On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7, 7 September 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

THE HESPERIAN. IN THE WAKE OF THE TORPEDO. United Press Association. London, September (3. The Hesperian was steaming at sixteen knots when, suddenly, a cry ol ''Submarine on the starboard quarter" startled the passengers, who were promenading the decks alter dinner. The shout hud scarcely reached the bridge when an explosion like a cannon shot occurred. The vessel trembled violently, and a column ofwater fifty feet high shot up. Hooding the deck. Many passengers dashed for their cabins for lifebelts. There was much confusion, but no panic. jCaptain Maine sent out the wireless "5.0.5." and fired rockets. Three warships responded. Lowering boats in the darkness was difficult, but the sea was like glass, otherwise the loss of life would have been appalling. One lifeboat capsized, and- the occupants thrown into the water. Some were swimming for fifteen minutes before being picked up. An elderly lady was picked up dead from shock. Others, disregarding the boats, slid down ropes or dived into the water. The result was that sixty people were often in a boat that was intended for forty, and was in danger of swamping owing to overcrowding.

While awaiting rescue the passengers were in the best of spirits. Some .sang "Tipperary," and others, "Lead, Kindly Light." They anxiously awaited the expected final plunge of the Hesperian, but she remained afloat, and kept sending up rockets. The first warship arrived at 0.30, and took aboard the survivors from the lifeboats, including 12 Canadian officers and [3B wounded soldiers. The American Consul has not traced any TJnited States passengers, though some of the crew are America n. The submarine was within two hundred yards when she launched her missile. It missed the engineroom by twenty feet. , . ,- THE VESSEL FOUNDERS. CREW LANDED QUEENSr /.,'.-. ; 'town.',;, •>„ ;,-,,-,,; '!■,'■■ .. •■— —- id • i.- ■■•«. i i '.-. '. .nieceived 8.30 a.m.),. ~ London, September (T: The. Hesperian'sjerew ,were rescued, before, tlifj vessel fonjfdeijed, and this mbi;ii|iiig lUmfod; ab • wn ;•"•".' - 1' • Washington, September G. President Wilson and Mr Lansing have refused to comment on the torpedoing of the Hesperian, and are awaiting details as to whether Amevicans were aboard, • and V'coiifirnjhtion that th'e Hesjierian wan not warned. ' There' is a feeling in official circles that 'the Germank- are 'endsln'gei-'ejl. '

SUBMARINE y'CTIMS. BRITISH STEAMER SUNK. ■.li ; ■•; S ' "' ' ' SIX KILLED : : SIX INJURED. ' ' I! i'Ulr i' " -' , ' -' ' • ('Received 8.30 a.m.) London, September G. The British steamer Cymberline was sunk, thirty-one of the crew being landed. Six were killed and six injured. BLACK SEA BRUSH. PARTICULARS OF RUNNING 1 FIGHT. ('Received 8.30 a,.m.) Petrograd, September 6. In the Black Sea early on Sunday, the destroyers lironsintedny and Bystry, each currying three hundred millimetre guns, met the enemy, and despite the bitter's enormous superiority, the Russians attacked. The fight lasted three hours, the Hnmidieh being hit frequently, and her six-inch gun put out of action. The Russians pursued. fii'Jfig continuously, till the enemy rounded Cape Keeken. The destroyers then returne'd and sank a collier near Gnnguldak.

"GREAT SPORT!" HOW GERMAN SUBMARINES ARE CAUGHT. BRITISH AUXILIARY FLEETS WORK. (Received 11 a.m.) New York, September (S. Frederic Palmer, one of the most experienced American War correspondents visited Sir John Jellicoe's fleet and was shown a map indicating where German submarines had been captured, supposed to have been sunk, and sunk. When asked how they were destroyed, the officers replied, "sometimes by ramming, some* times by gunfire or explosive, and in many other ways which we cannot tell." .Mr Palmer states that the men aboard the battleships and armoured cruisers are envious of those engaged in submarine hunts, which are regarded as great sport. Britain has 2300 trawlers as mine sweepers, and other auxiliaries outside the regular service on blockade duty between the British Channel and Iceland, and they are keeping the North Sea clear. Their reservist crews are most zealous in performing the important work of overcoming the sort of warfare waged by the Germans.