THE CRUISER HUNT IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2327, 8 December 1914, Page 5

THE CRUISER HUNT IN THE PACIFIC

STRANDED OFF CALIFORNIA FOUR-FUNNELLED WARSHIP ASHORE (Rec.' December 8, 1.5 'a.m.)... ' San Dlege (Calefornia), December 6. ■, A four-funnelled warship, nationality ■unknown, is reported to be stranded off the Californian coast. .Life-savers are standing by. The fighting-tops are visible, but the state of the weather prevents life saving. .'. Four-funnelled warships- are fairly common in the big cruisers of all the Powers. Both the Scharnhorst and tho Giieisenau have four funnels. BATTLE-CRUISER AUSTRALIA'S SEARCH. (Rec. December 7, 9 p.m.) Sydney, December 7. The Sydney. "Sun's" Melbourne cor. jw.pQindaii.ti writhe- regarding wo escape

;of th'e German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from the Western Pacific, that the fact has been established that when the Drijadnought-cruiser Australia, was called away from the chase to convoy the New Zealand Expedition to Samoa, ehe was within-a few hours of getting upon ' Vice-Admiral Count von Spee's -track.' The New Zealand Govornnient, in its impetuous desire to get their men to Samoa, sent them to sea under the care of the Psyche and Philomel, but suddenly recalled the expedition, cabled the Admiralty, and secured the Australia's assistance. Later came the interruption caused by the Australian Expedition to New .Guinea. Although , Senator Millen (the tlwn Minister of Defence) was anxious to speed the seizure of tho German South Pacific possessions, lie gave- Admiral Patey a , free hand at the time of its departure. Tho, troops were held up at Thursday Island for many days, while Admiral Patey scoured the seas for the Germans. Unable to locate them, ho picked up tho transports and sailed for Rabaul (New Guinea).' e One result of the escape of Admiral von Spee's fleet, he states, is the determination of both Federal parties to chwige the naval agreement, The feeling is that dual control haa em-

barrassed tha operations of the Aus-1 tralian ships. [The "Sun's" correspondent apparently has a fertile imagination. The New Zealand Government had no power whatever to alter the of the Australian navy, and all that it did was to ask for adequate protection for our troopships and the men on board. It was the business of the Admiralty authorities to find that protection. As a matter of fact, the New Zealand Government was acting under instructions from the Imperial authorities iij expediting the dispatch of the Force to Samoa. Probably it' will be found that the writer of tie "Sun's" messago is some irresponsible person, quite ignorant of the real facts of the situation.]