ATTACK ON A BRITISH TRANSPORT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2439, 19 April 1915, Page 5

ATTACK ON A BRITISH TRANSPORT

TURKISH VESSEL FIRES THREE TORPEDOES ONE HUNDRED MEN REPORTED LOST BATTLE IN MESOPOTAMIA BRITISH THRASH THE TURKS THE ZEPPELIN RAID GERMAN SELL FACTORY DAMAGED RUSSIAN VICTORIES IN THE CARPATHIANS. GALLANT CHARGE BY CHASSEURS Apart from happenings in the main theatres, where the Allies appear to be making good headway, some stirring events in other regions : are reported to-day. Most notable of all is an important victory gained ■by the Anglo-Indian army in Mesopotamia over a big fore 3 oi Turkish regulars and Arab tribesmen. As a result the Turks have been expelled from an extensive tract of territory at the head of the Persian Gulf. Further particulars of the Zeppelin raids on the Eajt' Coast of England confirm earlier reports that the damage done was comparatively slight. Meantime, Allied airmen have accomplished much more purposeful work in Germany, one party bombarding and setting on fire an electric-lighting station which supplies the.fortress of Metz. Several messages speak of rapidly-increasing tension in Austro-Italian relations, and there have, been suggestive disturbances on the frontier where the two countries'meet/ A British transport has been attacked by a .... Turkish torpedoer in the Aegean Sea, and though the torpedoes missed their mark, it is reported that 100 men on the transport were drown- . ..ed.: In the Western theatre, the French have captured an important hill position in the Vosges on the approach to Northern Alsace. The Russians have gained minor victories in North and Central Poland, and are also pressing forward in the Carpathians, though progress in that region is impeded by a. thaw which has converted mountain streams into formidable torrents and made some roads impassable. ZEPPELIN RAID ON ENGLISH COAST ■ TOWNS , A GIEL SLIGHTLY B OUNDED COMPARATIVELY LITTLE DAMAGE DONE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) , • -ti. 1,, /, , ■ , London, April 16. .me newspaper Echo reports that an aeroplane dropped bombs at Sittmgboume and Faversham, Kent. The aeroplane came from the direction of Deal, and dropped two bombs, without doing any damage, at Faversbam. where shots were fired at tho enemy Then the Taube flew to Sittingbourne at a great height, and dropped a bomb man orchard, killing a blackbird, and another into a chalk quarry • Tuthout doing any harm. When the aeroplane was nearing Sittingbourno, soldiorj opened rifle and machine-gun fire, but result is not known. British airmen went in pursuit of the Taube, which flew eastward shortly before 1 o clock a German biplane appeared at Sheerness. Antiaircraft guns were fired, and the biplane immediately dipped. It recovered ascended, travelled at a high speed across Sliej)pey, seaward,- and escaped It aid not drop any'bomb*.' Sittingbourne is eleven miles east-suth-east of Chatham, and forty-five miles from London, I'aversham, a river port, is fifty-two miles by rail, east-south-east of London, and ten miles west-north-west of Canterbury. REPORTS FROM VARIOUS TOWNS, An airship was seen over Wells, in Norfolk.' London, April 16. . Three bombs were dropped near Henham Hall, fiouthwold, Suffolk. The hall is being used as a hospital for wounded. Another bomb dropped on the raimay line, and set fire to a truck. It is conjectured that three airships were employed. , Another report says that airships were seen at Southminster at 1215 at 110 amf af • at 1145 > at Harwich at 12,53, at Lowestoft at 1.10. and at Wells at 1.40, going seaward in an easterly direction. Ine inhabitants of Lowestoft were warned by sirens, and the noise of the ■£l° airships passed over Felixstowe, but did not drop bombs. lhe Mayor of Southwold states that the airship -lame from the sea but it was obviously uncertain as to its whereabouts, and returned seaward ' At Maldon several houses were damaged, and a girl slightly wounded. Chickens were killed. The airships, dropped bombs in the neighbourhood of the village of Seybndge, without doing any damage. About nineteen bombs fell near the Southwold Hospital. The damage at Lowestoft is estimated at £1000. Four incendiary bombs were dropped near Faversham. TIMBER YARD