On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 53, 5 March 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

PECULIAR GERMAN VIEWS.

AN UNCONQUERED ARMY AND

NAVY.

United Pbess Association. (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, March 4

Lecturing at the Kiel University, Grand Admiral Von Koester declared that it was necessary for Germany to have an unconquered army and navy. If the navy were to fight a superior force, it might Be destroyed. What avail would it be, he asked, if each ship was accompanied to the bottom by an enemy ship, with, perhaps, a few more? England would still have ships left to attack the German coast leisurely. The German fleet had shown their offensive and initiative in attacking the English coast. The British Admiralty was evidently afraid of the German ships, and would not attack them where they lie.

The Times, in commenting on the foregoing says: "Admiral Von Koester'a explanation indicates that the British navy and the German navy were huilt to wait for peace. The situation has only one parallel, viz., that when French cavalry m 1795 captured the Dutch fleet. Koester's navy will become a land force and probably will be captured by a land force."

THE BLOCKADE INVESTIGATION OF THE THOROIS STORY. London, March 4. ' The Admiralty is dry-docking the steamer Thordis in oruer to prove whether it is entitled to the £llOO bounty for sinking a submarine. The captain and crew are emphatic that they saw a submarine in broad daynight in the sea only two ships' lengths away. The Thordis was almost stationary in a rough sea. A torpedo was fired, and narrowly missed. The captain, expecting another, determined to try and ram the submarine. The wind and sea fortunately drove the Thordis upon the submarine, and the rending of plates was heard. CAPTAIN'S STORY SUBSTANTIATED. (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, March 4. Tlio damage to the Thordis supports the captain's story. THE KING'S NAVY. London, March 4. The King sent a message to ViceAdmiral Sir John Jellicoe: "1 am much impressed with thp efficiency of the Grand Fleet, and the splendid spirit of the officers and men. I have not the slightest doubt that my navy will uphold its great traditions."

JELLICOE'S JAUNT ASHORE.

TWELVE HOURS' OFF SINCE THE

WAR STARTED.

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 4. Lady Jellicoe, .addressing the Women's War Club, said her husband had been ashore for only twelve hours since the beginning of the war, having been ten hours with the Admiralty and two hours at home.

THE SEDLITZ INTERNED IN

BUENOS AIRES.

Bahia Blanca, March 4.' (Received 8.45 a.m.) The Sedlitz is interned here.

THE SUBMARINE WAR.

London, March 4

The Daily Chronicle states that the yacht which shelled the submarine, as reported from Germany, has been employed on patrol duty since the war started. She sighted the submarine 5000 yards away, and fired nine shots from 8-pounders. Members of the crew are certain that some shots were effective.

Paris, March 4.

A German submarine was sighted five miles from Calais on Saturday, and the fort discharged twelve shots. The submarine took refuge behind a hospital ship, and escaped. Amsterdam, March 4.

A submarine chased the steamer Wrexham for forty miles between Harwich and Rotterdam, but was then shaken off."

GUNS FOR TURKEY.

ARREST OF SWEDISH STEAMER.

(Received 9.0 a.m.) Copenhagen, March 4

The Swedish steamer Blonda has been arrested.. She embarked a largo cargo of' guns at Copenhagen ostensib ly designed for Dedeagatch (Turkey), mt it was the intention firstly to call at Gothenburg then Lubeck.

COMMENT ON THE BRITISH RE-

PRISALS.

FRANCE PLEASED : THE DUTCH MIXED.

Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 4. France is greatly pleased with the British reprisals. Dutch comment is varied, in some cases England being blamed for not abiding with the Declaration of London.

IN THE DARDANELLES. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE INNER FORTS. (Received 9.0 a.m.) Athens, .Viait'll 4. The Turks are rushing Rims and troops towards Constantinople. Ten warships are bombarding"- the inner forts. London, March -1. Reuter's Athens correspondent reports that nine of the Allies' .ships on Tuesday silenced the forts at Dardanus, Hamidieh, and Thimenlik, and advanced two miles. Fifty-two vessels participated. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, March 4. The Times' naval correspondent, commenting on the Dardanelles, says it is impossible fm- any of the Allies' ships to have passed The Narrows. The most difficult part of the business i* yet ahead, which is the destruction

of the torts at The Narrows, where there are earthworks in addition to batteries. There are probably altogether a score of defensive positions still to be reduced, and the position of some of the inner lorts is such that they cannot possibly be engaged by ships at long ranges. It was hitherto considered that warships were not built to attack shore defences, but the advent of long-range guns and the scientific methods of ensuring accuracy lias thrown a new light on the problem.

OPERATIONS OF THE ATTACKERS London, March 1. The Admiratly reports that the Triumph, Ocean, and Albion on Monday entered the Dardanelles and attacked fort 8 and the batteries at Whitecliff. The fort returned the fire, as also did the field guns and howitzers. In the evening the seaplanes reported that several new gun positions had been prepared, but no guns. A force of mine-sweepers on Monday, covered by destroyers, swept within a mile and a half of Capo Keplcz under fire. Only were wounded. Meanwhile four French battleships operated on Bulair, and bombarded the batteries and communications. The operations at the entrance to the straits have already resulted in the destruction of nineteen guns, ranging from six to eleven inches, and eleven smaller guns. The Canopus, Swiftsure, and Cornwallis on Tuesday engaged forts 8 and 9. The latter was silenced. All three battleships were hit, but the only casualty was a man slightly wounded. Sweeping operations were continued at night. The attack progresses. The Russian cruiser Askold has joined the Allies.

Sofia, March 4

The operations in the Dardanelles are engrossing all attention, particularly as it is believed.that the advent of the Germans had rendered forcing a passage impossible .It is believed that if Tehauak falls the Porte will be obliged to retire to Koniah.

ARRIVAL OF TROOPS. , United Press Association. j Athens, March •!. The first detachment of the military expedition under General Damade, including Canadians and Senegalese, has arrived off the Dardanelles. Essad Pasha is commanding a hundred thousand Turks on the isthmus at Gallipoli.

(Gallipoli is on the narrow isthmus on the northern side of the Dardanelles).

AMERICA'S ENLARGED POWERS

IN SALE OF SHIPS.

United Press Association. (Received 11.50 a.m.) . Washington March 4. The Senate passed a resolution granting President Wilson enlarged powers to enforce the neutrality laws respecting the proposed sales of ships belonging to belligerents, and, which are now interned.