_Rescued by "Tanks in the Desert"_
_As told by survivors, set down by Lewis R. Freeman_
The adventures of the crew of the auxiliary cruiser, _Tara_,
torpedoed off the North African coast, form one of the most exciting
and romantic chapters in the annals of the Great War. Handed over
as prisoners to the fanatical Senussi Arabs, they were taken out
into the heart of the desert, where for many weary months they were
on the brink of starvation, eking out their scanty ration of rice
with snails and roots. The captain escaped and tried to bring help,
but was captured and brought back to be lashed and kept without
food. Just when things were at their worst a squadron of British
armored cars, commanded by the Duke of Westminster, appeared as
though by magic, drove off the Arabs, and rescued the survivors
of the sorely-tried crew. By courtesy of the Admiralty the author
interviewed Captain Gwatkin-Williams, the _Tara's_ commander;
Lieutenant Tanner, R.N.R., and several members of the ship's company,
and their stories give a vivid idea of the terrible experience they
underwent, as told in the _Wide World Magazine_.