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[Page 31]
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H.M.S. "Hope" at Sevastopol.
9th December, 1918.
Sir,
I have the honour to report that at about 9.15 a.m. L.T. on 9th Dec., in a position Lat. 44.30 N. Long. 33.27, E., I observed that the German Merchant Vessel S.S. "Patmos" (Hamburg) who passed "Hope" at a distance of 400 yards, failed to dip her ensign.
[Comment in margin]
(Insert here Naval Signal, etc.)
[The following paragraph crossed through.]
I reported the matter by signal to the Commanding Officer H.M.A.S. "Warrego" under whose orders I was, and asked permission to return and insist that this should be done. Signal was approved.
I therefore proceeded towards S.S. "Patmos" who paid no attention to my signal to stop engines, so I ordered all guns to be trained on her and closed her: then she stopped.
The Whaler in charge of the First Lieutenant, was lowered with an armed party to convey the attached order to the Master.
After waiting ten minutes and the ensign still not being dipped, I signalled to the 1st Lieutenant to send one of the armed party to dip the ensign. This was done.
The Master then complied in full with my orders and I allowed S.S. "Patmos" to proceed.
The nationality of the Master was German, and she carried German troops.
The apology is written in English and German.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.) Colin Hutchison.
Lieutenant Commander.
Captain ("D")
Fifth Flotilla.
Copy of Orders to Master S.S. "Patmos"
You are to give me at once an apoligy in writing for not dipping your colours to H.M. Ships "Hope and "Warrego".
You are then to steam once round H.M.S. "Hope" with your colours at the dip and then proceed on your journey.
(Sgd.) Colin Hutchison.
Lieutenant Commander R.N.
H.M.S. "Hope" 9/12/18
Copy of Cpology from Master S.S. "Patmos"
I wish to apologise in full for not dipping my colours to H.M. Ships "Hope" and "Warrego". The reason being that I have no crew on board, only two officers and myself, also one Boatswain and one Carpenter, and when ships passed I was not on deck.
(?) Hannersein,
Captain S.S. "Patmos"
Apology follows, written in German.