ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 20 December 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SMUGGLING TO GERMANY. FROM SCANDINAVIA. Eeccived 11.25 LONDON,, Dec. 19. The Manchester Guardian states that despite the closest watching and heavy penalties, smuggling to Germany flourishes from all Scandinavian ports. The smugglers arc mainly Germans, but sometimes are Scandinavians. The smugglers arc displaying great zeal and ingenuity to overcome the, lengthening lisr of prohibited goods, which now number several hundred items, including all foodstuffs, textiles, raw materials and machinery. The number of customs officials have been increased threefold. It is suspected that the Germans are paying the small traders' fines, amounting to tens of thousands of crowns. There is a sharp advance in wholesale prices. Tea has risen ten per. cent, in one week, owing to the decrease of 50 per cent, in the freight space availaide for tea. GERMAN VESSEL ESCAPES. deceived 9.30 VALPARAISO, Dec. 19. The German-owned barque Tinto eluded the vigilance of the Chilian authorities at the port of Calbrieo. She was loaded with considerable supplies of provisions,, and manned by a crew distinctly superior to the ordinary sailor. It is believed the Tinto is attempting a privateering expedition for the formation of a submarine base. CAPTAIN BLAIKIE SAPE. A GERMAN ASSURANCE. Received 11.25 LONDON, Dec. .19. ; Mr Bonan Law said the German Government has given an assurance that Captain Blaikie would not be shot, as he only did his duty. GEEMAN WARSHIPS SUNK. LONDON Dec. 19. The "Daily Chronicle's" Amsterdam correspondent says the German warship which a British submaiune tori pedoed a few weeks ago was either the Grosser Kurfust or the Von der Tann. It is even possible that both these vessels were struck, as in the interval between the shots the submarine commandeE may have mistaken the second vessel in the darkness, for the first. Immediately afterwards, the majority of the crews of both vessels had a long spell of shore leave,. AFTER TWO YEARS. CERISTIANIA, Dec. 19. The Prinz Frederick Wilhelm, 17,000 tons, is agnound in the Kattegat. She was touring about the North Cape at the outbreak of war and reached Stavenger. There she loaded a cargo of wood, and lay in harbour for two yeans until a Zeppelin signalled the liner to leave Stavenger and sail for Kiel, accompanied by the Zeppelin and twosubmarines. During the voyage destroyers made attempts to capture her, but the liner was inside Norwegian territorial waters. The liner, while attempting to pass the Little Belt during a heavy snow storm, ran very hard ashore south of Samsoe. Danish torpedoers were summoned to give assistance and they are guarding the scene of the mishap." Salvagers failed to pull the ship off. The cargo is valued at 20,000, 000 marks. FRENCH TROOPSHIP TORPEDOED. ALL SAVED. AMSTERDAM,, Dec. 19. A Berlin mesage reports the torpedoing of the French troopship Magellan, tons, which had 1000 soldiers on Hoard. A Marseilles telegram states that everyone was saved.