PIRATE WAR ON MERCHANT SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2395, 26 February 1915, Page 5

PIRATE WAR ON MERCHANT SHIPS

•MORE STEAMERS SUNK AMERICAN COTTON STEAMER MINED London, February 24. . Tho British steamer Oakby (1876 tons) lias been stink m the Channel. Her crew was saved. , ; • ■, , , ... \ The Oakby's captain states that ho was on'the bridge at tiio timei or tne attack, and saw the wake of the torpedo, which struck them amidships, with a tremendous explosion. "I was partially stunned." ' TheOakby was slowly progressing to Folkestone when she sank. The collier Royparana was torpedoed at Eastbourne, on the Sussex coast. Thirty-one of her crew were saved. - _ Chrlstianla, February 24. - ' A-Swedish steamer reports seeing 'a sinking vessel off. Mandal' (on the south coast of Norway, 22 mil6S west-south-west of. Christiania). It is believed it was a. German submarine. • (Rec. February 25, 11.15 p.m.) London, February 25. The British steamer Harpalion (5867 tons, J. C. Harrison, Ltd.), bound from London to the United States, was torpedoed oi Beachy Head (on. the English south coast). . ' „ -l Three Chinese were killed. Forty-one of the crew landed at Wownaven. Two of them were suffering from scalds. » . CLOSING UP THE NARROW SEAS. ' Amsterdam, February 24. A semi-official message from Berlin declares tie Orkney, and Shetland Islands are included in tie war zone. The passages of tho Faroe Islands are excluded. . . , • ! BRITISH ARMED LINER REPORTED MISSING ! FEARED-TO HAVE BEEN LOST IN A GALE. London, February 24. The Admiralty announces that'the armed merchant, cruiser Clan Macnaughton, with a crew of 280, has been missing since February 3. It is feared that she was lost during a gale. , ' ' ... , . iThe Clan Macnaughton was a vessel of 498 d tons, witii a speed of 14 . si, P was built in 1911, and, like the rest of the "Clan" steamers, belonged to Messrs. Cayzer, Irome, and Co.,- of Glasgow.] ■ (Ree. February 25, 9.40 p.m. • ■ London, February 25 The Clan MacNaughten's crew included twenty-four Newfoundlanders, and siytv-nine men of the mercantile marine. Wreckage supposed to belong to th ° Thelast' signal the liner was on February 3. ' REPORTED DUEL BETWEEN ARMED MERCHANTMEN. - ~ London, February 24. The "Daily Mirror" publishes pictures of the Orient steamer - /ioof>7'+ons> sinking the.Hamburg-Amerika German armed lined Navarr™ a (5794 tons), after an engagement. AMERICAN STEAMER MINED OFF GERMAN COAST ' COMMENT ON THE SINKING OF THE EVELYN, Amsterdam) February 24. The American steamer Carib, 2087 tons, cotton laden, struck a mine and sank on the German coast. , . • j-l * t. rrriitt Pan'h was built m 1882, "and has been twice renamed, having been known as Kimon and President Garfield. She belonged to the Clyde S.S. Co., and was registered at New York.] . "The Times" naval correspondent, discussing the sinking of the Evelyn, "The locality makes it certain it was done by a German mine. The + tl' is that the Germans know little and care less of tlie < whereabouts of TP' flLunn- mines Thousands of them have been, dropped indiscriminately, S: and waves have scattered them far and wide, and not the slightand the winds ana i thfim ; nnocllous T]m ind ; eations are Mhere are o"vthree submarines operating in the war zone. . The worst that tnero Vnnpen, unless the .submarines have better luck, is to lose a few o'f olir and' older ships.-C'Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ALL GERMAN PROPERTY LIABLE TO SEIZURE , Paris, February 24; Th«' Paris "Journal" says that the Allies' Note .declares that all German rviviriprfv is liable to seizure under any flag. Every cargo destined for Germany is a good prize- Tho strictest measure# for KktititUmtion will bo guarantesd.

RHINE CONTRABAND STEAMIER ARRESTED. Rotterdami February 24. Tho Rhino steamer Hanna, the shipper of 'her cargo, the proprietor, and others linvo b<!en arrested. Five tons of copper,, including 3000 bullets, weie found hidden under tho cargo of phosphate. BITTER PRESS ATTACK ON.-NEUTRALS. (Rec. February 25, 5.45-p.m.) London, February 20. * Tho "Cologno Gazotto" bitterly attacks neutrals. It observes that neutrals safely outside the field of_hostilities hops later to fish in the troubled wa ' e . rs - If tho.y think to enrich themselves' with European blood-money, by cannon and shells, that is their privilege. We cannot stop them. But "'ey havo yot to rcckon with the fact that this kind of neutrality will never be forgotton by us."—("Times" and Sydney "Sun 3 ' Services.). PIRATES FLY THE BRITISH FLAG. (Rec. February 25, 5.45- p.m.) London, February 20. The captain of the steamer Ville- d» Lille, which was torpedoed. on Febniary 16. declares that the German submarine was flying the British flas when she ordered him to stop. Subsequently she displayed the Gorman flag.— ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) VISIT TO THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U2l "WRITTEN UP" TO POPULARISE' THE NAVY. (Rec. February 25, 5.45 p.m.) London, February 25. 'A' German writer, with a view to popularising the Navy, describes a visit to Wilhcmshaven. He boarded the submarine U2l, which bore a silver plat® with the inscription; "A shot from this tube sank the English cruiser Pathfinder." The submarine's commander has been overwhelmed with presents ana offers of marriage. _ ~ Relating the sinking of three ships near the commander said to tho visitor.: "We waited vajnly for days for fresh spoils. No craft fljing the British Ha* 1, dares enter or loave Liverpool. Tired with long waiting we went in search of new adventures in the Irish Sea. These waters have also been swept free of British shipping."—'"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) UNITED STATES' REPLY TO THE GERMAN NOTE RUMOURED DEADLOCK BETWEEN THE PARTIES. (Rec. February 25, 9.40 p.m. Amsterdam, February 24. Telegrams from Berlin state that far. Gerard, the United States Minister, has handed to Herr von Bethmann Bollwegg (the German Chancellor), America's reply to the German Not«. There is apparently a deadlock, and there is much -uneasiness in tho American colony in Berlin in consequence. UNITED STATES' NOTE TO BRITAIN AND GERMANY ' / FOOD SUPPLIES FOR GERMAN CIVILIANS. (Rec.i February 25, 11.15 p.m.) • . Washington, February 25. The 'American Note to Britain and Germany seeks to induce Germany to abandon the so-called blockade of Great Britain by means of mines and submarines, and the adoption by Britain of a policy -whereby German, civilians would get food supplies under regulations preventing the army securing them. The State Department, however, ie not sanguine about the adoption of the proposal by Britain. As Sir Edward Grey, has pointed ont, the German army and people are the same thing. MINE-LADEN TRAWLERS SAIL FROM GERMANY. (Rec. February 26, 1 a.m.) Copenhagen, February 25. • 'A flotilla of German trawlers, laden with mines, has passed tho Skaw (a capo north of Jutland, Denmark), going westwards.