On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 55, 8 March 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

THE BLOCKADE

FRENCH WARSHIP HITS SUB-

marine;

[Unhid Pbmi Association.] London, March 6

Official.—A French warship shelled Thrace. She hit a submarine in the channel, and it disappeared.

THE NOORDERUYK TORPEDOED IN THE CHANNEL. London, March 6. The Holland-Amerika Go.'s* Noorderuyk, which left for America, is returning to Rotterdam, badly damaged. It is believed the steamer was torpedoed in the Channel.

(Received 9.55 a.m.) Rotterdam, March 7. The Noorderuyk returned owing to her engines being damaged.

A SORRY EXCUSE.

AVashington, March 6.

Count Von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, has issued an explanation of the attack on the hospital ship, the Asturias. Tho Gorman Government, he says, is sorry. They admit the attack, but as the distinctive marks showing the..ships character were not illuminated, tho submarine's captain mistook her for a transport. The moment the vessel was recognised the attack ceased.

(Received 8.55 am.) Washington March 7

Tho German Embassy, in a statement, regrets the attempt to torpedo the Asturias, which it is stated, was mistaken for a transport.

THE DACIA'SCREW.

Paris, March 7. The Dacia's crew is returning to America.

SAILINC FROM NEW YORK.

(Received 8,55. a.m. New York March 7

The customs officials inspected the Vuterlaiid and George Washington which are preparing to sail.

TOLL OF GERMAN SUBMARINES.

(Received 8,40 am.) London March 7

The Tageblatt admits that according to news from neutral countries more than seven "German submarines have been sunk since February 18.

SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPERS BOYCOTT CERMAN GOODS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, March 7. Scandinavian shipping companies refuse to carry German goods to America.

EASINC-OFF IN THE BLOCKADE.

United Pbess Association. Copenhagen, March 7

German Admirals state that the strain on submarine crews is so great that some weeks will elapse before any fresh attempts on shipping are made.

ZEPPELIN L 8 DAMDAGED. Amsterdam, March 7. Zeppelin L 8 was seriously damaged when descending at Tirlemont. The Gurisenau still blocks the Scheldt. The Germans have made repeated efforts to raise her, but failed. They requested Holland to lend them appliances, but this was refused.

SN THE DARDANELLES.

SMYRNA VIGOROUSLY BOMBARDED.

Athens, March 7. Mine-sweeping has been completed as far as Chanak. The British have resumed the bombardment of the forts at Smyrna, and are vigorously shelling tho batteries at Two Brothers Hill.

SMYRNA HEICHTS SILENCED.

(Received 8.55 a.m) London, March 7

Itc.uter's Athens correspondent states that Rear-Admiral Pierse silenced the guns on Smyrna heights, and is now bombarding tho forts at the entrance to the gulf. . The cruiser Euryalus is Rear-Admiral Pierse's flagship.

—City at the head of the Gulf of Smyrna, Asia Minor, one of the principal ports and trading places of tho Ottoman Empire, exporting figs, raisins, tobacco, carpets, rugs, etc. It iis a very ancient and historic city, and is tho chief commercial centre of thoLcvant. Population 250,000 (one-half Greek).

ADMIRALTY'S PROGRESS REPORT.

ON THE WAY TO CONSTANTINOPLE.

United Puess Association. London, March 6

The Admiralty lias issued Vice-Ad-miral Garden's further report on the Dardanelles. Action was impossible until the afternoon of the 3rd, when the Irresistible, Albion, Triumph, and Prince George resumed the attack on Fort Dardanos and concealed guns in the neighborhood. The weather was fine. On the Ith mine-sweeping and bombarding within the Straits was continued steadily. Demolition par-

ties, covered by marines, were landed at Kumkale, Seddulbhr, and continued the clearance of'the ground at the entrance of the Straits.

Skirmishes occurred, the enemy holding the villages in force. Our cas"unities on the 4th totalled nineteen i killed, twenty-live wounded, and three

! missing. , | I The Queen Elizabeth on the oth commenced an attack hy indirect fire upon the defences of the Narrows, supported by the howitzers from the Inflexible and'Prince George. The hitter's fire was confined to forts IHimilieh, Medjidieh, Tabia, Hamadich, Tabia, and Namazeh. The Queen Elizabeth fired twenty-nine rounds with satisfactory results. A magazine was blown up at 'Medjidieh, which is an important fort, with the best and heaviest guns. The other two forts were damaged. Though much fired upon by concealed guns, the ships were not hit. I The Sapphire again fired upon the 'troops at Adramyti, destroying the military station at Tudburna. , The Commander-in-Chief of the East India station, Vice-Admiral Pierse, has 'arrived with a squadron of battleships and cruisers off Smyrna. The methodical bombardment of Fort Yenickoli was carried out for two hours, thirty-two hits doing considerable damage. Two Heavy explosions i occurred, apparently from magazines. The fire was not returned, and bombardment at closer range has now be-

gun. The reduction of Smyrna defences is a necessary incident in the main oper-

ations

THE TURKS ALARMED.

Bucharest, March 15

The Turks and Germans, realising that they are powerless to prevent the licet penetrating the Dardanelles, are hastily disarming some of the forts and transporting the guns to islands in the Sea of Marmora. The civil population is insufficiently fed, and is murmuring against the Germans. Fifty Germaivofficers passed through Bucharest en route from Berlin.

EFFECTIVE WORK OF THE QUEEN

ELIZABETH.

(Received 9.55 a.m.) London, March 7

Renter's Athens correspondent states that the Queen Elizabeth on the sth inst. operated in the Gulf of Saros. Her first shots silenced the battery on the heights. The armaments of Fort L includes some 14-inchers.