ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 August 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SEA AND AIR FIGHT OFF AM ELAND. FEARLESS MOTOR BOATS BRING DOWN ZEPPELIN. MSTERDAM, August 13. ' The Dutch newspapers state that German airships and 40 hydroplanes attacked a British motor boat flotilla. The latter, ignoring showers of bombs fought bravely against great odds, refusing to flee for safety, and concentrated their fire on the Zeppelins. Two damaged motor boats were towed to port by Dutch patrols. A British seaplane, alighting on the water after destroying a Zeppelin, had a rousing reception from the attendant British warships, which sounded sirens in full blast within a couple of miles of the German coast. Divine service was proceeding during the fight, and the flagship signalled Hymn 224, the seventh verse," which was joyfully sung in all ships. THE AMELAND FIGHT. LONDON, August 13. In connection with the Admiralty statement regarding the sunken motor boats, the German Admiralty alleges that the motor boats were accompanied by 25 warships of various descriptions. We were mine-laying extensively when the airships attacked. AN OIL-TANKER SUNK. Received 9.20 a.m. NEW YORK, August 14. Submarines in the Atlantic sank an oil-tanker. Seven of the crew arc missing. iWASILDA DISASTER. TORPEDOED AT NIGHT. "'August 2. v.' / *y : . ° All accounts, agree that a torpedo sank the hospital ship Warilda. The escorting dropped depth bombs. The Warilda was returning from France, and' W as a .few miles from the English coast, at about 1.30 .a.m., > when . she was torpedoed. .The night was dark, and there was a stiff breeze with a choppy sea. The. torpedo struck the after-part of the ship near the engineroom, killing some of the engineers and plunging the ship into darkness. Immerately above, the engineroom : was a wardroom with over 100 patients i most of whom were killed outright by j the explosion, while the others were trapped and drowned. This part of the ship quickly settled down in the water. The soldiers and nurses testify to the heroic efforts of the ship ; s - officers and crews in the most difficult work of rescue . and the transferring of the. ea-:ialties to the escorting destroyers in a rough sea. The morale of the wounded, lying on the deck Waiting to be • transferred to the destroyers has been described as "too fine 'for words. '•' One boat,containing six women and wounded soldiers was upset. Subsequently three of the women and most of the wounded were picked up. The Warilda finally settled down by the stern. Then she upended, and the sea reaching her boilers she blew up in a terrific column of fire and water. FIGHTING THE U-BOATS. MONTREAL, August 14. The New York Times' Washington correspondent states that the U-boat raids were discussed at length at * Cabinet meeting, when plans for more successful combating or submarines were considered. LINERS TORPEDOED. LONDON, August 14. The French liners Djemnah' ana Australian have been torpedoed. There v are 442 from the Djemnah and three of the Australian's passengers missing. NORWEGIAN STEAMER TORPEDOED. , WASHINGTON, August 13. • The Navy Department announces I that the Norwegian steamer Somerstad was torpedoed on Monday. Ttfere were no casualties. Captain Hanson j saw the wake of the torpedo, and tne j engines were reversed, avoiding the torpedo, which, however, veered to leftwards, returning and hitting the vssel amidships. An Atlantic port reports that, the fishing schooner Acushla has arrive* with the crews of three torpedoed fishing boats. The news was brought that the crew of an old-timer cruiser were probably killed when the submarine shelled the life-boats. CANNONADE OFF JUTLAND. COPENHAGEN, August 14. Aviolent cannonade was heard at Skagen coming from the Skager Rack, on Monday morning. Several ves'selij were seen travelling north at full speed.