North Sea Loss.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 33, 25 September 1914, Page 5

North Sea Loss.

A CUNNER'S STORY.

WHAT IT FEELS 6 LIKE TO BE

TORPEDOED.

SUBMARINES* DARING WORK.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 9.0 a.m.) • Loudon, September 24. Mr Albert J. Dougherty, chief gunner of the Cressy states: "We were,.steaming sip wlj,,,in, line somewhere off the coast of Holland, one hundred yards approximately separating each vessel, when suddenly I heard a great crash, and the middle ship, the Aboukir, heeled over, going down rapidly. We closed up with the sinking ship, when there was a second crash, and the Hoguo began to settle down. As we drew near them, someone shouted to me, 'Look out! There's a submarine on the port beam!' I saw it about 400 yards away, the periscope showing above the waves. I took careful aim with a twelve pounder, but the shot went over her. about two yards. I gave the range and fired again, and hit the periscope. She disappeared and came up again, showing her conning tower. I fired a third time and smashed in the top of the conning tower. After that, I shot at a trawler, which was 1000yds away and was evidently a German disguised and directing operations. The shot set her afire, but her ultimate fate is unknown! By this time we were struck by one torpedo,, but the damage was not vital. Then I saw a second submarine to starboard, and made a desperate effort to get her but' failed. The torpedo got home about the engine room of the Cressy, and she began to turn over. I believe Captain Johnson went down with tiie ship. One torpedo passed under her stern, the enemy actually discharging torpedoes while the water was thick with drowning men. I saw five submarines, but only one was hit."

The Aboukir and Hague carried a complement of 700 men, ,the Oressy 745.

KILLED EN THEIR SLEEP.

THE DASH OF THE ENEMY'S ,F FLOTILLA.

(Received 9.0 a.m.) London, September 24

The Cbronicle's Harwick correspondent says the parent ship of the submarine flotilla flew the Dutch flag and made no effort to save life.

It is reported that the flotilla left the Baltic last week, came through the Kiel Canal, and dashed to Borkum, whence the raid was made. Two torpedoes struck the Aboukir. Most of her crew were killed while asleep. The officers and crews of all the ships behaved admirably.

Borkum.—A small German island at the mouth of the rivers Ems, one of the Frisian group. Tt is used as ia summer resort. The population is 1550.

GERMAN GLEE.

"FORECAST OF WHAT BRITAIN

MAY EXPECT!"

(Received 10.30 a.m.) Rome, Sepetmber 24

News from Berlin states that the sinking of tho cruisers caused great

enthusiasm, It is declared that it lis only a forecast of what Britain may expect when she faces the German navy. OTHER ACCOUNTS. SKIPPER OF A TRAWLER HOLDS THE WATCH. DUTCH CAPTAIN ON THE SCENE. London, September 23. The skipper of a trawler says that he was quite close when the Aboukir was sunk in four minutes, the Hogue in ten minutes, and the Cressy in three minutes. He saved 300. Captain Nicholson, of the Cressy, is among r the saved. The captain of the Dutch steamer Titan, of Rotterdam, states that 30 miles from the coast he saw the three English cruisers on the horizon. He noticed one disappear. He looked again, and saw heavy smoke bursting from another cruiser, and heard a faraway explosion. He altered his course, and while going to their aid the third ship was struck, and he saw a submarine dashing away at a great rate. The two remaining cruisers rolled on their sides and disappeared. When the Titan arrived he found two cutters saving the men, who were all naked. They had been in the water so long that they had discarded their clothes. There was also a sloop absolutely .full of men. All around were other swimmers, nearly exhausted by their long immersion, some clinging to wreckage, and others floating on tables. He got out two boats, and rescued 114, including Commander Sells of the Aboukir, who collapsed from sheer exhaustion but soon revived. ■ ■

SURVIVORS REACHING PORT.

DISCREPANCIES IN THE TIMES.

London, September 23.

Five hundred and five survivors have reached port, of which 38 are wounded, but not seriously.

The chief petty, officer of the Aboukir says he believes the torpedo struck the Aboukir amidships. He saw no periscope. When the Cressy's and the Hope's boats were searching for survivors an hour later, he saw two German submarines fire torpedoes, and the Hogue sank in half-an-liour, whilst an hour afterwards four torpedoes struck the Cressy. ■ The submarines were in strong force. "FORTY-EIGHT!" ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THE ABOUKIR'S 800.

London, September 23

Nearly 100 of the cruisers' survivors have lioen landed at Harwich. Only 18 of tbe 843 on tiio Aboukir wore saved Tbe warship Lowestoft brought the majority of the survivors, who report that they saw the two Gorman submarines sunk. Twenty officers are among the rescued. The sunken cruisers had 28 cadets aboard, called up for midshipman's duties'on the outbreak of war.

The midshipmen of the Aboukir 'jumped overboard, and the Hogue res. Knee* l them. They again jumped overboard when the Hogue was struck, and the Cressy picked thorn up. When < fi) ally flung into the water, they clung to the wreckage till the Titan picked them up. THE WORK OF ONE CERMAN SUBMARINE ONLY.

only one submarine, the U 9, attacked the cruisers and that she returned un. damaged, none being wounded.

The sailors landed in Holland were seriously injured.

TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

EXPLOSION TORE GREAT LUMP OUT OF ABQUKIR'S SIDE.

"EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!"

(Received 10.30 a.m.) London, September'2-1

A member of the Aboukir who was on watch states: The explosion shook the whole ship and tore a great lump out ot : her side. Many or the men on the upper decks were killed outright. When the vessel heeled over until the rail was immersed the ort'er ■ given "every man for himself!" Long before the Cressy and Hogue reached the spot, the Aboukir had disappeared. The Germans certainly took us by surprise and made the most of the opportunity. Most of the victims belong to Chatham, where about 1000 homes are faced with mourning.