SEA FIGHT OR TARGET PRACTICE?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2435, 14 April 1915, Page 5

SEA FIGHT OR TARGET PRACTICE?

THE NORTH SEA MYSTERY MORE STEAMERS ATTACKED BY THE PIRATES (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, April 12. The sound of lieavy cannonading at sea was heard at Bridlington (six miles south-west of Flamborough Head, and twenty-three miles south-ea6t of Scarborough) on Saturday night. Copenhagen, April 12. Further arrivals of Scandinavian vessels confirm the reports regarding the German warships in the North Sea. A Norwegian steamer reports that a British cruiser warned her to keep as close to the coastline as possible. WHAT A STEAMER CAPTAIN SAW GERMAN CRUISER SQUADRON STEAMING NORTH, (Rec. April 13, 8.15 p.m.) London, April 13. Th« captain of the steamer Vestfos (who reported that "he had sighted U German cruisers) 6tates that on Wednesday afternoon, when twelve miles west of Utsire, he passed a squadron of twelve snaps flying ths German colours at the gaff, and observed the smoka of two oth?rs. After remaining stationary for some time, they steamed rapidly north. The captain is of opinion that the squadron could havs reached tha region ffhore tho firing' was subsequently heard. WAS IT MERELY TARGET PRACTICE? (Rec. April 13, 11.50 p.m.) ... London, 'April 13. j The newspapers express the opinion that the rumours of a. naval battle are probably due to the sound of target practice at sea. SUBMARINE PIRATES' LATEST OUTRAGE ME SINKING OF THE BELGIAN RELIEF STEAMER. London, April 12. Tho Belgian Commission's relief ship Harpalyce was a sister ship of tho Harpalion, which was recently torpedoed. She flew a white flag, inscribed "Commission for Belgian Relief." _ The flag was visible eight miles away; and the same inscription was painted in large letters on her sides. Several persons in vessels near by saw the submarine and its torpedo. The nearness of the reeouers alone enabled any to be saved. Tho sea was choppy, and there was a high wind.

BIG LINER TORPEDOED OFF SCILLY ISLANDS CRIPPLED SHIP BEING TOWED TO QUEENSTOWN. London, April 12. The four-masted Charente liner Wayfarer (9599 tons, 13 knots, of Liverpool), was torpedoed, and is now being towed to Queenstown, Ireland. The collier landed 120 of the Wayfarer's crew at Falmouth. Ifc is believedthe steamer was torpedoed off the Scilly Islands. Ifc is reported at Liverpool that the vessel was benched at Queenstown. (Roe. April 13, 10.50 p.m.) London, 'April 13. The "Wayfarer's survivors state that there was no sign of a submarine. An explosion suddenly smashed the wireless apparatus, making ifc impossible to call for help. The vessel then took a lint, and the boats were lowered. There was a rough sea, and the --iirvivors later wero rescued by a collier. The vessel at midnight was thirtcon miles from Queenstown. TORPEDOED AFTER AN HOUR'S CHASE FATE OF A GLASGOW STEAMER. London, April 12. The German submarine U2-1 torpedoed the Glasgow steamer President near Eddvstone, after an hour's chase, The crow took to the boats. v A trawlrr rescued tham. . , ,■ , n rLlofd's Shipping Lint Mentions! four "Precidents, two of which are Bntl&lt (nslttw u! it>SiLt S-i) • Phi ip AtWfeHtti AW. HIP (Mir Beliim,]

