found to be missing. Divers dis- Many stories of miraculous escapes route and draw up alongside the minutes. So short had been the covered pieces of her propellers on were told, One man ashore missed ship to enable a relative, a passenger enactment of this great disaster that the bed of the Firth many yards away the launch which would have put in his boat, reverently to place a one felt it to have been unreal from the wreckage.
him aboard the Natal five minutes wreath of flowers on her wave- the grotesque hallucinations of some This surprising disparity between before the disaster.
washed wreckage. haunting nightmare.
noise and damage la probably because the explosion was well down in the ship below the waterline.
Nothing but a seething mass of white form to mark the spot, dotted with patches of struggling human beings who had survived.
Saved by Teeth
An immediate rush to the rescue
Submarine: Theory
Many theorles were advanced to ecident in the town. He tried to the salvage work, will come acros9
account for the disaster.
An Invergordon doctor and his wife
were among these invited.
Razor Blades Now They were about to tcuve their house for the Natal when a telephone way about her
Sometimes a diver, groping his message called the doctor to
watery barnacle- un bung corridors in connection with persuade his wife "not to miza the an ominous heap of bleached bones. fun," and precede him. to the party. At first it was thought that a lie would follow later. She, how is at once given to the remains
A naval funeral with full honours was made by every available craft. enemy submarine had are over, insisted on waiting his return There was
string of tender, cluding, the defences of The Sutors from his case. Before he came back the metal has been going slowly Meanwhile work on salvaging flash was noticed ten miles away launches, and tugs, followed by a and passed between them in it for her the Natal had disappeared. at Fortrose, despite the daylight. It flotilla of rowing, boats and dinghies Firth, but this view was subsequent- The news that Sir John and ironical trick of fate
ahead for some years, and by an was unmistakably the flash of burn-
whose carsmen pulled feverishly. ly dismissed, because it was unlikely Lady Jellicoe
the heavy ing cordite.
aboard under-water craft could
the pintes of high tensile stoel that were cruiser Almost
spread through The scenes in the water as boats that any there simultaneously
the town, intended to protect her from the of mines laid at the entrance to the fortunately, unable at the terrible. Many of the survivors were
Firth.
last. being cut and ground into blades for dreadfut injuries caused no doubt by striving to keep up despite their
minute to attend the celebrations. Another conjecture was that an
safety razors.
help came. the explosion. Many sank before enemy agent had Introduced an in- fernal muchine into one of the after magazines.
were
norih, and causing the smaller of sounded a deep, rumbling explosion." drew alongside were indescribably have safely negotiated the networks but as it happened they were, attacks of her adversaries, are now
the craft rhythmically to rock in
the grey, ruffled ́waters.
Proud "Ironclaď” Shortly after noon a large num- ber of the men left the ship, myself among them, for, apart from the
Luxury with economy by the "Sunshine Route" via Honolulu or the "Direct Express Routo" to Vancouver. Re- nowned meals and service.
. Cheerful informality and gala evening partics.
Air-conditioned sleeping cors and observation cars on all Trans-Continental trains... Cool Clean -- Quiat --- Comfortable.. Uniform temperature
Rogular sailings from Canadian Atlantic ports to Europe by Canadian Pacific Atlantic fleet,
All under one management.
Information from Union Building.
Telephone 20752
Canadian Pacific
TRAVEL A.-O. LINE
TƏ AUSTRALIA, Calling at Manila, Thursday Is., CAIRNS. Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
CHANGTE TAIPING
British Steamers:
(Oil Bumors) FASTEST & MOST UP-TO-DATE STEAMERS IN THE SERVICE OPEN AIR SWIMMING POOL
ELECTRIC LAUNDRY, BARBER SHOP, SURGEON
AND STEWARDESS CARRIED.
Enjoy Your Leave in Australia, and Now Zealand: Hong Kong to Sydney-10 Days.
FIRST CLASS FARE TO SYDNEY, 576 RETURN
STEAMER TAIPING CHANGTE
TAIPING
LONDON (vis Australia) from £127.18. apple Lansiralian Newspapers on file).
1 Feb.
Dne X'Kong Leaves H Kong Leaves Manila. Due Sydney
7. Jan., 9 Fob 9 Mar. 16 Mar CHANGTE' 0. Agr. 16 Apr.
13 Feb
16 Jan..
10-Mar.
3 Mar. 4. AUT. 7 Mny:"
AUSTRALIAN-ORIENTAL LINE, LIMITED.
Sailings subject to alteration without notice..
For Freight or Passage, apply to
Butterfield
KUNDEN
Swire, Agents Hong Kong Chino-Japan
(olėphona 303323
that, by reason of its remoteness, seemed to come from the depth of the sea.
It was followed by two sharper explosions. The vessel immediately swung and swayed
There was one man whose hands in alarming fashion.
had been blown off. A rope was Then she suddenly began to heef thrown th him by a rescue party in e
BARBER-WILHELMSEN LINE
MONTHLY SERVICE
To
NEW YORK
Via SAN FRANCISCO; LOS ANGELES & PANAMA CANAL PORTS.
