ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 March 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE GERMAN RAIDER, 35 VESSELS SUNK. JAPANESE WARSHIP CLAIMED LONDON, February 27. A German official message claims that the Wolf destroyed thirty-five merchantmen, aggregating 210,000 gross 'tonnage. "•Several with troops. The sinkings, therefore, caused a corresponding loss of life. The communique also claims the sinking of the Japanese warship Haruna, 25,000 tons, and that a Japanese or English cruiser was badly damaged. The British Admiralty states that no British cruiser was damaged, and the value of the rest of the report may be gauged by such a claim. The Japanese naval attache declares that the report, so 'far as the Haruna or any Japanese cruiser is concerned, is without foundation. THE WOLF'S TENDER. BECOMES A TOTAL WRECK. COPENHAGEN, February 27. Owing to rough seas the crew of the raider Wolf's convoying ship, Igotzmendi, signalled for assistance. Two lifeboats brought them off. The Igotzrnendi, will probably now become a total wreck. The prize crew has been interned, but the Spaniards will be sent home. The passengers are accommodated at hotels. —n THE WAIRUNA'S RAIDER. NEWS FROM SECOND OFFICER, WELLINGTON, this day. The manager of the Union Steamship Co,, has received the following cable relating to., the steamer Wairuna from Skagen:—' v ßees, second officer, and Donovan, cook, landed in Denmark remainder taken to Germany. All well. Report as soon as possible.—(Signed) Rees." HOW THE WAIRUNA WAS SUNK. . THE WOLF CARRIED AN AERO- .,., . PLANE. , Received 11.10. LOTSDON, Feb 28.

The Australian Press Association has secured interviews with passengers of the Igotz Mendi. Mr. Thomas Rees, first officer of the Wairuna, said the vessel was going to San Francisco on March 31st, when an aeroplane suddenly stoped her south of Kamara Islands. The aeroplane was sent by the Wolf, which was lying back ofthe islands. The Wairuna's crew of 42 were taken aboard the Wolf, and the former vessel was sunk. During the continuance of the cruise Rees saw the Wolf sink nine ships, some of which were neutrals. Two of the Wairuna's officers escaped one night when the Wolf was near the Kamara Islands. Subsequently 160 prisoners from the sunken steamers were locked up for 28 days in the hold, and only allowed fresh air for an hour daily. They suffered terribly in the tropical ■heat. . "\£

IGOTZ MENDI'S CREW INTERNED. Received 11.10. COPENHAGEN, Feb 28. Danish fishermen rescued the Germans from the Igotz Mendi, who have been interned. DANISH WARSHIP STANDING BY COPENHAGEN, Feb 27. 9 Portion of the German crew of the Igotz Mendi refuse to abandon the ship, and refuse to allow the Spanish officers to quit. The sea is atlU high. Danish lifeboats and a warship are standing by. A German submarine appeared on Tuesday, "but the Danish warship drove the submarine out of territorial waters, where she is waiting.

The Germans on the Igotz Mendi signaled at 2 o'clock in the morning, asking to be taken off, but were told that they must remain until the sea moderated.

FRENCH AND ITALIAN SHIPPING RETURNS.

Received 8.50. LONDON, February 28. Italian shipping returns: Arrivals 419, sailings 338; sinkings none; one steamer was unsuccessfully aHacked. French official shipping returns: Arrivals 961; sailings 901; sinkings one vessel under 1600 tons, and four unsuccessfully attacked.

TWO SPANISH SfEAMERS SUNK.

Received 11.10. MADRID, Feb 28. The Spanish steamer Sardinero, 2289' tons, has been torpedoed northeast of Casablanca. A French aeroplane discovered the crew, who were brought in by a French patrol ship to Teneriffe. It is reported that the Balboa steamer Nigari, 2000 tons, was also sunk. BRITISH SHIPBUILDING FAILS. DISAPPOINTING OUTPUT OF SHIPS. LONDON, Feb 27. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law stated that the output of ships in January and February was very disappointing, largely owing to labour troubles. The Government were informing shipyard workers of the seriousness of the position, with the object of convincing them that their work was as vital as fighting. When they realised that there would be no complaints that ship-building, was decreasing because the men were not working their hardest. THE GLENART CASTLE. 200 PEOPLE ON BOARD. 164: MISSING. LONDON, February 27. The Glenart Castle had 200 aboard, including seven nurses, Most were asleep when the ship was torpedoed. The ship sank in seven minutes. |i The boats were launched with difficulty. One boat with twenty-survivors drifted for seven hours before being picked up.

The fate of the skipper and nurses is unknown - >

Many rushed to the boats ,only to find many of them a shapeless mass of timber. So' iar only two boats have been saved. One hundred and sixtyfour persons are missing.