THE STORY OF THE BARALONG

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 6

THE STORY OF THE BARALONG

ARABIC'S MURDERERS DEALT WITH RETRIBUTION ON THE HIGH SEAS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January 11. Tho gunner of the liaralong state's: "Wo received a wireless message from tho Nicosian on August 1 ( J, and went full speed to her assistance. An hour later we sighted the Nicosian being shelled by a. submarine, while the crew was getting out the lifeboats. We.had plenty of ammunition ready on the poop, and tho marines took shelter behind the bulwarks, "The captain, by excellent seamanship, brought the vessel to starboard of the Nicosian, so that we were hidden from the submarine's view for o few moments, during which wo cleared for action, and trained the guns outboard, and hoisted tho white ensign. When we appeared around the. Nicosian's bows, the submarine fired a shot, and. the marines replied with a volley which swept the decks- of the submarine and seemed to demoralise tho crew, which immediately left tho guns and rushed the conning-tower, soveral going overboard. We fired the port stern gun, and hit the submarine beueath the waterline. The second shot, on the conning-tower, sent two men flying high into the air. The submarine gradually sank. "Every one of the crew was either drowned or shot, and only a few parts of bodies and a largo quantity of oil remained on tho surface. The aotion lasted four and a half minutes. Wo fired thirty-seven rounds. Tho submarine was one of Germany's ..latest and largest types, three hundred feet taig. and of about a thousand tons. She had two guns, fore and ift, slightly larger in calibre than the Baralong's. W« were disgusted at the cowardice of t.ho submarine's crew, for, apart from having heavier guns, she had soveral torpedo tubes. They were ready enough to kill and maim passengers on dofenceloss merchant ships, but had no stomach for fighting armed ships, oven when the odds were in their favour. "We rescued 107 of the crew of tne Nicosian. None were injured or killed. We had no casualties."

A NAVAL WRITER'S COMMENT

("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, 11, ■ lhe naval ■ correspondent of the "Observer" says that the submarine whioli was sunk by the Baralong was the destroyer of ths Arabio. The hands of the crew- were still dripping with tho blood of women and children. Germany's allegations had not been proved, her witnesses were contradictory and unreliable, but tho commander of the Baralong obviously could not allow the Germans to reach the Nicosian, to which they were swimming instead of tho Baralong. The Germans could have takcii out the valves and held up their hands and cried "kamerad." Concerning the German commander, most people think that the destroyer of the Arabic deserved his alleged fate. The statement that lie attempted to surrender is contradicted. "We are sorry tho British kicked tho faces of doad men. Ir- is palpable that tho world knows what to think of those who' whine over the necessary shooting of a submarine's crew while they go on perpetrating outrages like the sinking of tlie Persia."

THE MUNITIONS BILL

SECOND READING IN THE HOUSE OE LORDS. By Telegraph—Press Association—CoDyrisht (Rec. January 12, 9.20 p.m.) London, January 12. The Munitions Bill has passed its 6econd reading in the House of Lords. SIR GEORGE REID. M;P. ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT UNOPPOSED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January 11. Mr. Mackenzie Bell has withdrawn from the contest for St. George's, Hanover Square, giving Sir George Reid a walk-over. Sir George Reid has therefore been returned unopposed.