New Britain herald., 1925-08-05
600 YARDS FROM
 SHORE, BUT FAILS
It. Col Freydrich, British SWim- mer, ThWarted by Channel
CARRIED BACK BY TIDE
Is Compelled to Give Up After Drifting Back Half Mile---Swim- mer Is Noted War Hero and Holds Victoria Cross.


 mer Is Noted War Hero and Holds
 Victoria Cross.
 London, Aug. 5 P - Lieutenant Colonel Bernard c. Freybsrg, World War hero and holder of the Victoria Cross, lost by scant half mile to- today in his attempt to swim the English channel,
 After battling the treachercus tides and current of the channel for approximately 17 hours, during which at one time he was only 600 yards from the English coast at Point Hope. between Dover and South Foreland, he abandoned the attempt which began at Cape Gris- Neg at S:25 o'clock last night and was taken aboard his accompanying tug.
 Carried Away By Tide
 Lieutenant-Colonel Freyberg's gal lant effort ended half mile off the shore at Kingsdown, between Deal and Dover. Previous to this, how ever. he was only 500 yards from Point Hope. but his great exertions had nearly exhausted him and the tide, turning, carried him out to sea again.
 Strength Falls
 The pilot accompanying him In the tug told the swimmer that 1t would be four hours before another change in the tide would again en- able him to approach the shore. Lieutenant-Co Freyberg then decided that because of the low temperature of the water and the probability that he could last for four more hours he would aban- don the attempt.
 Colonel Freyberg has long been famous as a swimmer. When seven- teen years old he was the champion long distance swimmer Of New Zea- land, where he was educated.
 He was awarded the distinguished Service Order for his famous ex- poit during the Gallipoli campaign. One night he sWam from a British destroyer four miles to the shore and lit flares which lighted up the Turkish trenches and facilitated landing operations of the British forces.
 The Correct Time
 It is unofficially stated that Con- oael Freyberg was taken aboard his tug at 1:05 o'clock this afternoon making his time in the watur six teen hours and forty five minutes. He left Cape Gris-Nez last night at S:20.
 He was aided in the early hours of his swim by calm water and fdvcr- able tide. and until eleven o'clock this morning. when he was only a mile off the direct course ne was still swimming strongly and scoreS of spectators on the Dover cliffs thought he would make shore easily. Had he gained the shelter 3f St. Margaret's Bay, east of Dover, few 1HlIultS Sdll llCl, tAhO 'ASIS' 'A iNSS hero would have been successful in his gallant attempt. but the tide be- gan to turn while he was still in the channel and although he struggled to a point only 600 yards from land he was unable to breast the current.
 Apparently Exhausted
 The last hour of his struggle ob viously exhausted Colonel Hreybcrg, and at one time he drifted straight back for thirty yards without mak- ing a stroke, apparently unable to determine the direction in which fe should swim. The crowd on shore shouted encouragement md boats surrounded him, their crews ap- plauding.
 The tide became stronger. His struggles became more and lore in cffectual. and finally, on he advice of his pilot, Colonel Freybcrg rcluct- antly climbed aboard the admiralty tug that had accompanied him from France. The English Channel con- auered only five times by swimmers, had successfully resisted an ,th"r at tempt with the gallant loser almost within the shadow of the cliffs of Dover.