New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 298, 15 December 1914, Page 8

New Zealand

A PURE FABRICATION.

YELLOW JOURNALISMS EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

Per Press Association

Auckland, December 14

American papers to hand by tiie Ma. kura contain a circumstantial account of the supposed loss of the superDreadnbught Audacious, which was struck either by a mine or torpedoed off the Irish coast on the morning of October 27th. When the Audacious* began .to settle a wireless call for help was sent to the Olympic, ten miles away. ' The Olympic arrived soon after, and, in spite of the rough sea, succeeded in saving the whole of the warship’s crew. An attempt was then made to tow the sinking warship fifteen miles to thfe Irish coast, but at 9 p.m., with a liner and a number of cruisers standing by, the bulkheads gave way. There was a terrific explosion aboard the Dreadnought, and site disappeared. The Olympic proceeded to Lough Swilly, where she remained for three days, but no one was allowed to land. Then she proceeded to Belfast, but before they landed the crew and passengers were asked to keep secret the loss of the warship.

The whole elaborate story is, given an emphatic denial by Dr. Beaumont, surgeon on the Olytnpic, who left that vessel at Lough Swillyi, ami who was interviewed in America' early in November. He declared that no' bluejackets were rescued by the Olympic, which saw no trace of the Audacious, and that, so far as he knew, the whole story was a fabrication.

HIDES AND SHEEPSKINS.

, Wellington, December 14

A proclamation was gazetted to-day, prohibiting the export of hides and sheepskins from New Zealand to other than British or other specified ports.

GERMAN SEAMEN ARRESTED

Invercargill, December 14

Four German members of the baiv que Irene were arrested on arrival at the Bluff to-night. They proceed to Sonnies’ Island to-morrow.

BRITISH AND BELGIAN RELIEF

FUND.

Amount acknowledged £603 16s, Hr Perrott £l, Baby Bevins (Hniroa) 2s 3d, F. Pedersen 13s 2d, Stratford Methodist Sunday School £3 12s 6d, W. Phillips £l, T. White 10s, social and dunce CKiore) per Mrs A. G. Stewart £0 Is 9d, Anonymous £5. Total £624 15s Bd. This is'exclusive of amount collected on the Showgrounds for Christmas gifts.

A goat, presented to the British and Belgian Relief Committee by the Misses Helen Abraham and Alice Hignett, realised £9 13s 6d at Mr Newton King’s Haymarket sale on Saturday last.

STRATFORD'S LATEST CONTINGENT. I The Stratford station platform was crowded this morning when the most recent draft of young 'men from this district who are going into training at Trentham for the Expeditionary Force reinforcements left the to\vn with the best wishes of their i .any friends. The Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) and many leading townsmen were on the platform. Sergt. S. James was in charge of the company, which consisted of T. Metcalf, H. Shweiter, R. R. Watkins. A. L. Jones, TT. Lister, W. Mather, A. Carter. W. K. Stronach, J. Glendenning, E. Snieal, F. Durston. W. Reynolds, C. S. Kelly, E. Lance, E. McCartie, and P. Davis, Archie Richmond. 1 -tcrww uu;