LATEST PIRATE CRIME TO FILL THE GAPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2937, 24 November 1916, Page 5

LATEST PIRATE CRIME

TO FILL THE GAPS

HOSPITAL SHIP TORPEDOED

BRUTAL AND DELIBERATE ATTACK

TRAGIC FATE OF TWO BOATS

Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, November 22, 4.15 p.m. The Admiralty Tcports: The British I j Hospital Ship Britannic (48,158 tons) was ! sank cither by a mine cr a torpedo yesterday in the Aegan Sea. There were 1106 survivors. Fifty others were lost. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Athens reports that tho Britannic was sunk by a submarine off the island of Zea. The survivors and nurses were landed at Phaleron Bay. A TERRIBLE CRIME TEAGIC TATE OF TWO OF THE -BOATS. Australian-New Zealand Oalile Association. (Rec. November 23, 5.5 p.m.) LonSon, November 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Athens says that details of tho outrage prove that the British hospital ship Britannic was the victim of another example of Germany's unmitigated barbarism. "Two Hun submarines lay in wait in the narrow sea for the express purpose of sending her to the bottom, attacking her from both sides simultaneously. Each launched a torpedo. One missed, but the other struck with fatal effect. This deliberate crime was all the worse because the submarine commanders must have noticed that the Britannic was going north, a' fact implying that 6he was carrying only her usual crew and complement of nurses, doctors, and medical service men. That did not count with' the cowardly foe. The Britannic was going to Mudros to take on board the sick and wounded. She was fitted to carry three thousand. "One survivor says :—'Perfect order prevailed. The nurses, like tho officers and the men of the Medical Corps, were lined up on deck, and there was sot the slightest suspicion of panic' A stewardess tells a terrible story of the launching of the first two boats near the stern. The ship was heeling over, and the screw, out of the water, was whirling Tound. Two of the loaded boats were sucked towards it, and' cut up like matchwood. Mauy were killed outright, and others horribly injured." BOW AND STERN GUNS FOR LINERS (Eontcr'p Tolesram.! Paris, November 22. Shipowners and others arc discussing the arming of all merchantmen at both bow and stern.

WHAT THE-BELLIGERENTS ARE DOING AN INTER-ALLIED ARMY .("The. Times.") London, November 22. The King has ordered that every eligible unmarried malo employed in the Royal establishments 6hall Teport to the colour?. (Rce. November 23, 7.20 p.m.) London, November 22. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. Asquitih, the Prime Minister, stated that there seemed to be no general desire for a secret session, though ho was prepared to arranged in the ovent of members urging it. He preferred a man-power debate in public. FRENCH MEASURESTO FILL THE RANKS A SECRET SITTING. (Euuter's Telegram.). Paris, November 22. The Chamber of Deputies has concluded a secret sitting on a Bill calling up the 1919 class, and which it finally decided should bo re-examined medically. It is understood that the question of the creation of an inter-Allied army was considered. GERMAN LEVY EN MASSE AIL MEN FROM 17 TO 60. Australian-New Zcoland Oable Association. Paris, November 22. The "Matin's" correspondent at Zurich states that the Kaiser has ratified the Levy en Masse Bill, which requires all fit men between the ages of 17 and 60 to be called up. ' AUSTRALIA MAY ADOPT THE DERBY SCHEME (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Kec. November 23, 7.5 p.m.) Melbourne,. November 23. Mr. W. M. Hughes (the Federal Prime Minister) will disclose the Government's recruiting proposals when Parliament meets on Wednesday. It is understood that it will bo on the lines of Lord Derby's 6chemo. A proclamation authorises the release of all men called up, and revokes the previous regulation necessitating a monthfs training. [Lord Derby's scheme, briefly, was for a great recruiting campaign on voluntary lines. It definitely placed the chief burden of the recruiting in the hands of civilians, and provided for a complete canvass of men of military age, based on the information given in connection with, the official "pink form" filled in for the National Register in respect of all men of military age. A scheme of recruiting in groups, arranged to age, and differentiating between married and single. A pledge was given by Mr. Asquith that the married men should not be called up if any considerable number of single men refrained from offering their services, until other means had been taken- to bring these single shirkers into line.] THE REFERENDUM RESULT AT SEA, AUSTRALIAN OFFICER ASHAMED OF HIS COUNTRY. (Rcc. November 23, 7.5 p.m.)' Adelaide, November 23. Lieutenant-Colonel Dollman Weir has returned from the front. Speaking at a luncheon, he said that it was almost impossible to conceive the magnitude of the war in France. The casualties were so great that it was imperative that the Australian reinforcements should bo continuous. Lieutenant-Colonel Weir declared that when lie heard on board the transport the result of the referendum, he felt that he could heap ashes on his head in misery. Australia had not played the game. As British soldiers and men thought, a visit by a few Zeppelins to Australia would do good.