LOSS OF THE FORMIDABLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 103, 4 January 1915, Page 5

LOSS OF THE FORMIDABLE.

MEN MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED

IMPORTANT FRENCH CAPTURES. His Excellency the Governor he? this morning’ received the following telegram, dated January 1, from the Rt. Hon. the Secretary of State for ‘he Colony. The battleship Formidable was sunk this morning in the English Channel, either by mine or submraine. Seveuty-jjjne .survivors have so far been picked up by a British light cruiser. Possibly the others have been rescued by other vessels. ■ The French Governmeii; reports tlie capture of trenches at various points, and also the capture of the village of Steiabaeh in Upper Alsace. Ir was entered by the French treups, who carried half the village house by house after the flight of the German com rnander. Hewlett, the aviator, missing after the raid on Cuxliaven, has safely land, ed in Holland,

FOUNDERED HOOTING AND SIG

NALLING

(Reed. 8.40 a.ra.) LONDON, Jan. 3

Among other incidents it is related that a terrible explosion occurred on the Formidable abaft the magazine, which gave an unbearable stench. The Formidable continued to sound her hooter while sinking, and flashed signals until she foundered. A SURVIVOR'S STORY. MEN HALF CLAD AND POODLESS. (Reed. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. Some survivors of the Formidable reached Lyme Regis by a ship’s cutter, after a twenty-two hours’ pull. There were originally about seventy aboard, but, it is believed that twenty perished, others were almost exhausted. Nine died after landing. LEADING, Jan. 3. Stoker Parr relates that he was asleep in his bunk when awakened by a gigantic explosion at two o’clock on Friday morning. The crew rushed on deck, half-dressed. Panic order: were given and obeyed like i:uthrough manoeuvres while the be at.were being lowered. The boilers ex ploded, rendering it impossible to lowe: the pinaces as they required steam. They were able to lower only the sail ing cutters. Parr states that his boat stood by for an hour, while two boats got away. Afterwards these, with the first boat, were lost sight of by heavy seas. The Formidable fired rockets, and when last sighted (he crew left aboard were standing on the foredeck smoking and talking. All the officers were at their posts. The heavy seas almost swamped the cutter her rudder was swept away, they had no compass, and without coats or caps. Sea boots were used for baling out the water. About five in the morning, they unsuccessful, ly attempted to attract a passing liner. The men, being half Gressed, felt the ccld bitterly. The coxswain and several others - died from exhaustion and dropped overboard. After (hey sighted land they rowed all day without food.

DISASTER PROBABLY CAUSED BY

DIB AN CHORED MINE

LONDON, Jan. 3. Survivors report that two other boatloads left the Formidable. Navy writers suggest that the gale possibly disanehored some mines laid eastward of Dover, causing them drift down the Channel. They remind their readers whether the vessel was mined or torpedoed, of fne appositeness of Mr. Churchil’s. words on November 27th as to our ability to afford such a loss monthly, also of the Admiralty's wisdom in carefuly avoiding unnecessary risks with the battle squadron. HOW A PINNACE-LOAD OF SURVIVORS WAS PICKED UP, SPLENDID WORK IN HEAVY SEA. LONDON, aJn. 3. The Providence at 9 oeloek on Friday morning sighted ?- pinnace flying a scarf from an oar as a signal of distress. With the utmost difficulty she manoeuvred to windward, and after four attempts hauled the pinnace round to the stern. The sailors began to jump aboard. They were in great danger, the seas being thirty feet high. It took half an hour to get aboard. The survivors state they had the greatest difficulty in launching • the boavs. Theirs ivas stove in, but they stuffed the hole with their jumpers. All tinea re were smashed while fending off'. Some jumped from the d--cks and swam to the boat. One boat fell nose first, throwing her crew into the sea. When singing ‘ 1 Tipperary. ’’ A heavy sea broke over them, and compelled them to save their brentb for continuous baling. TRAWLERS PICK UP SURVIVORS. LONDON, ruin. 2. The trawler Providece picked up the Formidable’s pinnace with GS men,and two officers aboard. They were Inndecr at Brixham (in Tor Bay). Tlie-pin-nace was leaking, and was nearly full of water. Many of the men were in night attire, and others were wrapped in blankets.