FEDERAL LINER WESTMORELAND.
The Federal liner Westmoreland is expected to be in commission again shortly. The liner was torpedoed north of Ireland, but the crew remained by the ehip and beached her. The Westmoreland has since been refloated, and is now undergoing repairs preparatory to resuming running in the Australian trade. Captain Deith, now in command of the steamer Kent, was in charge of the Westmoreland when she was beached. -Evening Star, 14/12/1918.
PRODUCT OF WAR
MODERN ARMED MERCHANTMAN.
THE KENT AT BLUFF.
This week, Invercargill’s port is favoured with the visit of a most interesting vessel, the Federal and Shire Line’s new liner Kept, commanded by Captain Deith. Many Invercargill folk who have visited Bluff have spent very profitably a spare hour or so in looking over the ship, the crew of which are courteous and obliging to visitors whose free use of the art of questioning might have tried most people’s patience.
The Kent is just now on her maiden voyage and is fitted with a variety of devices not seen on vessels of pre-war construction — devices of camouflage and death-dealing weapons for defence against submarine and other attack. The somewhat grotesque painting of her hull is not new to the “land-lubber” as this has often been seen before on vessels in these waters; but a feature of much interest is that the masts, with the exception of the mainmast, fold down upon the decks when she puts out to sea. The funnel is also novel, being telescopic, a big item as regards visibility when afloat in the danger zones. The mainmast is, as is usual, fixed. This carries the wireless apparatus and the ingenious idea about it is that instead of being in the longitudinal centre line of the boat, it rises from the deck toward one side. Thus, when the submarine commander makes his calculations he is deceived regarding the direction in which the boat is going. It is part of the camouflage.
Another peculiarity in her construction is one which would easily escape the notice of even the closest observer, and that is that she has a cruiser stern. The effect of this is that when travelling at full speed less churning up of the water is caused than would be the case with a craft of ordinary shape, and her range and speed are therefore more difficult for the enemy gunner to gauge. She has a speed when fully loaded, of about 12 knots.
HER NARROW ESCAPE.
Very early in her career this boat narrowly missed destruction by submarines. Soon after leaving her home port, and when about abreast of Shields on her way to London, two torpedoes were fired at her, one passing close to the stern and one not far before her. She was in a convoy at the time and two accompanying merchant ships were sunk, the Tasman and the Vavant. A thick mist came up and the Kent, leaving the convoy, escaped, which was extremely fortunate as she carried 700 tons of high explosive. Naval men aboard state that if this had been hit everything within a radius of 10 miles would have been blown up.
She carries four guns, and four torpedo-shaped contrivances lying on one of the forward decks, which have attracted much interest and curious comment, many at first supposing that they were some kind of self-propelled torpedoes. However, they proved on enquiry to be something not for the destruction of life, but for its safety — minesweeping apparatus. Much interest centred round two of the guns, which- perform to a large measure the same functions as the firers of depth charges, a somewhat similar projectile being thrown out, to the discomfort of undersea craft.
The latest gear turbine engines propel the liner, while in addition an oil tank apparatus is installed. This was planned to act in the manner of auxiliary motive power should the turbines break down or otherwise go out of commission, but it has not as yet been used owing to an Admiralty decree prohibiting the use of oil fuel on merchantmen.
The most up-to-date of maritime machinery is the steering gear which is worked by oil power instead of requiring the usual steam-driven machinery. From the bridge telephones have taken the place of the usual bells and the captain in his castle near the wheel can converse with those fore and aft, in the engine-room and in the wireless room.
The liner, throughout, is a clean roomy ship, and the quarters not only amidships, but fore and aft, are good. She was built at Jarrow-on-Tyne by Messrs Palmer and Sons.
BOYS FROM THE NAVY.
To man the death-dealing instruments of war, aboard, the Kent is carrying small complement of naval gunnery experts, Messrs E. Evans, J. Roberts, F. Byles, F. Masters, F. Robertson, R. Thomson, and E. Willis; also Signaller R. Tuchell, most of whom joined the fleet at the outbreak of war and have seen considerable active service. At least two of the men, Roberts and Evans, have had thrilling experiences in the Mediterranean and saw something of our New Zealand lads at Mudros and the Dardanelles. Chief Officer Maurice (merchant service) was in the Suvla Bay action ip 1915 when our unfortunate Fifths were so badly cut up. Gunner Roberts saw Turkey when with the “Ocean," on which ship his time expired and he rejoined, the navy and was finally drafted to the Kent. Gunner Evans was blown up when on the Maziar in the Mediterranean and was previously on board the Wavisbrook when she was sunk in collision not far from Gibraltar.
