On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 29, 5 February 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

IN THE DARDANELLES. BOMBARDMENT CAUSES ALARM IN CONSTANTINOPLE. Times and Sydney Sttn Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Petrograd, February 4. Arrivals from Turkey allege the Allied Fleets' bombardment of the Dardanelles smashed four of tlte principal forts. There was much alarm in Constantinople, and the Ministry transferred to the Asiatic shore.

OUTRAGE ON HOSPITAL SHIP. United Press Association. Paris, February 3. Official: A German submarine fired a torpedo at the British hospital ship Asturias off Havre, but missed. The Asturias was painted white, with large red closses on the sides and funnels. There was not the slightest excuse for the outrage. GERMAN ADMIRALTY'S BRILLIANT IDEA. Amsterdam, February 3. The German Admiralty states: "The British are about to ship troops and material to France. We shall use all military means to prevent this, and we warn peaceful shipping against approaching the north-west coast of France owing to the danger of being mistaken for transports. Ships trading to the North Sea. ports are advised to proceed round Scotland." RUSSIAN SUBMARINES WORK THE BALTIC.

Petrograd, February 3

A flotilla of Russian submarines sank a German gunboat near the scene of the Gazelle affair. CERMAN TORPEDO BOAT SUNK. Petrograd, February 3. Official: A submarine sank a German torpedo boat off Moeii. (Moen is a Danish chalk island, south of Zealand.) H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA. SCORES AGAIN BY SINKINC CERMAN AUXILIARY CRUISER. (Received 8.35 a.m.) London. February 4. Renter at Buenos Aires reports that H.M.A.S. Australia sunk a German auxiliary cruiser, of the Woermann line, off Patagonia. CREW LANDED ON THE FALKLANDS. ► (Received 8.55 a.m.) Buenos Aires, February 4. The crew of the sunken Woermann liner was conveyed to the Falklands. GERMANY AND THE COMMERCIAL FREEDOM OF NEUTRALS.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Stockholm, February 4. ■ Germany's warning, which was cabled on the 2nd inst., has aroused indignation. It is interpreted as a fresh blow at the commercial freedom of neutrals. MISCELLANEOUS. London, February 3. Mr Archibald Hurd, naval writer in the Daily Telegraph, argues that com-merce-destruction by submarines is a confession of weakness. The Kaiser's submarines would, not be wasting time sinking small merchant ships if they could sink warships. Other authorities declare that the attacks are scarcely removed from absolute piracy, and are unanimously of opinion that such a form of blockade cannot succeed. They do not cerdit Admiral von Tirpitz's declaration that tho biggest type of submarine is capable of circumnavigating Britain unless the Germans have found a place to lay up and rest the crews. The Morning Post urges that'the best reply to German outrages «ili bo to declare contraband everything that goes into Germany from the seaward. The Times' naval correspondent says that the carrying out of a l'Uthless submarine war against British merchantmen has failed to inflict a moral shock. The Admiralty will assuredly take steps to make a counter-attack, as it did attack the mercantile raiders on tho high seas. The skill and enterprise of the commander of U2l are beyond question. He appears anxious to emulate the chivalry of the Emden's captain. Others have not followed bis example.

London, February 4. Britain has informed Washington that she will seize the steamer VVilbelmina, and consider her cargo of foodstuffs as contraband. Gibraltar reports that a heavy gale wrecked forty vessels at Cadiz, many lives being lost and enormous destruction caused to the harbors. Mr MaoXamara (Financial Socretary to the Admiralty) speaking in the House of Commons, said the submarine's conning tower was showing when it attempted to torpedo the Asturias.

German newspapers continue to affirm that British vessels wore sunk, thus the Admiralty was able truthfully to siiy that all the English vessels returned to port from the North Sea engagement. The Right Hon. T. J. MacNamara, in the House of Commons, said the Government would notify "neutrals of the German submarine attempt to torpedo the British hospital ship Asturias, hut the civilised world did not need representations to add to its horror at the wanton outrage.

The Times' naval correspondent writes that the proposal of merchant ships to revert to the ancient prac-

tice of ;i number sailing together far mutual protection raises an interesting question of international law.as to whether this is legal without Government authority. Strong feeling exists that vessels should not tamely submit to being hoarded by German officers from submarines, however courteous they may be.