AN APOLOGY TO CHILE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2438, 17 April 1915, Page 7

AN APOLOGY TO CHILE

SEQUEL TO THE DRESDEN l FIGHT SIR EDWARD GREY'S "AMENDE" London, April 15. •Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of. State for Foreign Affairs,'has apologised to Chile for the sinking of the German cruiser Dresden in the neutral waters of Cumberland Bay. The Chilean Note referring to the sinking of the Dresden, says that the Dresden, on March 9, anchored 500 metres (540 yards) from the sliore of Cumberland Bay ' (Juan Fernandez Island) and asked for eight days for repairs. ■ , The Governor refused the request, but allowed twenty-four hours, at the end of which time he notified the Dresden that she was interned, and communicated with his .Government. Before the Chilean Government replied, the British cruisers Kent and Glasgow and the armed liner Orama arrived, and on March 14 they opened (ire. When the Dresden's protest was not accepted, the captain blew up the ship. This act of hostility, said the Note, had painfully surprised the Clnlean Government. Sir Edward Cray's Reply. Sir Edward Grey, in reply, said that lie deeply regretted the misunderstanding. The Glasgow's captain had hot .Vet reported; but other reports suggested that the Dresden had not accepted internment. Her colours wero flying and her guns were trained, and she might have escaped and attacked commerce. Probably the British ofiicars assumed that sho ivas defying the Chilean authority and abusing Chilean neutrality. The Government, however, did not desire to qualify its apology. BRITISH PRISONERS ON THE KRONPRINZ WII.HELM LIFE IX "A DIRTY PHUT 15 SHIP." London, April'ls. British prisoners oil the Kronprinz Wilhclm have been released. They iHiaiiltrmtisly ih'jt. 11-lKy uj'B tea turai#£ to JSaglaM to gftUut.

Captain Creighton, of the sunken ship Caleby, said: _For weeks I have been forced to live in the bottom of a dirty pirate ship, wondering day and night when I would be killed like a rot in a trap. Immediately I set foot in England I will go and enlist. My ono hopo is to bo ablo to put a bit of lead through a German. 1 While the Kronprinz Wilhelm was well supplied, the prisoners were fed on rice, bully beef, and sour bread. They ivove shut up in a dark room at 6 o'clock nightly. The Kronprinz Wilhelm was faster than most of the British warßhips, one of which chased lier within the. three-mile zone. The Kronprinz AVillielm frequently throw overboard woodwork bearing the name of the steamer, in order to mislead British warships and make them think she was sunk."—-"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.