On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 95, 28 March 1916, Page 5

On the Sea

RAID OW GERMANY. I2ORTH SEA OPERATIONS. ENEMY PATROL BOATS SUNK. BRITISH SEAPLANES MISSING. United Press Asaooi.pT. on. London, Mil&di 27. The Admiralty report that an escorting force of light cruisers and destroyers, under Captain Tynvhitt, on Saturday morning convoyed British seaplanes to a rendezvous near the German coast, for the purpose of an attack upon German airsheds in Sch-leswig-Holstein, eastward of the island of Sylt. Three attacking seaplanes are missing. The light cruiser Medusa and trio torpedo-boat destroyer Laverock (965 tons) collided, and it is feared that in last night’s storm the Medusa, was possibly lost.' There lire no misgivings regarding the safety ol the crew. Our destroyers sank two German armed patrol vessels. No details have yet been received, but Danish press messages indicate that the operation, which was carried out within German waters, achieved its object.

AIRSHIP SHEDS ATTACKED. THREE ALLIED MACHINES BROUGHT DOWN. (Received 8..‘50 a.m.) London, March 2". A German wireless states; h’ve English hydroplanes attacked the airship sheds in Northern Schleswig, and three, including a battleplane, were brought down by our anti-aircraft section. Five of the airmen were made prisoners. Bombs dropped in the neighbourhood of Hoyfrschleuse did no damage, GREAT NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. BRITISH PURSUE GERMAN SHIPS. TWO TRAWLERS AFIRE. Copenhagen, March 27. Esbjerg telegrams state that there was a great naval engagement three miles off the Gartcly lightship at noon on Saturday. It is reported that five seaplanes bombed Tondern. , Vessels report seeing five T%pian cruisers and twenty torpedoers outside Esbjerg (Danish seaport on the west coast of Jutland) and Fano (island close to Esbjerg). Fishermen reported twenty British torpedoers near Blaavandshuk, in international waters. The captain of the steamer Cimbria said that at noon on Saturday he saw a German flotilla going south. Suddenly ten British torpedoers appeared and attacked two German, trawlers, which fled, on fire, towards the island of Sylt. The German fortress at Sylt fired on the Britishers and stopped the pursuit. A violent cannonade was heard m the North Sea between 7 and 8 o’clock on Saturday night.

50 GERMAN AND 80 BRITISH SHIPS. TWO* GERMAN SHIPS DISABLED. PART OF GERMAN SQUADRON DESTROYED. SOUNDS' OF HEAVY CANNONa Copenhagen, March 27. British and German squadrons were sighted in thick and snowy weather, and firing was heard for twenty maiujtes. The Germans rapidly retired heI hind the island of Romo (one of the |North Friesian Islands), hut two ships | were disabled. The German squadron j included several disguised merchantmen. . Preliminary to the mam action twelve British destroyers on Friday got between four German destroyers ami Heligoland, and by skilful manoeuvring compelled the Germans to steam northwards. Later, armed trawlers and other vessels carrying four seaplanes, also two Zeppenris, joined them. It is reported that part 'of this flotilla has been destroyed. ! Vessels report passing on the high 'seas fifty German and eighty British j s hips. Heavy cannonading was again 1 heard from Esbjerg and Fano. Several aeroplanes were seen proceeding towards Wilhelmshaven and Einden.

I STEAMER ST. CECILIA SUNK. (Received 8.30 am.) London, March 27. Tiie steamer St. Cecilia was sunk, ilia crow were saved. ALCANTAFIA-GKEIF DUEL. SINKING THE GERMAN RAIDER. London, March 27. The Scotsman says the Alcantra, after disabling her adversary, ceased lire and moved closer to assist the sinking vessel. Then a torpedo got the Britisher at close range. The- Alcantara’s guns shattered the raider’s upper works and left her a mere tangle of twisted ironwork amidships. The Grief’s wireless operator maintained a “jamb,” preventing the Alcantara’s signalling, until a shot found the wireless room, and British patrols responded. Our shots tore up the decks, which were shambles. The Greff gave and took a merciless pounding but the German gunnery was wretched. The raider’s guns were admirably protected, and worked to the end. Rescue ships were just in time to rescue the wounded and drowning. The Alcantara’s manoeuvring was hampered by the enemy wrecking the rudder. The British losses are entirely attributable to the explosion of the torpedo. The Greif was about a 9000ton vessel. A STEAMER SUNK. London, March 27. The steamer Senaybridge has been sunk. Hie crew were landed. AMERICAN PRESS DEMANDS INSTANT ACTION. THE PRESIDENT’S NOTE OF PROTEST. (Received 11.45 a.ra.) Washington, March 27. The American press demands instant action against Germany in consequence of the loss of Americans by the torpedoing of the Sussex, but the State Department refuses to be hurried. It is not thought that President Wilson will take any action beyond sending a Note of protest to Geiniany.

ATLANTIC TRANSPORT SUNK. ELEVEN DEATHS RECORDED. (Received II a.m.) London, March 27. The Atlantic transport Minneapolis was sunk. Eleven were killed and the rest were rescued. SUSSEX horrors, estimated loss of LIFE, 100, PASSENGERS’ STORIES. (Received 11 a.m.) London, March 27. It is believed that 100 were lost in the Sussex. Probably most of the passengers in the forecabin were killed by the explosion. There were twenty passengers in the saloon, and those were mostly killed or wounded. A passenger states: There was a painful rush to the boats, men pushing women out of the way, while others Hung children into the boats. A number of women threw, themselves into the sea. There were many heartrending scenes, A man ran about screaming, having just found the bodies of his wife and son horribly crushed. Ihe sailors worked lor nearly two hours trying to extricate a man who had his legs cut off. The officers, on finding that the bulkheads were holding, did their utmost to re-assure the passengers. Mr Rutherfurd, ex-member of the House of Commons, narrates: There was a revolting panic among the male passengers; some frantically rushed the boats and a dozen were needlessly drowned, no attempt being made to rescue them.