SINKING A TURKISH CRUISER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 192, 3 January 1913, Page 5

SINKING A TURKISH CRUISER.

A BRAVE LIEUTENANT. MIDNIGHT TORPEDO ATTACK. ' The sinking of the Turkish cruiser' Feth-i-Bulend in Salonika harbor is thus described by Lieutenant Votsis,' of .the Greek torpedo boat No. 11, and cabled from Athens by Renter:— j "I left Sea la Elefterochori at 9 o'clock! ir. 'the evening. Tlie forts at Ka>raburun were flashing their searchlights without interruption on the straights between/ Karavefanare and the mouth of Vardar, but I passed them safely, maW ing at full speed for Salonika harbor, i

"I reached it tut twenty minutes past 11, 'and discovered a Turkish cruiser at the left extremity of the pier. At the right extremity there were some other vessels and a Russian warship. I manoeuvred cautiously, still escaping detection, and then steamed straight for the middle of the Turkish warship. "At twenty minutes .to 12 I ln.]mp.W - a torpedo from the starboard £ide at a distance of 150 metres, and thei, turning slightly to the left, I discktoed another torpedio from the port sideSTfhen I pu| about and steamed away at full speed in order to be at a safe distance when the explosion took place"Again turning to tile left, I discharged another torpedo at the breakwater, when such an explosion was heard that we thought that a cannon.liad been fired on land. After the first explosion we noticed on the cruiser ligfltfs moving about, and heard whistles being' blown. The officers' quarters were lit up by the explosion, which' occurred at, a spot a little forward of the light funnel. We saw dense volumes of smoke pouring out of the funnel, and then the vessel gave a lurch forward-and sank by the bows.

"As We passed in front of Ivarabarun I carried out the promise I had previously given my gunners, and fired a shot from our gun at the fort at' a'range of 2500 metres."

Lieutenant Votsis. commander of the torpedo-boat, and Sublieutenant Hadjiew have been promoted for tlieir bravery on the occasion. Lieutenant Votsis -will also receive the Cross of the Order of the Saviour. i