NEXT SAILING
M.S. "TAI YIN"
on
18th JANUARY. EXCELLENT ACCOMMODATION. FOR 12 PASSENGERS.
DODWELL & CO., LTD.
Agents,
Hongkong Bank. Bldg.
THE
Telephone 28021-
SWEDISH EAST ASIATIC
TRAVEL BY THE
SWEDISH MOTORSHIPS
TO..
MARSEILLES
FOR
£47.
M.V. “TAMARA”, sailing M.V. "PEIPING" sailing M.V."""NAGARA" sailing M.V. "NANKING" sailing M.V. "SHANTUNG" : sailing
6th 6th
Jan.. Feb.
6th Mar. 6th April, 5th May
Agents:
LTD.
G. E. HUYGEN,
Canton.
Yet the magazines and shell rooms which it was assumed had exploded and caused the ship to sink were “found"Intact“by the salvorg. ̈ ̄\~~~~~~~~
Even their cordite charges and projectiles were discovered still in their places.
The theory which gained greatest ground was that an internal machine set to explode at a given hour was introduced into the ship's coal bunk- ers. The fact that the Natal had returned from a Liverpool only £1 few days before the decking disaster, and it
it wha
that the dock notorious Bates were unguarded an outbreak that even eighteen
month comparatively cusis of war it was n
mutler for any one to board vessels in the muise of workmen, coupled with the coincidence that the other two battleships destroyed by internal explosions during the war-the Vun- guard and the Bulwark--were coal- burning ships, lent a certain credence to the theory.
Moreover, it was well known that during the war Germany produced skilfully camouflaged bombs to rc- semble blocks of coal, oli drums and parts of ship's gear in readiness for. the opportunity to "plant" them in British battleships.
Yet another hazard as to the cause of the disuster discussed at the time was that the cinematograph_flim that was
been shown to have accidentally caught alight and ignited the explosives aboard.
But this has since been discounted by the discovery by divers of the Bim, quite, intact, stelps of which practically every one in the rounding towns and villages now possesses as a souvenir,
sur-
Wonderful Escapes
Perlaps the most feasible ́ ́ ́ex- planations that in some way ane of the magazines became
ignited and exploded, Immediately flooding the others. This would account for the salvors finding them intact.:
This theory is most possibly correct, since the Natal at the time
WAKE UP YOUR
LIVER BILE
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS.
10
12
19
25
31
13
tag: 13
14
16
ACROSS
1 A naval battle here would 'bo
paradoxical.
5 The golfer who buys this is con- cerned with the sphere of
economy
9 Things In this are probably
wanted.
19 These flatten the sands.
I Put the rate around in the wrong way...and the result is hard.
12 An architectural feature that
changed the fashion,
13 Where America fakes stock
(two words).
15 Double.
17 "Star tie" (anng.): 19 An old master. 22 May, perhaps.
25 A stalement that might clear.
up a 24 down.
20 This in bed is indeed fortunate,
WITHOUT CALOMEL 20 A nautical cord.
And You'll Jump Out of Bad. Foel- ing You Could Pash & Bus Over The liver about pour out two pinta ot Hanid bills into your bowale daily. If this bils in not flowing freely your food doesn't digest It just decars in the bowela. Can bioate up Four stomach. You get constipated. Your whole system is polarned and you feel sour, aunk and the world looks punk
Bolle, try delika, palatable laxatives and ham purgatives are makeshifts. A mare bowel movement doesn't get at the cause. It. -inkes the farmasin, sure acting Carter's Luttia. Liver Flija la met those two, pints at bile dowing freely and make you feel hp and. op". Harleia, senlie; put umasing in mak Ing ble now free. Ask for Larlar Title Liver Filla. Look for the namo. Carter's o No pock
29 Reports of this are rife in war. 30 An expressive part of 22 down, 31 "He heats" (anog.). 32.This vehicle has a distinct rotary
movement in it..
DOWN
1 Semi-precious stone,
2. Cool mob makes a hot town. 3'Worry,
4 This may be all over the frull 5. A colléellon to make Bill Sikes'
mouth water.
It's a cool customer that has this." quality.
A growing concern.
T7
4
123
124
PAU
332
It has wings, but cannot fly; it has flies that cannot take wing.
14 Neutralise with suggestion of
salc.
10 A personal query.
18 Part of 15 across.
10 Companions, of combs.
20 A sorry performance, so to
speak.
21. Think of what is left, and it
will be right.
22 This is conveyed here, but not
even in the middle.
23 An amateur of arresting power. 24 A puzzling thing this." 27 Italian river..
#
Saturday's Solution, MAKING PROVERBS
DUTAGE GUMPTION 8 0NESG HILDA UNDERMINE IE RUT-BI N R P LEAD TORYX
6 N LEE BOA
TYP FL ROUE;
A. | M5 XOLD N
U
8 E AURCHIN SHEB. 6NIO GT B UPTODATE PIGEON RIGE CA EASTERLY SKILLY
Page 10Page 11