I am the master of the oil-tank steamer "Mitra" on board of which I left Alexandria on the 3^rd March 1918 with a full cargo of oil-fuel in bulk. We travelled in convoy and we were bound for Bizerte. At the time of departure the vessel was fully manned and equipped and from every point of view thoroughly sea-worthy. At about 1.5 p.m. while I was on the bridge during the second Officer’s watch an explosion took place on another steamer which was abreast of us in the convoy and about three hundred yards to our starboard, and almost immediately after I observed the periscope of a submarine about twenty yards astern from that steamer. I immediately ordered full speed head and helm hard a-starboard in order to get my ship clear away. One shot was fired from my ship at the periscope, but did not take effect. A few seconds after I observed a torpedo coming from the direction where the periscope was, and moving towards our starboard side, My ship had begun to answer her helm, but as I saw that the torpedo was very close and just about to strike my ship I rang the order: "Stop engines". My ship was struck almost at that instant. A very violent explosion took place as the torpedo struck my ship on the starboard side on No.2 tank, that is at the second tank counting from the stern. As I noticed that my ship was still proceeding at full speed, the explosion having evidently prevented my order from being received in the engine-room, I shouted out: "Stop engines", and the order was passed on to the engine-room by those on deck, and the engines were stopped.

I next gave the order for the boats to be lowered and the crew to stand by. On receiving instructions from my escort to get the boats clear of the ship, I ordered the boats to put away from the ships and stand by. Later my crew was put on board the escort. On arrival, there, I ascertained that all my men were safe, and I asked to be taken back to my own ship. I was informed that on board the escort the provision were insufficient to serve for my crew and for the other survivors on board the escort, so I proposed sending over some provisions from my ship. I was rowed to my ship and sent provisions by the boat that had carried me there. I also sent word to my officers and crew that if any one of them wished to volunteer to come back to the ship, they could rejoin me as I had no intention to abandon the ship. The Chief Officer, the Third Officer and the second engineer - the chief engineer having been injured by the explosion - came on board in answer to my call. The ship was towed to Malta by three Admiralty tugs. We arrived at St. Paul’s Bay examination anchors on the ninth instant about an hour after sunset, and were towed to the Grand Harbour on the afternoon of the following day. Before leaving St. Paul’s Bay, a message was received by wireless telegraph on the tug-boats that as my ship had no steam I was to slip my anchor and that would be picked up. Soon after the explosion my ship took a heavy list to starboard and she remained so listed till she reached St. Paul’s Bay.

I am not in position to state the extent of the damage to the ship and to the cargo.

Wherefore in my own name as master of the said ship and on behalf of the owners thereof and on behalf of all other parties interested in the ship and its cargo, I have lodged this sea-protest for all intents and purposes of law’.