In North Sea

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 68, 10 August 1914, Page 5

In North Sea

Reported Naval Battle GERMANS DRIVEN ON TO TRE DUTCH COAST UNDER TERRIFIC CANNON FIRE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. Received 8, 4.30 p.m. I Boston, August 8. According to Independent Cable Association messages dated London, Friday morning, news was published at two ' o'clock that morning that the British fleet Was driving the German fleet towards the coast of Holland. The Germans were under terrific fire

from the tiig gum of the British battleships. Notwithstanding official refusals to confirm or deny it, there are many persistent circumstantial reports, all suggesting a basis of truth. The fishing boats from the North Sea brought the first coherent accounts of figsiting. Many towns on the English coast heard prolonged firing at sea. A later message states that the Admiralty has issued a statement confirming the report that German warships had been chased towards the Dutch coast. New York, August 8. Received 8, 6.30 p.m. An Independent Cable Association message from London, dated Thursday night, related that the Daily Chronicle correspondent reports that the third torpedo flotilla went into action immediately after leaving port on Wednesday, and returned very little injured. Twenty-six German and six British wounded were taken to the hospital at Harwich. It is estimated that two thousand Germans on steamers and five thousand on sailing vessels on the high seas are available for capture. Over twenty vessels have already been captured outside British ports. London, August 7. Reports from two sources state that nineteen German warships have been sunk. ■Mr. Churchill denies the sinking of nineteen German vessels. Received 9, 8 p.m. London, August 8. Another batch of three hundred Germans reached Harwich to-night, many seriously wounded. They are probably the victims of more than one North Sea engagement. .The Amphion, when reconnoitring after the sinking of the Konigin , Luise, struck a mine. .The forepart of the vessel was shattered, and Paymaster Gedge and a hundred men were killed by the explosion. Twenty German prisoners confined in the forepart were all killed. A hundred and twenty-five of the cruiser's officers and crew were taken off the bow before the Amphion sank. THE NEWS REPEATED. ADMIRALTY VOUCHSAFES NO INFORMATION. A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION. j Received 8, 5.5 p.m. London, August 7. ! The British Fleet got in touch with the i German high sea fleet south of the Dog(ger Bank. After the engagement they | chased the Germans towards Holland.

Tlie Admiralty state that they have no news of the reported fighting in the North Sea. Naval reservists practising gun firing in the North Sea flias giveii rise to highcolored rumors of sea battles. All are discredited. It is now stated that the Goeben and Breslau (German cruisers) have left Messina Straits. The Austrian warship Taurus pursued the British -destroyers, which took refuge in Brindisi. Rear-Admiral Frederick Tudor, has been appointed First Sea Lord. RearAdmiral Moore returns to the fleet.