AT LOWESTOFT FIRED. . n ,• J .., • , , London, April 16. A Zeppelin passed witnin a revolver shot of Gorieston Cliffs at 2 o'clock in the morning. The bulk of the damage done at Lowestoft was due to a timber-yard fire The railway station was evidently the objective. The windows of every house in the Denmark Road, in the vicinity of the station, were shattered/and a number of outbuildings wrecked. The occupant;! of one house were thrown from their beds, doors were blown in, and shop fronts demolished Much damage was done at Maldon, which it is supposed was visited rfTEiistake for Harwich. A bomb dropped m the Spital Road destroyed a plumber's workshop. The owner s family, pccupying an adjoining house, had a narrow escape. The plaster from the ceilings fell, and the family took refuge under their beds Splinters from a bomb damaged neighbouring houses. Heavr beams wero thrown a distance of ,120 feet. The bulk of the windows in the workhoult were broken. Two aircraft were seen over Canterbury. One was a German ; the other was not identifiable. The German made in the direction of Dover, but rc•urned aftir forty-livo minutes, and speeded off norlh-oastcrlv. UNUSUAL ACTIVITY AT GERMAN FLYING BASES. .i ~ ~ • Amstsrdam, April 16. a was seen at o o clock tbis morning, off Holland flvinf towards Germany. " " Three Zeppelins were seen yesterday in tho Korth S«». nni>U'»i , d&,

There is unusual activity at the flying bases at Emden and Cuxhaven. Count Zeppelin has arrived at Cuxhaven. ' Paris, April 16. Allied airmen chased two Taube aeroplanes, which were attempting to fly ovor Armentieres. The Taubes fell in the Gorman lines. Another Taube dropped seven bombs at Calais, but did no damage. (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 17. An official message from Berlin says naval airships successfully bombarded several defended towns on the British East Coast, .and returned undamaged, despite heavy fire. ELECTRIC STATION BOMBARDED BY FRENCH AVIATORS. (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) Paris, April 17. Official.—Our aviators bombed the shell factory at Leopoldshoe and the magazine at Rothwellj causing an explosion. Forty bombs were dropped on the electric station at Massicres, which supplies the i'etz forts with powerlight, causing largo fire. All the aviators returned safely. M. Garris went up immediately he saw a bomb-dropper, and caught up and jockoyed for position. Ho finally swooped down from behind. He reserved his fire until within thirty yards. With two shots lie killed the pilot and the observer. The machine was dashed to the earth. AN AUSTRIAN ZEPPELIN WRECKED. CRec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) r Paris, "April 17. An Austrian Zeppelin, while manoeuvring, fell in the Adriatic Sea. and was destroyed. The crew perished. TURKISH TORPEDO BOAT ATTACKS BRITISH TRANSPORT ATTACKER DRIVEN ASHORE AND WRECKED ONE HUNDRED MEN ON TRANSPORT REPORTED DROWNED High Commissioner reports:— London, April 17, 10.40 p.m. The Admiralty reports that the British transport Alanitou, carrying troops, was attacked by a Turkish torpedo boat in the Aegean Sea this morning. The Turks fired three torpedoes, oil of which missed. The Turk was chas'ed by tho British cruiser Slinerva and destroyers, and was run. ashore and destroyed on the coast of Chios. The crew were made prisoners. It is reported t)iat a hundred men on the transport were drowned, but full particulars have not been received. (Rec. April 19, 0.40 a.m.) Athens, April 18. The torpedo* left the Gulf of Smyrna during a storm, and eluded the warships until she attacked the Manitou. When, chased she tried to dodgo among the small islands, aided by the knowledge of the depth of the channels, but realising that the game was up she ran on to a rocky shore. Five German officers and twenty-five Turks were captured. [The Manitou is a four-masted steamer of about 7000 tens, belonging to the Atlantic Transport Co., Ltd. She was built in 18'JS, and has a epted of 13J knots.] STRONG POSITIONS CAPTURED BY BRITISH AND INDIAN TROOPS... London, April 16* The Press Bureau ptates;—"British and Indians attacked fifteen thousand Turks at Zobeir on April 14, and captured a strong- position at the point of the bayonet. Our casualties were seven