Word: captains
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1940-1949
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...TIME, Dec. 25) apparently cued North German Lloyd's 32, 581-ton Columbus, third biggest of the Nazi merchant marine - tied up at Veracruz since debarking her passengers at Havana in September - to make a dash for it. When he received the order to sail home, Columbus' Captain Wilhelm Daehne had no choice but to obey, though he knew his chance of getting through was paper-thin. For weeks he trained two picked squads in the fine art of scuttling and firing ship...
...latter had to carry a night light to avert collision, but no ill befell her until fugitive and escort reached a point 320 mi. northwest of Bermuda. Then the British destroyer Hyperion, which had heard Tuscaloosa's radio speaking to someone, asked: "What ship are you escorting?" Captain Harry A. Badt of the Tuscaloosa replied (in effect): "Find out for yourself...
...Hyperion. Tuscaloosa dropped a mile astern to watch the fun. Hyperion shot over the German's bows, commanding her to halt. But already the Columbus crew were performing their well-rehearsed act. Into the lifeboats went all the crew (there were no passengers) except twelve scuttlers, ten firers. Captain Daehne stayed aboard to oversee their job. Down below, the scuttlers opened all sea cocks. Through the ship raced the firers, smashing skylights, emptying drums of benzine and petrol, to make an unbroken trail past heaps of oil-soaked waste to the ship's fuel tanks. When...
...awful, sir?" a bluejacket on the Tuscaloosa asked Captain Daehne as they watched the Columbus blaze...
...worst there is!" said Captain Daehne...