SUBMARINE’S MARVELLOUS ESCAPE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 119, 20 May 1916, Page 3

SUBMARINE’S MARVELLOUS ESCAPE.

YET'GETS HOME SAFELY. LONDON, May 7. A thrilling story of a British submarine’s escape from total destruction by a mine explosion when on a reconnoiting espedition is to.Vl. She made a 300 miles’ voyage unaided though her bows were torn off and her plates crumpled and twisted. Two out of three of the forward bulkheads were torn to strips. All glass, including the instrument glasses, was shattered. One rudder was useless Water was spurting in. The crew were sent sprawling on their faces, yet the little vessel was so staunch that the torpedoes were not exploded The motors continued working and. the dials registering. The pumps were not damaged and soon got the water down. The periscope was closed and the submarine dropped a hundred feet to the sea bottom. An officer says there did not seem much chance of getting up again. The crew

of five returned to their stations before the officer had time to give an order. In less than two minutes the engines were moving and the pumps working. Everything was deathly still save for the welcome sound fit the motors turning. We then reversed the motors and waited one bad minute. Broken glass began to rattle and we knew we were m iving. We heard the wireless sneak and knew we wore afloat. In loss than ten minutes after the explosion wo surveyed the damage and drove along under our own power. There was heavy sea, the waves smashing against the sole remaining forward bulkead.— >So tc submarine came home, dodging patrols, but she had accomplished her mission and duly made a report.

BRITISH MONITOR SUNK LONDON, May IS. The Turkish artillery fired on and destroyed a small British monitor on the 13th. Two were killed and two wounded. AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE IN THE NTINO. FIVE VIOLENT ATTACKS. REPULSED WITH HEAV V LOSSES. ITALIANS STRAIGHTEN THEIR LINES. LONDON, May 17. ; The "Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent says the Austrian offensive in the Trentino has begun with 300,000 men, assisted by numerous air raids on open cities. A Rome communique says:— ■ - The enemy in the Lagarina Valley launched five violent attacks upon the slopes north of Zugnaorta. They were driven back with enormous losses. The Adige River carried away numerous corpses.

A violent concentrated fire by );m\s of every calibre between Teruignola Valley and Apperatico resulted in our again straightening bur front and abandoning some advanced positions, The enemy on Monday night repeatedly attempted to attack the Asiago sector, but were repulsed with most heavy losses. A vigorous attack in the Sugaua Valley was similarly repulsed.

AITSTRIAN ’S IMPO RTANT ADVANCE. ITALIANS STILL IN AUSTRIAN TERRITORY. VENICE BOMBED BY AUSTRIANS. ROYALTY’S NARROW ESCAPE. LOIS'DON, May LL A Milan correspondent reports that the lighting: in the Trcntiuo was confined to a fifteen miles front, but Italian military critics agree that the principal obect of the Austrians was to force a way to the Venetian plain

from the salient at Settocomenei. The Italians advanced posts were only a few yards from Eovcreto and incapable of serious resistance. Tim now positions arc still in Austrian territory, and it is believed are capable of resisting a formidable onslaught. Austrian aeroplanes on Tuesday bombed Venice. Thence, assisted by spies, an air raid was made on Mestretime, where Italian Princesses wore travelling to meet the (Jueen. An Italian aeroplane’s starshelis drove off the raiders, who wore following a train. The populace ovationed the Royalties on their escape.

*• BRITISH AIR SERVICE. MR BILLING TURNED DOWN, LONDON, May IS. The general impression in the lobby is that the debate vindicated the British air service.

Mr Churchill delivered a telling - , carefully prepared speech, hut the tone was rather spiteful. He drew Mr Bouar Law’s adroit, retort that Mr Churchin’s criticism only commenced when he left office. Mr Churchill explained the evils of dual control. He said naval airmen in Flanders had speedometers measuring knots, while maps wore scaled in miles and kilometers. . Lord Hugh. Cecil, who, as a qualified airman, served in France, was given an ovation at the end of an eloquent and charming - eulogy of the flying service. Mr Billing paid the'penalty for refusing to substantiate his charges against the air service,Members of the House of Commons refused to hear him in the House and his speech was snuffed out .amid general merriment. The Northcliffe Press complain that the Government’s board is only advisory, without power to act.

SOME STRIKING-EVIDENCE. LONDON, May 17. In the House of Commons, Mr JBouar Law condemned Mr Billing’s unwillingness to appear before the Air Committee He said our air service was at least equa to that of any of the belligerents. Germany never possessed a machine better than ours. Out of 479 fights, only (18 had occurred on the British side of the line, wherein thirteen German and no British were downed. AVo were turning out monthly more than the total pilots who were available at. the outbreak of the war.

Mr Billing protested against the Minister's attack, and said lie was prepared to substantiate his charges before as expert committee. He was willing to reconsider his decision not to attend if lie was not allowed counsel.

The debate was unexpectedly ended by the House being counted out during Mr Billing's speech. TWENTY-SEVEN COMBATS IN FLANKERS. THREE GERMANS DRIVEN DOWN. LONDON, May 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— Owing to fine weather, there were tw-enty-seven combats in the air on Tuesday. Three German aeroplanes were driven down. Two of our scout aeroplanes are missing. THIRTY-THREE FIGHTS IN VERDUN SECTOR. PARIS, May 18. A communique say» Thirty-throe aeroplane actions took place in the Verdun sector. We felled three German aeroplanes and I'ost none. IVc also brought down two German aeroplanes at Rezonville and Randesapt.