THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 July 1915, Page 3

THE WAR

Latest Cables This Afternoon's War ."News.;.:/ [ULKGTIUO XBLBOUAPa—OOPXBXQHI.J [l'Bll PRESB ASBOOUIION-1 - (Received This Day 9.30 a.m.) TRANSATLANTIC LiINER SUNK. London, July 1. A submarine iired a torpedoe at and sank the Leyland liner Armenian off the Scilly Islands on Monday night. It is believed that several of the crew were killed. A lumber of Americans were aboard and the incident has caused a sensation in America. Mr Page, American Ambassador m London,, and Mr Gerard, American Ambassador at Merlin, have been instructed to report.

The Armenian's survivors liavc arrived at Cardiff. They state that tliey sighted the submarine 200 miles off the Stilly Islands and the steamer went full speed and made desperate efforts to escape. The captain defied U3B's orders to stop until a shell crashed into the engine-room and tlio ship came tc u standstill. Members of the submarine's crew boarded the steamer and put two large bombs aboard the liner. She sank in thirty minutes. Five boats got clear and another had the davit ropes cut by a shell, and the occupants were thrown into the sea. The submarine fired at a Belgian trawler coming to the rescue, but eventually desisted and the trawler secarfld the occupants of the live Boats. The liner Targuah picked up the Armenian's wireless messages. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. . Captain Trickery, of Hie Armenian, interviewed, said: The submarine signalled us to stop by putting a couple of gunshots across our 'bows when four miles off. I put my stern to him and ran for it. He shelled us continuously with shrapnel and killed several of the crew, and precipitated some into the sea. I realised that the enemy was gaining but struggled on. Then a shell knocked the steering gear out of order, another fell in the engnie-room a third carried away the .\larconi house, and a fouirtli cut down the funnel. Ths disabled men in the stokehold prevented me getting up steam. The ship was afire in three places, when it was decided to surrender. We had resisted for, an hour and twelve or thirteen men were lying dead on tlie deok. Tin submarine, commander made me clear {Tie ship. The Fairness picked up some of the crew who wore 'floating in lifebelts. Most of the .members of the crew who perished were Americans." Washington, July 1. The American Consul at Bristol reports that twenty Americans were drowned. The fact has caused a sensation in official circles, particularly because it was expected that Germany'* i'oi)[v was favourable to the German Note. that tho ship should have been seah&ed and the crew transferred to safety before "the. vessel was destroyed. DAKDAxXELL^'dASIJAL'IUES. London, July 1. The lit. Hon. H. H. Asquith, in the House of Commons, said that the naval and military casualties at the Dardanelles to the 31st 'May wore: Officers:' 496 killed, 113-1 wounded and 01 misslug; men 6927 killed, 23,452 wounded and 04-15 missing. THE CENSORSHIP. In the House of Commons (Sir A. IS. Markhani, denounced' the policy of withholding hews already welf-known to the . enemy. He learned that Sir Stanley Buckmaister and the censors had striven throughout' the war to give more news to the pulblic, but Lord Kitchener had blocked it. The industrial difficulties would never have arisen had the Government taken the couiitry into itst confidence. . Sir John ■Simon said that while the Government was anxious to give as much information as possible it must defer to an expers's opinion in keeping back information helpful to the enemy. SCANDINAVIA'S COTTON IMPORTS The lit Hon. W. Runciinan informed the Earl of Ronaldshay that the aggregate amount of cotton imported into Scandinavia from January to March totalled 6-1,1-11 metric tons, as compared with 10,339- metric tons for the corresponding period of 1914. AERIAL DTJI2L. Paris, July 1. A sensational aerial duel between a Frenchman and a German took place at a height of 2000 feet. The Frenchman outmanoeuvred the German whose machine burst into flames and fell; both the occupants were killed. THE TURKS' LOSSES. A French naval officers describes the Turkish losses as enormous, and states that masses of corpses are lying between the lines. The Turks are humiliated at the manner in which the Germans have assumed all oontrol and there is suppressed discontent. GERMAN ATTACKS CHECKED. Paris, July 1. A communiquo states that the German attack in the Argonne yesterday was 'particularly violent, and it is estimated that two divisions were engaged in the attack which was checked. Another violent attack was made near Metzeral; this also was checked completely. Tlie Germans sustained important losses. 1