ON THE HIGH SEAS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2241, 29 August 1914, Page 7

ON THE HIGH SEAS

ARMED GERMAN LINER SUNK AN UNSUCCESSFUL RAID BAILED UP BY BRITISH CRUISER London, 'August 27. The Nordde'utscher Lloyd liner Kaiser Willielm der Grosse, 14,349 tons, which was converted into an auxiliary cruiser, has been sunk bv the British cruiser Highflyer off the "West Coast of Africa. During an exchange of shots one of the crew of the Highflyer was killed and five wounded. THE GALICIAN'S ADVENTURE. (Rec. August 28, 5.60 p.m.) London, August 27, evening. The "Evening News" publishes another version of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosso inoident. The German vessel picked up a wireless message from the Galioian to the cruiser Carnarvon, and after boarding the Galician as previously, described, ordered her to follow, and turned southward. At night-time the Kaiser Willielm der Grosse masked her lights and ordered the Galician to do the same. At midnight camo the signal, "Provision your boats for five days. You have to aban-1 don tho ship." The passengers believed the Galician was to be sunk. The passengers and crow, who did a* they were ordered, cut adrift, and about half an hour later the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse suddenly went full speed and signalled: "There are no more orders; i you are released. Good-bye!" In ten minutes she was nut of sight. . When the Galician reached Teneriffe '•it was learnt that the Kaiser Wilhelm had been picked up by two British cruisers, which had gone to the Galician's assistance. The crew of the Kaiser Wilhelm dor Grosse were taken off before the vessel was sunk. 'The Press Bureau states the Admiralty sent the following message to thr Highflyer: "Bravo I You have rendered a, service not only to Britain, but al:» 'to the peaceful oommerce of tho world. The Gorman officers and crew appear to have carried out their duties with humanity and restraint, and are therefore worthy of all seamanlike consideration." Tho Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, which was built in 1897, was tho first transatlantic steamship to be equipped with wireless telegraphy, and the first of the fleet of liners, now built in mammoth proportions, to bo designed with four funnels. She had an excellent record for consistently fast and safe passages. . Her armament consisted of a number of 6-inch and smaller guns. The Highflyer >is practically a sister ship of. tho Challenger and the Encounter. She is of 5600 tons displacement, and has a speed of 20 knots. She carries eleven frinch guns. Until tho ynr broke out she, wm a training (ihiu jot Oftyw padst£, i

f The Carnarvon is ah armoured cruiser of 10,850 tons displacement, and 23.3 knots speed. - Shp carries four 7}-incn and six 6-inch gims. She is the flagship of Roar-Admiral Christian, of the t Fifth Cruiser Squadron. CERMAN CRUISER LOST. ' RUNS ASHORE IN 'A , FOG. Amsterdam, August 27. An official German statement has been made that the cruiser Magdeburg ran ashore in a fog on Odensliolni Island in the Gulf of Finland, and, wr • unable to be refloated. A torpedo.boat rescued the majorit, of the crew under lire from the Russian ' fleet. ■ • . . Seventeen men were killed ' and eighty-five are missing. Phe Germans blew up the Magdeburg.

■ (Rec. August 28, 6.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 27. Owing to the fog other warships wero unable to assist the' Magdeburg, and it was then decided to abandon, the cruiser owing to the proximity of a superior Russian fleet, Seventeen of tiie Magdeburg's crow were killed, twenty-liyo wounded, and eighty-fivo nre missing. The Magdeburg is a jsistpr ship to tlio Bresiau, whioh ivitn the Goeben took refuge in the Dardanelles, an 3 was sold to Turkey. She was a new ship, completed in June, 1913,, and carried a complement of 373 men. Her tonnage was 4700, and her speed 25fc knots. She carried twelve 4.£ m. guns and two 21in. torpedo tubes. Odensholm Island is on the south side of the Gulf of Finland, just within its mouth, and lies within a few miles of tho trade route to and from St. Petersburg. VESSELS SUNK BY, MINES. DISASTERS'TO SMALL CRAFT IN NORTH SEA. , London, August 27. ■ A mine sank the Norwegian steamer Gottfrid, 426 tons, bound for Blyth, Northumberland, iu the North Sea. Eight were ■ killed. Other explosions were heard in the vicinity. A mine eank a Danish trawler near Grimsby. Four persons were killed. (Reo. August 28, 6.5 p.m.) London, August 27. A rescuing trawler states that when hauling in the nets mines were discovered, and the nets were let back into tho sea. The trawler remained on the spot to warn others. Half an hour later a mjne exploded; and a second explosion sank a Danish trawler. MANY LIVES LOST. (Rec. August 28, 11.30 p.m.) - London, August 28, morning. The Danish ship Skuli Fogeti (303 tons) was blown up by a German mine thirty miles out or Newcastle. > Of six in the forecastle four were killed, and the other two injured. The trawlers Lottie and Leash had previously fished up two mines and two trawlers engaged in sweeping for mines were sunk in the same 'district, and five were killed and eleven injured. A British torpedo boat rescued tho remainder of the trawlers' crews. The Gottenfrid. sank in two minutes. Eight men in the' forecastle were blown to pieces and four of the crew were saved after being in the water for three bbure. IN THE MEXICAN CULF\ BRITISH WARSHIPS PROTECTING ' MERCHANT SHIPS. (Rec. August 28, 9.10 p.m.) New' York, August 27. Three 'Britis'h warships lhave .been dispatched from Galvestou to Mexican waters to protect oil and cotton ships in' the Gulf of Mexico, where , it is believed that German warships are operating, ■1200 VESSELS AT HAMBURC. GERMAN WARSHIPS GUARD APPROACHES. (Reo. August 28/6.40 p;m.) London, August 27. N It is reported. that twelve hundred merchant vessels, are' interned in Hamburg. Warships of tho ' most recent type are' in the Kiel Canal, off tho uiouth of the Elbe and Heligoland, and torpedo boats'and cruisers are defending-, the approaches to;■ the coast.— ("Times" and Sydney . "Sun"- . Services.) -i *.■'- .'.- :..| u i,, " •"' ,-NEW CREWS FOR WARSHIPS? London, August 27.: Athens reports that a hundred and fifty German Navy men. passed through Philippopolis en route to Constantinople. . ' . AUSTRALIA'S FLEET \ ALL WELL WITH IT / (Rec. August 29,1.15 a.m.) Sydney, August 28. Senator Millen, Minister of Defence, in an official statement, said ho fully recognised the desire of tho public for information of the movements of the Australian fleet, and he would make available all_ information that could bepublished without detriment as early as possible. In the meantime it was reassuring to know that all was well with both the fleet and the expedition.