On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 84, 13 April 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

NORTH SEA FIGHTING, 14 GERMAN RATS EMERGE. NOISE OF BIC BATTLE WEST OF BERGEN. Copenhagen, April 11. The captain of the Vestfoss states that he passed fourteen German cruisers in the North Sea. Reports from Bergen state that the firing on Wednesday was very heavy, and lasted a considerable time. It was rumoured that it was clue to cruisers trying to get into the Atlantic via the Norwegian coast, in'order to replace the Emden as commerceraiders.

Rumours of a North Sea battle continue to arrive from Copenhagen, but have been delayed in transmission. One states that there has been firing in the' direction of' the islafid of Ut«ire.

A Bergen telegram states that there was a big battle till late at night off Samose, four miles west of Bergen. Searchlights were active and the gunfire caused the windows in Bergen to rattle.

(Bergen is a fortified town on the. Byfjord, in Norway. Tt is built on a peninsula separated from the mainland by a narrow Bnddefjord. Long tlie chief port of Norway, it lias latterly given way to Cliristiania. In 1665 Borden was the scene of an engagement between the English fleet and the combined Dutch fleet and Norwegian garrison.) HEAVY CANNONADING OFF THE YORKSHIRE COAST. REPORTED ON SATURDAY NIGHT (Received 8.50 a.m) London, April 12. Heavy cannonading at sea was heard at Bridlington (south of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire), on Saturday night. PRESENCE OF GERMAN WARSHIPS CONFIRMED. BRITISH CRUISER WARNS NORWEGIAN STEAMER. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Copenhagen, April 12. Further arrivals of Scandinavian vessels confirm the presence of German warships in the North Sea. A Norwegian steamer reports that a British cruiser warned her; to keep as close to the coastline as possible. THE BLOCKADE. TORPEDOED LINER TOWED TO \ PORT. (Received 8.50 am.) London, April 12. The liner Wayfarer,'which was tor-

pedoeti, is now being toned to QuoeilStown. THE LAST OF THE HARPALYCE. THORUOCH GERMAN ACT. (Received 9.50 a.m.) London, April 12. The Harpalyce, which was a sister ship to the Harpalion, flew a white flag inscribed: "Commission for Belgian Relief," which was visible for eight miles. The inscription was also painted in large letters on her sides. Several persons on vessels near by saw the submarine and the torpedo. The nearness of the rescuers alone enabled any to be saved, as the sea was choppy and there was a high wind.

IN THE DARDANELLES. CLEARING UP BOTH SIDES OF THE ENTRANCE. United Press Association. London, April 12. Letters from the Dardanelles showthat the towns of Sedd-el-bnhr (at the extremity of Gallipoli Peninsula), Kum Kali and Yenishehr (in the Asiatic side), were destroyed, not a single intact house being left. But forty or fifty thousand Turks, utterly reckless of their lives dodged around the ruins, picking off lauding parties one by one. The Turkish losses were tremendous. A single British six-inch lyddite shell fell in the midst of fifty Turks and wiped them out, not enough of them being left to be called a dead body. LEADER OF NEW DESTROYER FLOTILLA PUT INTO COMMISSION (Received 12.35 p.m.) London, April 12. The new destroyer,flotilla leader has been commissioned and named "Botha." The officers and crew cabled their congratulations to General Botha.