THE FIGHT WITH THE PIRATE CRUISER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 5

THE FIGHT WITH THE PIRATE CRUISER

"PEACEFUL MERCHANTMAN" DESCRIBED

London, March 26. The Greif was a light protected cruiser, carrying two Tin. guns and six 4iu. guns. She had three torpedo tubes. The vessel left Wilhelmshaven at the beginning of the month. It transpires that at one time the Alcantara observed the Greif with two funnels, then three, and next one. The Alcantara's guns were trained on the stranger. The first shot carried away the bridge and everything thereon. , .... The Alcantara, dissatisfied with the Greif's assurance that sho was a peaceful merchantman, lowered a boat. Then the Moowe tricks wore repeated. A button, was pressed, and the merchantman was transformed into a foe.' The three torpedo tubes were immediately worked. The first torpedo, missed; the second and third found their mark. The British commander, like p. flash, ordered a terrific broadside to be fired into the enemy, whoso delirium of delight was turned into tense anxiety Though the British gunners were surrounded by stricken men, and the Alcantara was mortally wounded, they worked feverishly to do the utmost damage, and the guns raked the Groif until both vessels were sinking. The Greif foundered with a number of her crew.. Two of the crew of the Greif were buried, at Edinburgh with the utmost respect. The coffins were borne on a gun-carriage, coverecUwith a Gorman flag, and were drawn by six horses. German officers and men were in the procession. Th'o public respectfully saluted the remains, and the Germans were uuablo to conceal their surprise. A THRILLINC HAMMER-AND-TONCS BATTLE. (Reo. March 28, 0.35 a.m.) London, March 27. Hie "Scotsman" says that tho Alcantara, nfter dianbiinc her adversary. ceased fire, and moved closer to assist the suakina vcssol., when a torpedo goj

the British ship at closo range. The' Alcantara's guns shattered the raider's upper works, and left her a mere tangle of twisted ironwork amidships. Tho Grcif's wireless operator maintained a "jam," preventing tho _ Alcantara from signalling until a shot found tlio wireless room, and tlio British patrols responded. " ... , ~ _, - ~ , Our shots tore up the docks, which wcro a shambles. Tlio Greif gavo and took a merciless pounding, but tho German gunnery was wretched. Tlio raider's "iins were admirably protected, and were-worked to the end. Tho rescue ships°woro just in timo to rcscuo the wounded and drowning. The Alcantara's manoeuvring hampered the enemy, a shell wrecking the latter's rudder. Tho British losses wore entirely attributablo to tho explosion of the torpedo. . The Greif was about 9000 tons register.