NAVAL HEROISM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2960, 26 December 1916, Page 6

NAVAL HEROISM

THRILLING-STORY OF THE SEA (Rec.«Doc<anber 24, 5.5 p.m.) ■ r 4 London, December 23. A thrilling story of naval heroism is revealed in connection with tho sinking of the steamer Conch, which was torpedoed nt II o'clock at night. Eight thousand tons of benzine was fired by the submarine, and there was a huge conflagration; By 3 o'clock'in the morning, when a i ßritish destroyer sighted tHe blaze, she discovered the ConcK 'burning fore and . aft, and ploughing along at eight knots. Thirty men were aboard huddled together, sceminclv doomed. . Three large steamers were a quarter of a mile from the Conch watching the terrifying spectacle, but powerless to heip. The benzine, welling out of the Umch's side, caused lakes of fire at sea all round. -

Realising the virtual impossibility of getting alongside tho Mazing oil vessel, the captain thrice placed the destroyer acr ? s ? tows of tho doomed sJiip and threw overboard his rafts, lifebelts, buoys, and finally his boats, and shouted to the crew to jump for their lives. Mahy did so, and were saved, but nine were still left after two hours' efforts. *

The flames were by now only.a few feet off, the sTiip was lurching along directionless, and tho destroyer without any life-saving apparatus left. Ihe captain, after forty-eight minutes of nerve-racking , seamanship, placed .the destroyer \gently alongsido the Conch a !l " e doomed creatures were taken off and the: destroyer safely cleared. Ten minutes the Conch disap-peared.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •

DOUBLE INCOME TAX INTERVIEW WITH OUR MINISTERS (Rec. December. 24, 5.5 p.m.) , . London, December 22. A deputation consisting of representan. tives of the Imperial Council of Comraerco, leading merchants, bankers, insurance officials, and representatives of shipping, produce, and mining interests, urged Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to secure relief from the double Income tax. _ Mr. Massey sympathised with 'the deputation's views. He said he was conscious of the effect the duplicate tsixs--tion was likely to have in diminishing the employment of capital abroad. He ■■■considered that the double.tax was inequitable.. He hoped when the Imperial Conference, wliioli ought to have met •; . during the early stages of the war, was summoned, the' question would be thoroughly considered.' . •>- Sir Joseph Ward Btate'd that personally he had made representations to Mr. Asqujth and Mr. Lloyd George in past years against the double taxation, And the system should not be avowed continue. The taxation should be placed on & basis not to cause fricfcSon. between the paxts of the Empire. The income tax should only he paid where the income was earned. He promised . to make representations to Mr. Boner-' -Law (Chancellor of the Exchequer), whom he hoped'.would see the justice ' of the. claim. . . Sir Joseph" Ward told the depufr.tion that he could not abate New Zealand's tax 'on agencies.—lus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. k

. MR. MASSEY OPENS A SOLDIERS' CLUB ' ; GOOD WORK OE THE T.M.C.'A. (Rec. December' 24, 5.5 p.m.) , London, December 22. ■ Mr. Massey opened a large club at Hornchurch for 1500 soldiers. Lord Plttnket, Sir Joseph "Ward, Sir James ■ , Carroll, and Sir Thomas Mackenzie were present. The new building was subscribed for by people in New Zealand! Mr. Massey hoped the peace,proposals/ would be turned down or the soldiers' hardships and sufferings would have gone for nought: America ought to be firmly .but courteously told that as we had carried on the war without her , . assistance we would carry on without it now. ' Sir Joseph Ward, in -thanking those ■ providing comforts for soldiers, warmly acknowledged the Y.M.CXV good • work.—-Aus/-NIZ. Cable . Assn.

CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND QUIETEST FOR MANY YEARS. (Rec. December 25, 5.5 p.m.) Londoij, December' 24. Tins las teen the quietest Christmas for many years, owing to< the high prices of food in conjunction with the news- ■ pipers' appeals for. a. simple Christmas and curfeafled festivities! In. response .... to the appeal not to travel the- railway traffic was small, especially on long distances. Many Christmas' trains scheduled were not needed. The fesvi tire programme at luxurious hotels was modified.— Cable Assn. EGYPTIAN COTTON SHIPMENT PROHIBITED. • (Rec. December 25, 5.5 p.m ; .) Cairo, December 24. • : A decreo prohibits the storing'of cot- • .ton or its disposal to. anyone except. \ residents without special permit. The decree is intended to prevent shipment to persons having enemy associa-tions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' -> FUNERALS HELD UP • SHORTAGE OF GRAVE-DIGGERS. (Rec. December. 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 24. Sixteen funerals wero held up at Nuahcad on Saturday owing -to the shortage of labour. Services were con- - ducted, ,and the coffins placed in the cemetery chapels and crypt, pending the completion of the graves—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. MEXICAN AFFAIRS VILLA AGAIN ON THE WARPATH. • (Rec. December 24, 5.5 p.m.) Vancouver, December 22. Villa attacked Torreon. The fight was continued all day.—Reuter. ~ AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM REASONS FOR THE DEFEAT. (Rec. December 24, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, December 24. The Referendum Council attributes the defeat of the referendum to optimistic war cables, mobilisation, and the doluge of misrepresentations by opponents.—Pross Assn. OBITUARY Sydney, December 23. Mr. C. E. Filcher, senior King's Counsel in the State, and a member of the Legislative Council.—Press Association. EDITOR OF ."FINANCIAL-NEWS." (Rec. December 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 22. Harry Hanancl Marks, Editor and chief proprietor, of the "Financial News!"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The late Mr. Marks was M.P. for St. George,' Tower Hamlets, 1895-1900, and for the'lsle of Thanet, Division of Kent, 1904-M.]