Magnificent Behaviour of Crew of Poseidon London, July 7.
'A tale of heroism was told in the House of Commons this afternoon when Mr, A. V, Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, read a report Hfrom the Commantter-in-Chief of the China Station on the recent sinking lof, the British submarine Poseidon Joft Weihaiwei, The report related the story of the magnificent behaviour of the men who were cut loft from their fellows in the fore part of the vessel, most of who were eventually saved.
When the order was given to close the watertight doors Petty Officer Willis and the Torpedo Gunner's: mate took charge of the men in the forepart of the vessel. The electric lighting installation was put out of faction by the collision and the men had to work in darkness, relieved by the occasional gleam of an electric Willis first conducted prayers and then ordered his companions to put on the Davis escape apparatus. He then opened the valves to flood the compartment in erder to equalise pressure and enable the men to escape, Wh the compartment was slowly filling he kept the men in good spirits and at the same time another of the crew instructed a Chinese boy in the use of the escape apparatus and enabled him to save his life, Although Willis knew the oxygen was exhausted he reassured all his comrades, declaring there was plenty left, thus keeping the men cheerful Finally, after over two hours, the hatch was opened and two men'shot to the surface, One died immediate but the other, who was himself exhausted, supported the body until both were picked uy 'After a further hour, when the men were neck-deep in' water, the hatch was reopened and four more surface and Were picked up.
Mr. Alexander, in paying tribute to the fortitude' of Willis and his companions, said the Admiralty was considering' suitable recognition of those concerned.
July Petty-Officer Willis the heroic member of the crew of the sub-ne Poseidon who organized. the of a number of the crew the, vessel: was. sunk off Wei-wei, is likely be awarded special promotion. Probably he will be promoted to commissioned rank and n medal for great gallantry will be awarded him.
Suly 9, The whole nation has been stirred by the story of the Officer Willis and the submarine Pos This exhibit has sent a thrill of pride through the nation—Reuter.
Weihaiwei, July 11.
The survivors of the Poseidon disaster sailed from here to-day in the steamer Shuntien for Shanghai on their way to England.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.