hundred. rZobeir is a town in Mesopotamia, nine miles south-west of Busra (or Bassorah), near the head of the Persian Gulf.] (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) _ London, April 17. The Press Bureau reportsßritish and Indians drove the Turks from their advance post, four miles south of Shaiba, and attacked their main line near a wood, where the trenches were well ooncealed and strengthened with sis guns and many machine guns. The enemy resisted, with the utmost determination, but the attack was driven p'uokily, the whole line charging in the face of heavy rifle and machine gun fire. The Turks retired nineteen miles to Hakkhailah. TURKS ABANDON LARGE QUANTITIES OF STORES AND AMMUNITION. ''High Commissioner reports:— London, April 17, 10.40 p.m. The actions in the vicinity of Shaiba, on Tuesday and. Wednesday, were crowned with complete success. Ord Basrah, Zobeir, Bargisikeh, and Shwebda are clear of the enemy, who is retreat-ing beyond Hakkhailah. In their hurried retreat the Turks abandoned large quantities of tents, equipment, stores, and ammunition, - and of the latter all was either collected or destroyed. According to prisoners' statements, the enemy comprised two divisions of regular infantry with 32 guns, irrespective of Arab tribes. RAILWAY BRIDGE DESTROYED BY FRENCH CRUISER. Parlßi April 10. Official. —A French cruiser yesterday destroyed a railway bridge connecting Acre with the interior Syrian railway system. [Acre is a seaport on the coast of Syria, not far from the base of Mount Carmel. It has a population of about 10,000.] CONCENTRATION' CAMP OF TURKS BOMBARDED. (Reo, April 18, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, 17. Official.—A battleship supported by aeroplanes «ffectively bombarded the Elarish end of the concentration of Turkish troops. ACTIVITY OF RUSSIAN TORPEDO BOATS. (Rec. April 18, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, April 17. Russian torpedoers in the Black Sea sunk four steamers and several sailers. High Commissioner reports:— London, April 17, 2.50 p.m. In the Black Sea on Thursday Russian torpedo boats off the coast of Anatolia sunk four steamers and several trading vessels and bombarded Zunguldak, <ii SULTAN OF TURKEY DETERMINED TO. ABDICATE. (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) Paris, April 17. The "Temps" Dedegatch correspondent reports that tho Turkish Imperial Council discussed the transference of the capital to Asia Minor. The Sultan blamed the Young Turks for the country's misfortunes, and declared that he was determined to abdicate if the capital is threatened. CONSTANTINOPLE PLACARDED WITH DEMANDS FOR PEACE (Reo. April 19, 0.45 a.m.) Rome, April 18. The "Corriere Delja Sera" states that the streets of Constantinople were on Friday placarded with manifestoes demanding peace, and accusing the Germans as being the origin of the Turks' misfortunes. The desire for peace among the poorer classes is almost universal, for many are in a state of Eemistarvation. ANARCHY, PILUGE, AND MURDER IN SMYRNA. Paris, April 17. "Le Temps" says that anarchy prevails in Smyrna. Under the pretext that they are levying army requisitions, the Turks are pillaging the shops and robbing the wealthiest people. Many murders occur daily. CAMPAIGN IN THE CARPATHIANS TACTICAL POSITION CAPTURED GERMANS HURRYING UP REINFORCEMENTS (Rec. April 18, 5.5 fl.m.) ' _ Petrograd, April 17. Operations on both sides of the Carpathian front are inactive, owing to the heavy snow rapidly melting, and rendering the roads useless. Heavy rain lias added to the chaos in many places, nevertheless, the Russians captured Jarorov, three miles from the Uszok Pass, and tactically important. It stands at tho junction of two highways and tho Stryj-Uzhgorod-Ughely railway. Dghel.v, is an important junction toward Budapest. The Germans are still hurrying reinforcements to the Uszok Pass. Tho "Novo® Vrcmya's" military export says Germany is evidently preparing to attack on the whole front, in tho hope of saving the situation by an overwhelming blow on the Censorchova-Cracow front. RUSSIANS CAPTURE TWO HEIGHTS. (Rec. April IS, 5.5 p.m.) Pctreerad, April 15. Official.—cuptUKd two heights near Tahpevc*. Th* rosdc its tb» C'ar< p&thim evKvwb'ere' are bad, owing to U>sW' .

