GERMAN RAIDER LOOSE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1917, Page 2

GERMAN RAIDER LOOSE

In South Atlantic--20 Vessels Reported Sunk, (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association) (Received Jan IS. nt 8.45 a.m.) New York, J in 17

Buenos Ayres dcpatchts from Pernambuco and Rio de Jamaro, state there ere 287 survivor-, from five steamers sunk by a Desman raider, believed to be named the Vileta, 80 miles cf Pernambuco.

They arrived at Pernambuco aboard the Japanese steamer Hudson Maru.

The survivors’ statements vary. Some declare the raider sunk or captured 19 steamers and schooners, in the South Atlantic.

- Others say seven shipß were sunk and nine captured.

One report says an unarmed British steamer was sunk without warning, and the lose of 400 lives, but the report is vague, as to whether the 400 includes the total los’et of nil steamers sunk.

The raiair is described as armed with 12 cannons and four torpedo tubes, and is painted black.

Some survivors were aboard her for

28 days

The vessels mentioned as sunk or captured are the Diamatiat, Radnowehire, Voftairt, Sumara, Dims, Ortega, Hammersfcus, New Portland, Nonaut, Ssmpel, S.;n Giorgia, Nesser, King George, Vanouda’et, St Hiordor, St Sael, Micbanethiel, Snowdon, Grange, Gailey, Nantes, Aatieree. Among the survivors are a number of Indians who contradict the first identification of the raider and declare the name was indecipherable.