THE ATTACK ON THE CONVOY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 5

THE ATTACK ON THE CONVOY

COLD-BLOODED AFFAIR

NO ATTEMPT TO RESCUE SURVIVORS

TERRIBLE SCENES

Copenhagen, October 21. The Admiral commanding at Christiania reports that survivors of the convoy have reached Bergen. They state that the convoy, consisting of twelve merchantmen escorted by two British destroyers, was attacked on Wednesday morning by two largo German warships. The enemy ships ordered the convoy to stop, and started firing immediately, quickly sinking the destroyers, which were of inferior size and equipment. The merchantmen were then sunk one after the other. The affair only lasted an hour. The merchantmen launched some lifeboats, but the boats filled in the heavy sea. After all the vessels were sunk the enemy departed. The survivors 6aved several men from <ho wreckage, and reached Norway after two days of suffering on the open sea. It is reported that seventeen survivors from a British destroyer reached Ivorway, while eighty-five sailors of the convoy perished. Two officers and eight men, survivors of the destroyer Maryrose, have landed at Bergen. They will not be interned, as they were rescued by a Norwegian lifeboat after the destroyer was sunk.

The British destroyers fought gallantly, but were sunk in half an hour. The men bravely etuck to the guns to the last. Terrible scenes were enacted cn the decks of rhe Sefenceless merchantmen, where many sailors weTO killed. The weather is calm, and lit is hoped that further survivors may be rescued. 'Ihe captain of the Norwegian steamer Kirstine was tho 6ole survivor of tis ship. Ho states that the crew took to the boats, but the Germans continued firing, and a shell hit one boat and killed nine of those in it. The crew in despair returned to the steamer and signalled "stop firing" without result. The German Press sounds f. chorus of exulting praise, seeing in the North Sea raid and the Oesel operations proof of the bold offensive spirit of the- German Fleet. The "Cologne Gazette" publishes an ax tide, entitled "Where is the British Fleet?"—AuvN.Z. Cable Assn.

119 MEN LANDED. (Rcc. October 22, 7.30 p.m.) Christiania, October 21.' One hundred and nineteen, men from the convoyed vessels have landed from lifeboats on the Norwegian coast. Theso represent considerably below half the crews.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.