A NAVAL DISASTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 246, 7 March 1913, Page 5

A NAVAL DISASTER.

i 1 TORPEDO BOAT SUNK. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Berlin, March 5. For several days the North Rea Fleet has been manoeuvring near Heligoland. The Kaiser on Monday inspected the torpedocr 2178 (which was rammed by the Yorick). "At Wilhelmsliaven he boarded a battleship to watch the maloeuvres. but returned shortly before the catastrophe happened. The torpedocr. which left Wilhelmsliaven yesterday to join the manoeuvres, was cut in halves at midnight, and sank like a stone. The ships immediately sent up (lares, and concentrated their searchlights on the scene, to enable the undamaged Ynrick to perform rescue work. Sixty-seven were drowned, including the commander and anvigating officer.

DKTAILS OF THE TRACEDY. Received 7. 1 a.m. Berlin. March C. Details of the torpedo disaster are masked. came behind tlie Heligoland, and tlie nifrht was dark. It is believed that tin- torpedoers and destroyers attempted to break the line of battleships and cnii-rrs. When the operation Ulded I)e= trover SITS, with her lights ttia-ked. '-erne behind tlie Heligoland, and the Yoriek rammed her behind, aft of the fn:uie!. The destroyer heeled over and sink in two minutes. Most of the rrew were below when the accident i.eciirred. The Yorick rescued the doclor. .'ii I'lisiri'"--. and fifteen others with 1 .'re;i' diliieul' . tn (he storm. Two officer-. and fiS petty-officers and men were drowned. Tlie commander ua- on leave, and was not aboard.