i (llec. April 13, 10.50 p.m.) London, April 13. The crew of U24 boarded the President and placed a bomb on tvard. The vessel was 'still afloat when they left her. The submarine towed the crew to a fishing smack near by. "KULTUR" ON THE HIGH SEAS INSULTING BEHAVIOUR OF SUBMARINE COMMANDER. (Rec. April 13, 10.50 p.m.) London, April 13. A German submarine stopped the French steamer Frederic Franck (973 tons), and the pirate's commander demanded money, which was refused. The Germans then fore up the French flag, threw the ship's papers into the sea, and then exploded two bombs before the crew were able to leave the vessel. The bombs did not sink the vessel, which was towed to Plymouth. STEAMER ATTACKED BY AIR PIRATES. . (Rec. April 13, 10.50 p.m.) Rotterdam, April 13. Two German aeroplanes threw twenty-five bombs at the British steamer Serula, (1388 tons). None of them hit. The captain, using a Martini-Henri rifle, provided for_ the purpose of exploding mines, fired twelve shots, thus preventing the aviators from flying low. NEW DESTROYER FLOTILLA-LEADER COMMISSIONED. London, April 12. A new dest-rover flotilla-leader has been commissioned. It has been named the Botha. The officers and crew have cabled congratulations to General Botha, Prime Minister of South Africa. [The Botha (1850 tons, 32 knots) was being built for the Chilian Government when war broke out and was taken over by the British Government. Two eister-veasels, the Faulkner and the Broke, have been in commission for some time.] EXPLOITS OF THE RAIDER KRONPRINZ WILHELM RECORD OF DESTRUCTION BY FOUR GUNS. (Reo. April 13, 8.15 p.m.) New York, April 12, The officers of the German armed cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm state that they were obliged to stoal paßt four of the Allies' cruisers off the Virginia capes in order to reach port. The commander declared that they would return in the same way. Since the Kronprinz Wilhelm sailed from Now York last August as a passenger steamer, she had never touched land. During the raids on British snipping she took 950 prisoners. Most of these had been sent to South African ports by German vessels which met the raider. She has on board 61 prisoners, who were taken from the British steamers Tamar and Coleby. The raider holds a record for the destruction accomplished by four guns. _ _ ...... Lieutenant Warner, one of the raider's officers, said that if Britain had been well organised the Kronprinz Wilhelm never could havs-. remained alive. They took two of their grins from the steamer La Correntina, and seeurcd 20,000 tons of coal from tho enemy. The ship's tailors made their uniforms from cloth taken from the captured French steamer G'uadaroy, and they also got 6hoe6 and leather and thousands of dollars worth of goods intended for the French Army. They narrowly escaped capture on two occasions by British warships, at the Canary Islands and the Azores. THE SINKING OF THE WILLIAM P. FRYE ' AMERICAN DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION. (Reo. April 13, 9.15 p.m.) London, April 13. An official message from Berlin states that an American iSoto has demanded £228,095 for the loss of the ship William P. Frye (6unk by the Prinz Eitel Frednch). The owners inquired whether Germany would give full compensation, and Germany replied that the Prinz Eitel's commander acted within the limits of International Law, as Queeustown, Falmouth, and Plymouth, from which the ship cleared, are fortified places and points d'Appui for the British Navy, and also that it would have been dangerous to place the prize in a German port. _ A Prize Court will be opened immfldiately, and the owners of the . ship and cargo will have the opportunity of proving that the wheat cargo was for a peaceful destination. The Note adds that under the Prusso-Amerioan treaties the owners of a ship and cargo reo eive compensation even if the Court declares that the wheat cargo is contraband. TOTAL DAMAGE BY THE ENEMY'S RAIDERS (Rec. April 13, 10.50. p.m.) London, April 13. The German raiding cruisers sank 67 vessels with cargoes valued at £6,091,000. British trade for tho same period totalled £736,000,000. The Emden's share totalled £2,211,000; the Karlsruhe's, £1,662,000; the Kronprinz Wilhelm's, £1,165,000; and the Prinz Eitel Friedrich'fi, £885,000. " BERNSTORFF MUST GO!" GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN BAD ODOUR. (Rec. April 13, 11.50 p.m.) Washington, April 12. Count Bernstorff's memorandum has created a sensation in official circles, especially that part of it which charges the President and his advisers with accepting England's violation of international law. State officials also complain that Count Bernstorff betrayed a secret, as the Note was confidential, without the consent of the American Government. The "New York Herald" heads its article on the subject: "Bernstorff must Go!" and adds: "His act is a deliberate defiance of the United States Government, and if he is not recalled he must be given his passports immediately." [The German Note to the United States complains that civilians in America, have virtually acquiesced in the British blockade of German commerce. While the American Government insists on the legal right to ship arms and ammunition to the Allies, it does not pursue its right to ship foodstuffs and non-con-traband to belligerent civilians. The Note urges a better observance of the spirit of neutrality in general.]