Harris narrative of the capture of S.S. Matunga and experiences as a prisoner of war, ca. 1918 / Keith Harris - Page 7

[Page 7]

body take to the boats. We only had one alarm and that was when we met the "Wolf" about a week later. She only came to see how things were and they told us she was going to look for coal. So away she went, we all hoping never to see her again. Hoping we would meet something and so be recaptured. But no such luck for us. Things went along smoothly. The boys (six in all. Eric and myself and four niggers all sharing the one room), doing odd jobs, deck work, coaling the galley, peeling potatoes and teasing the cooks. I had several narrow escapes from a lively time with the Jap cooks. One was: I was sent to the galley (kitchen) with a dirty dish from the second class saloon, and the cook told me to wash it, but I said no. And away I went with the cook after me with a long broom. He chased me all over the after part of the ship until he got tired and then gave it up. I was jolly lucky he didn't get me.

Another one was: Eric and I had to carry water from forward to the galley. One day we were doing this, and for each bucket full we put in the cooks took one out. We said nothing for about twenty minutes and then we started to kick about it. But the Japs only laughed, so we refused to carry anymore for them that day. A Jap came over and hit me and then picked up a knife, but I was away when I saw this and I kept low until I thought he had cooled down and so had another escape.

We met the "Wolf" again about a week later. She reported having failed to find any ships. Although she had scouted all over the seas. So the only thing to do was to take the coal the "Hitachi" had and sink her, so we steamed to the "Seychelles Islands" and then we were once more taken on board the "Wolf", the 7th November. The next day the 8th, the "Hitachi Maru" was taken out with the German Ensign floating over her stern. Three bombs were placed on board her. The first explosion made her list. The second righted her, and the third, we could not see what it did, but shortly afterwards she sunk a few feet and then stopped. It was