SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 April 1917, Page 5

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

FIFTY-FIVE SINKINGS IN ONE WEEK.

MORE ENERGY AND ENTERPRISE

WANTED,

Received 9.5.

LONDON, April 27,

The loss of 55 ships in one week through the submarine campaign has caused a sensation, and both the public and Parliament nave changed their minds towards the Corn Production Bill. The newspapers are demanding that the Admiralty publish fuller facts. Doubts are expressed whether, in dealing with the submarine menace,, sufficient energy and enterprise is, shown; also whether the building of merchantmen is proceeding with the utmost rapidity. All shipyards and engine shops must be fully manned and work day and night without intermission. The admiralty should continually review all arrangements for fighting submarines, and fresh minds should be bi ought to bear on the problem. It is essentially a young man’s job.

TRANSPORT TORPEDOED,

ALL TROOPS AND CREW SAVED

Received 11.25,

MELBOURNE, this day

Mr Hughes has announced that the steamer Ballarat was torpedoed and sunk at the entrance to the English Channel on the 25th April. All the troops and crew were saved.

COUNTERING SUBMARINES

ADMIRAL DE CHAIR’S OPINION

Received 11.45.

NEW YORK, April 27

Admiral De Chair, describing the submarine difficulties saM in some of those captured, the crews were nearly and wholly sick of the job. Mother submarines replenished them with torpedoes and fuel with small success, because of the difficulty of locating the submarines. Three pound guns were effective if they strike a submarine, but when submerged a four pound gun is desirable. It is most difficult to know if a submarine is hit, because sometimes she sinks to the bottom and emits oil deceptively. One of the greatest difficulties was whales, who absorbed numerous projectiles fired at them in the belief that they were submarines.

GERMANY GRANTS SAFE CON-

DUCT TO NEUTRAL VESSELS. Received 10.10. AMSTERDAM, April 27. Germany has offered a safe conduct to neutral vessels sheltering in British harbours with foodstuffs for their countries.

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

TURKS RETIRE TO THE HILLS,

LONDON, April 27,

The High Commissioner reports: A Mesopotamian official message states that an Wednesday night, the 13th Turkish Army Corps retired hastily on both banks of the Shat-01-Adhaim, towards .Tedcl Hamlin Hills, from which it had issued a few days previously. The Turks are now entrenched after a second attempt to interfere with General Maude’s operations against the ISth Turkish Army Corps.

GERMANY AND THE NEUTRAL POWERS.

SPANIARDS DEMAND A RUPTURE WITH GERMANY.

Received 10.10

MADRID, April 27

The Reformist Party, in a manifesto demands the abandonment of neutrality, and a rupture with Germany.