ANOTHER CONVOY ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 73, 19 December 1917, Page 5

ANOTHER CONVOY ATTACKED

EN ROUTE TO NORWAY

SIX VESSELS AND FIVE ESCORTS SUNK

STATEMENT BY SIR ERIC

GEDDES

(Rec. December 18, 8.60 p.m.) | London, December 17. Sir Eric Geddos, speaking •in the Houso of Commons, announced that ono British and five neutral merchantmen whilo on route to Norway were attacked on December 12. The six were sunk. One destroyer and four armed trawlers which wero escorting them were also sunk. The convoy was bound from Scotland, and aggregated 8000 tons.. It was protected by an antisubmarine escort, consisting of two destroyers, the Partridge and Pellew, and four armed trawlers. For somo un. explained reason the forco sent 'by tho Commander-in-Chief to sec-ire the convoy against attack by surface vessels did not reach the scene of the action in time to prevent tho convoy's_ destruction. A second convoy, which was also being covored, was not attacked. Admiral Sturdee was presiding at the inquiry into the-circumstances.

Story of the Fight,

The Partridge sighted four of tho enemy's destroyers about 11.45 a.m. on December 12. Tho Pellew i-nd Partridge engaged the enemy while the convoy scattered. Shortlv after tho engagement began the Pellew observed that the Partridge had been heavily hit, and a little later saw an explosion, after which tho vessel sank. About this time the Pellew was holed on the water-line. With her encine-room_ filled with steam,and her engines partially disabled she safelv reached port. Tho enomv then attacked tho convoy, and the six merchantmen and four armed trawlers were sunk. Eighty-six Scandinavians—two _of whom were women—and ten British survivors were rescued bv four destroyers which had been dispatched at full speed from a cruiser squadron which waß hastening to the scene. Other survivors reached Norway in their own boats. One trawler crew was saved in its own boat.. The Pellew had one officer and three men killed and two seriously injured. A report- from Kiel states that tnrca officers and twenty-one of the Partridge's crew and twenty-six from (ho crows of the trawlers have arrived there. Ten of these are wounded.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TOLD BY THE SURVIVORS FOUR GERMAN CRUISERS ALSO PARTICIPATE (Rec. December 19, 1.15 a.m.) Copenhagen, December 18. Survivors from the sunken convoy state that the Partridge sank m ten minutes. The crew continued to serve the guns until she sank. The merchantmen sunk were the Norwegian steamers Bollsta and King Magnus, the Danish steamer Maracaibo, and the Swedish steamor Bothnia Thorleif. Four German cruisers with destroyers participated in tho attack. Tho Germans ottered to rescue the neutrals, but the lr.tter refused to enter the German ships. Lieutenant Grey, a nephew cf tho exForeign Minister, commander of the Partridge, was wounded and taken prisoner—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.