ON THE HIGH SEAS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2244, 2 September 1914, Page 5

ON THE HIGH SEAS

THE HELIGOLAND ENGAGEMENT GERMAN VIEW OF IT i (Rec. September 1, 5.40 p.m.) London, August 81. The German Press belittles tho Heligoland naval engagement. They profess to regard it as insignificant, ana as not affecting the geueral situation. They point out tho fighting occurred within range of the Heligoland forts, but the thickness of the weather prevented the use of the guns.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. BRITISH ACTION APPRECIATED. (Rec, September 1, 11.20 p.m.) London, September 1. The Berlin ■ wireless military service says: "British sailors at Heligoland, without considering their own danger, sent out lifeboats to save our men." HOW COMMANDER BARTTELOT I .WAS KILLED. London, August 31. The late Lioutonaut-Commauder Nigel Barttelot, of the destroyer Liberty, who lost his life in the Heligoland engagement, is mentioned in dispatches as an officer of exceptional merit. Whilst ho was standing on tho Liberty's bridge a German shell shattered tho mast, and the shot ricocheted into the searchlight apparatus and struck Commander Barttelot on the face, killing him instantly. GERMAN OFFICERS SHOOT THEIR ■ OWN SEAMEN. London, August 31. Many German prisoners taken in the naval fight' bore revolver wounds. They declared their officers shot them to prevent them surrendering to the British boats which had gone to rescue the drowning. In the evening a German cruiser fired on one boat. The destroyers had to leave their boats behind, but.they were rescued by. other British warships.— "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services. H.M.S. FEARLESS IN DANGER. London; August 31. One of the engine pipes on the light cruiser Fearless burst, putting her temporarily out of action. She became a target for the enemy, and twenty shots struck her. The arrival of the cruisers saved the situation. .. , The Fearles is a third-class cruiser of 3440 tons, built in 1913.- She carries ten 4-inch guns and has a speed of 25£ knots. She c05t.£270,000. •■ . » CAPTURE OF THE LEIPZIC REPORTED. NO CONFIRMATION. Vancouver, August 81. It is reported that the German cruiser Leipzig has been captured, but the naval authorities refuse confirmation of the story. London, August 31. An independent cable message from Vancouver states that it is reported that the German cruiser Leipzig has been captured by British ships, and is being escorted to Esquinialt, the British naval base in British Columbia. The Leipzig is a third-class cruiser of 3200 tons, with a speed of 23 knots, and carrying ten 4.1-inch guns. 'Both she "and tho Nurnberg, a similar vessel, have been reported in the North Pacific. The British vessels reported there are tho cruisers Newcastle and Rainbow. The Newcastle is a light cruiser of 4800 tons, attached to tho China Fleet. She carries two G-inch and ten 4-inch guns, and has a speed of 26$ knots. -The Rainbow is a Canadian vessel purchased from the Royal Navy. She is a protected second-ciass cruiser of 3600 tons, carjying two 6-inch and

six 4.7-inoh guns, and with a speed o{ 19.7 knots. CAUCHT LAYINC. MINES. GERMAN. TRAWLER SUNK. (Reo. September 1, 7.45 p.m.) London ( August 81, evening, A British cruiser caught a German trawler which was flying the Norwegian flag, and was in the act of laying mines ' in the North Sea. She gave'the crew three minutes to escape, and then ram • med and sank the trawler. THE PANTHER NOT'SUNKt SHELTERING AT SMYRNA". (Rec. September 1, 7.45 p.m.) London, August 31, evening. Turkey denies that she purchased thd Gorman gunboat Panther, which hag' ' taken refuge at Smyrna. The Goeben, Breslau, and Panther hi"' the outbreak of the war bombarded Boma, in Algeria, and it was reported: the Panther had been sunk. The Panther is a small gunboat .of 962 tons, • uuilt in 1902, and armed with eight 3.4-mch guns. She has a speed of 13.5 knots, and carries a complement of 130 men, ENEMIES' RESERVISTS CAPTURED, ' (Roc. September 2, 0.20 a.m.) _ Washington, August 31. It is reported that a British warship has captured a number of German and Austrian reservists from American ship* v near Hong-Kong.' CAPTURED GERMAN STEAMERS.(Rto. September 1, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, September l. 1 . i Advices have been received that thai' three German steamers, the Deutscb. Austral Company's Furth (4229 tons), the Austria (2939 tons),' and the Moltkefels. (4921 tons) have been cap- \ \ tured by the East India squadron and ) taken to Colombo.