RETURNING TO PEACE CONDITIONS.
Gradually the grotesque painted figurings are being obliterated from the vessel’s hull and a more peaceful appearance will be hers when she again sights the coast from which she gets her name. The men on board, too, express profound relief that hostilities have now ceased and welcome the relaxation of the many restrictions under which they have laboured, many of them since August, 1914. The naval men particularly speak with pleased anticipation of their return and discharge at Home. The Kent, which is loading rabbits, cheese, and other produce, leaves for London via Panama to-morrow. -Southland Times, 10/1/1919.
WESTMORELAND PUTS BACK
(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)
DUNEDIN, This Day.
The steamer Westmoreland, which sailed on Saturday for Bluff, put back yesterday. On the run down the starboard engine developed a knock, and investigations outside Bluff Harbour showed a loosening of the packing in the stern tube. Captain Deith therefore returned. In dock it was discovered that a blade of one of the propellers had been bent by contact with some solid body. After repair work, the Westmoreland sailed this morning for Bluff. -Evening Post, 12/2/1923.
The year before, 1922, Captain Deith and the Westmoreland brought to New Zealand a unique and historic cargo - the first consignment of Anzac Day poppies. There were 396,000 of them.
PERSONAL.
— Among the passengers from England by the Ruahine, which arrived at Wellington last week, were Captain G. T. Deith and Mrs. Deith, who intend to spend some months in New Zealand. Captain Deith, who was for many years in the service of the Federal Line, retired from sea-going about twelve months ago. At different times he held command of eight Federal Line steamers, including the Sussex, Durham, Kent, Westmoreland and Cumberland. Mrs. Deith (formerly Miss Innes) is a native of Port Chalmers. They intend to visit relations and renew friendships during their stay in the Dominion. -Sun, 15/10/1928.
Captan and Mrs Deith, who came from Great Britain a short time ago, are spending a little time at the lakes. Captain Deith will be remembered as master of the Westmoreland when she was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland during the war, on which occasion he succeeded in beaching the vessel, thus saving her from being a complete loss. -Otago Daily Times, 24/1/1929.
CAPTAIN DEITH’S DEATH.
There died on board the Nestor on March 22, about six days before the vessel arrived at Durban from Sydney, Captain George Deith, who was a frequent trader to New Zealand in command of Federal Line steamers. During the war Captain Deith was in charge of the Westmoreland when she was torpedoed off the North Coast of Ireland, and it was solely through his skill and seamanship that she was beached on the English coast and subsequently repaired. The steamer is still in the New Zealand trade. The captain was one of the most popular masters to visit this dominion, and his death will be felt by a large circle of friends. It is not yet known whether he was buried at sea or not, but it would undoubtedly have been his wish to be cast to a watery grave. Captain Deith, who was in ill-health for about eighteen months prior to his death, is survived by his widow, who is a daughter of the late Mr William Innes, of Port Chalmers. -Evening Star, 31/3/1930.
OBITUARY.
CAPTAIN G. T. DEITH.
Information has been-received of the death at sea of Captain G. T. Deith, who, recently visited Auckland after his retirement from active service. He was on his way to England by the liner Nestor, and died five days before the vessel reached Durban. Most of Captain Deith's service was the Federal Line of steamers, his last command being the Cumberland. He had some exciting adventures during the Great War while in command of the Westmorland. In 1917 he left England for New Zealand, and was attacked by a German submarine, but the torpedo missed by about 5ft. When the Pacific had been reached, a. fire broke out in No. 4 hold. All openings to the hold were closed to stifle the outbreak, but when Auckland was reached and the coverings removed, the fire broke out again, and local fire brigades had difficulty in subduing it. The vessel was not seriously damaged, but, the loss of cargo totalled £50,000. On the return voyage Home from Australia, where the vessel had loaded produce, the Westmorland was torpedoed in the Irish Sea, being struck near the engine room. The crew of 70 took to the boats, and only one life was lost. The Westmorland did not sink, but two hours later was taken in tow and beached. She was subsequently repaired, and has since made many trips to the Dominion. -Auckland Star, 5/4/1930.
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