High Commissioner reports:— London, April 17, 4 p.m. In the Carpathians the Russians broke through wire entanglements between Telopovce and Zuelle, and after a bayonet encounter gained two heights, taking numerous prisoners. Tho enemy counter-attacked, and the fighting continues. Attacks near Ovosx.patuk against heights lield by tho Russians were fruitless. The attacks are persistent. The attacks directed against Strvj were repelled. AUSTRIANS DISLODGED FROM THEIR. TRENCHES. High Commissioner's report:— London, April 17, 1.35 p.m. In Galieia, the Russians on Wednesday forced wire-barriers, and with a bayonet charge dislodged the Austrians from two lines of trenches. The enemy sustained comparatively considerable losses, and sixty-one were taken prisoners. In tlie Carpathians the melting snow is making mountain streams formidable torrents. The Dniester has risen four metres. German aeroplanes have been activo. flotillas of twelvo to fifteen throwing a hundred and eighty bombs. A town and village wore attacked in North Poland with insignificant damago, and no casualties. Russian aviators replied with a smaller number of largo bombs. ITALIAN INTERVENTION IMMINENT SITUATION CRITICAL PROLONGED ITALIAN CABINET MEETING London, April 16. A correspondent in Rome says: "The situation is undoubtedly critical. Now, for the first time, there is reason to think that Italian intervention is imminent. There is, good cause to believe that Italy has finally tabled her demands for concessions from Austria-Hungary, and that these nave exceeded , what could possibly be accepted. It is likely the conversations will ha continued ior a little time, Austria interpreting the communications as a basis for- bargaining." J Parlß, April 10, I The "Matin" describes 'the prolonged Italian Cabinet meeting. It says that military questions were discussed. Fourteen decrees were formulated, but the text of them will not be divulged un til Italian neutrality has been abandoned.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. GREAT MILITARY 4CTIVITY ON NORTH-EASTERN FRONTIER (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) London, April 17. _ The "Daily ChroiiicleV Verona correspondent states that there is great military activity on the North-Eastern frontier. The Italians are incessantly moving guns, cavalry, and infantry th roitgliout the Stenitia mountains. The frontier i,i swarming with troops.' Nothing has bean neglected to lock tho doors over the mountains, though snow renders military operations improbable. The principal activity is in the Udine, where there is every branch of army units and all tho most important regiments. It is estimated that over four thousand deserters have arrived in Verona from Austria during the war, and many were frozen to death in the mountains. ■It is reported that the Adige Valley, on the Austrian sido, has been devastated by the making of trenches. AUSTRIANS AND ITALIANS EXCHANGE SHOTS. (Rec. April 18, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, April 17. Fifteen Austrian soldiers penetrated Trentino through the pass at Loro. Customs officials exchanged shots with them. SMUGGLING ON THE AUSTRO-ITALIAN FRONTIER. (Rec. April 18, 3.30 p.m.) Romo, April 17. Much smuggling is taking place on the Austrian frontier. Five hundred persons were recently arrested for attempting to cross the frontier near Cormons with quantities of flour, for which the Austrian authorities pay handsomely. REVOLUTIONARIES BOMBARD DURAZZO. Durazzo, April 16. Six thousand revolutionaries under Austrian and Turkish officors are bomthe town. Italian warships have arrived. [Durazsso is a port of Albania, fifty miles south of Skutari. It was coveted by Servia in 1912.] THREE GERMAN BATTERIES SILENCED BRILLIANT ATTACK BT CHASSEURS London, April 17, 2.60 p.m. At Notre Dame de Lorette three German counter-attacks after preparatory violent bombardment were stopped, and another at Les Eparges last night also failed. , ■ . At Bois de Mortmare, in an artillery fight, the Allies reduced to silence three German batteries, and exploded an ammunition store. London, April 18, 1.6 a.m. Paris reports.—ln the Vosges appreciable progress has been made on the two banks of the Fecht. 'We gained possession of the western spur of Sillakerwasen, west of Metzeral (14 wloa iV/.S.W ; of Colmar). _ The Chasseurs, after a brilliant attack, captured the summit of Schnepfenwieth Kopf, 1253 metres high, whioh separates the two valleys adjoining Metzeral.