On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 6 February 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA'S WIN.

A FIVE-HOUR CHASE.

United Press Association. London, February 5

An officer of the Australia, in a letter, states that they sighted a steaier off the Brazilian coast on January ich, at a distance of twelve miles, and •based ■ her for five hours, when she surrendered. The crew* of 99 were jakcn off. She had received two 12nch shells in her superstructure, and ;wo 4-inchers below* the waterline, and was on fire. The steamer sank in 25 minutes. Her cargo was worth a quarter of a million.

WARNING FROM GERMAN AD-

MIRALTY.

INCREASING DAMAGE TO NEUTRALS.

London, February 5. The German Admiralty warns neutrals that after the 18th every hostile merchant ship in British seas or the Channel will be destroyed, regardless of danger to the crow* or passengers. Amsterdam, February 5.

The German Admiralty further warns neutrals not to entrust passengers, crews, or goods to British vessels. Neutral ships also incur danger, nving to Britain’s misuse of neutral ■lags, which were ordered on 31st January. Accidents in naval warfare ■annot always be avoided, but traffic iround the Shetland?, in the east part >f the North Sea, and a strip of at east 30 knots along the coast of Holland will not be endangered.

CHE AUSTURIAS’ LUCKY ESCAPE

(Received 8.30 a.m.) London, February 5

The Asturias has arrived at Southimpton. The crew state that the ■atastrophe was prevented owing to he alertness and promptitude of the ifficer on the bridge, who, seeing the vhite track of the torpedo, brought he vessel round in a short half-circle, :he projectile passing harmlessly istern. HELL ON THE BLUCHER. MEN WHIRLED LIKE DEAD LEAVES. VESSEL WEARILY TURNS OVER AND DISAPPEARS.

London, February 5

The Blucher’s wounded, describing the gun fire, states that the British opened at fifteen kilometres. Some of the projectiles fell into the sea, raising vast columns of water. “We, in a strange fasciuatiop, watched the deadly water-spouts creeping nearer. Then the shells fell thick and fast from the sky, with a horrible droning hum. The electric light plant was soon destroyed, and the ship was in darkness. There was horrible confusion below, for the shells plunged through the decks, boring their way into the stokehold, and as the bunkers were half empty they burrm merrily. Later, the flattened, and tore holes through the Blucher’s sides. The shells oil reaching the engine-rooms licked up the oil and spread it around in blue and green flames. Men huddled together in dark compartments, where the shells found them.”

The terrific air pressure from the explosion in a confined space left the deepest impression on the survivois. The air seemed to roar through opening, bending iron doors like tin plates, breaking off fixtures, and converting them into missiles, and whirling men like dead leaves until :hey were battered to death against iron walls in the engine-room, where were high velocity engines for forced draught. Men were flung to a horrible death amidst the machinery. As the broadsides struck, the Blucher rocked like a cradle. Finally the bell which rang for church parade was tolled. The survivors crept up to the decks, some through the shot holes, and sang “Der Wacht am Rhein.” Permission was then given to them to leave the ship. The British fire was now silent, and the destroyers were ready to rescue the survivors. The Blucher turned wearily over, and disappeared. THE CASE OF THE WILH ELM IN A

London, February 5

The Foreign Office announcemenet issued prior to the receipt of the German Admiralty’s statement says the German decree makes it evident that all grain and Hour passes to the control of the Government. If the Wilhelmina is intercepted, therefore, the matter will he submitted to the Prize Court, in order to examine the new situation. The owners of the Wilhelmina will he indemnified for any delay, and the shippers of the cargo compensated. It is untrue that Britain is seizing other consignments. No decision has been reached, hut it is apparent that the intention of Germany to sink merchant ships, without bringing them to port, or providing accommodation for the ( ews, will result in loss of civil life. The attempt to torpedo the hospital ship has seriously raised the question whether Great Britain will retaliate against German trade, taking care not to inflict loss on neutral ships which sailed before warning was given.

MERCHANTMAN SKIPPER’S WISH

Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, February 5. A “Skipper” writes; “Resistance of merchantmen to submarines is nonsense when we are sent to sea defenceless. I sighted the TI2I on Sunday, hut thanks to the engineers speeding up I to evade the

raider. I longed for a 4.7. That .submarine would then have disappeared for ever.”

PAPER BLOCKADE “MADE IN

GERMANY.”

Unitbd Pees* Association. (Received 1 p.m.) London, February o. Shipping circles view the threatened blockade as a paper blockade ‘‘made in Germany.”

STORY OF THE EMDEN. »

TOLD BY ONE OF THE CREW.

“We were in the China fleet and tried to get home to Kiel, but the Suez Canal was in the hands of England, so we had to dodge about looking for shelter and to do as much as we could by sinking ships. We were very successful as the ship we dreaded—the Australia—was in the Pacific. We put into Penang flying the Jap flag and with a dummy funnel, and blew the Russian cruiser to bits and flew for our lives, leaving the Russians in the water as their ship sank. We sank nineteen English ships, but forced their crews and passengers into Calcutta. We went to Cocos Island to blow up the wireless and cut the cable, and as the party was ready to go ashore the operator sent out the call for help (this was the message our ship got and passed to the Syd. ney). We did not think there were any warships about, but before the party could land, a warship appeared and in a flash we fired and missed her. We thought she was the Hampshire, and she hit us every time. A lot of our men jumped into the sea. Our foremast was shot away, and in three minutes our bridge and four funnels went also and our big guns were blown to atoms and our decks were ripped up. I was in the stokehold when two shells came through above us; the sun was shining through the hole. I fell on, the floor and prayed. We had only one gun left, and while we were loading it a shell came and the gun and crew disappeared; I don’t know where'.. Our decks and gun rooms were ghastly sights. The .Sydney then signalled us to surrender, but we could not get our flag down, as it was hanging to a broken yardarm. The Sydney then put six more shells into us. The ship had been driven ashore by this, and a white cloth was rushed up on a pole and the firing finished. There were seventy of us left out of four hundred and eleven. We had much fear.”