The Press Bureau issued on Wednesday a narrative of the
loss of the Amphion.' On August 5th she was with the Third Flotilla when information was given by a trawler that a suspicious ship had been sighted " throwing things over- board." Within an hour the German mine-layer
Luise' was rounded up and sunk. The next morning the Amphion ' struck a mine near the place where the 'Corti& Luise' had been destroyed, although she had altered her course to avoid the danger zone. A sheet of flame enveloped the bridge and rendered the captain insensible. As soon as he recovered he ran to the engine-room to stop the engines. All the fore part was on fire. The ship was already settling down by the bows. The men fell in with perfect composure; all was done without hurry or confusion, and twenty minutes after the mine was struck the men, officers, and captain left the ship. Three minutes later another explosion occurred which blew up the whole fore part of the vessel. She had struck a second mine. Debris fell from a great height on to the rescue boats and destroyers, and one of the Amphion's shells burst on the deck of a destroyer, killing two men and a German prisoner. Throughout the ship's company obeyed every order promptly and calmly. The whole episode leaves one with the feeling that it would be impertinent to insist on the praise that is due to the splendid fellows who are quietly doing the invisible work of the Navy under the strain of such terrible conditions.
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