Naval Disaster.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 5

Naval Disaster.

BRITISH CRUISERS SUNK. GERMAN SUBMARINES AT WORK. London, September 22. The armored cruisers AbouUir, Cressy and Hogue were torpedoed by German submarines in the North Sea. (The- three vessels were sister ships, The CTessy was completed in 1001, and the Aboukir and Hogue in 1902. They had a displacement of 12,000 tons, and were designed to steam 21 knots. Their armament was as follows:—Two 9.2 in [guns, twelve Oin quickfirers, twelve 3in quickfirers, and five smaller quickfirers, Land two machine-guns.)

VENGEANCE SWIFT AND SURE. TnE GERMAN SUBMARINES BUNK. Received 23, 10.45 p.m. London, September 22. Reuter reports that the two submarines which attacked the cruisers were destroyed. DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION. The High Commissioner reports from London, September 22 (5.5 p.m.) : Official. —The armored cruisers Aboukir, the Hogue, and Cressy were sunk by submarines in the North Sea. The Aboukir was torpedoed, and whilo the Hogue and Cressy closed and were standing by to save the crew they were also torpedoed. A considerable number were saved by a division of destroyers, trawlers and boats.

THE EMDEN SETTLES ANOTHER SHIP. London, September 22. | Tho Emdcn sank the Clan Matlicson in the Bay of Bengal. The crew have landed at Rangoon. A FAR-FETCHED THEORY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 23, 5.40 p.m. I PetrogTad, September 22. [ The Times' correspondent hazards the | opinion that the Emdcn acted on instructions received by wireless from BerI lin. The notion that Berlin is able to direct operations from such a distance is [almost uncanny. No more striking ex- ■ hibition of the use of wireless in naval ! war is imaginable. We may picture Admiral von Tirpitz in his office in Berlin. He receives news of the situation in the Bay of Bengal, realises the opportunity for a little coup, and issues the order. The cruiser does the rest. NAVAL EXPENDITURE OF THE POWERS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, September 22.

The Admiralty return of the naval expenditure for the current year shows that Britain spent £52,000,000, Germany £23,000,000, France £25,000,000, Russia £28,000,000, Italy £10,000,000, Japan £10,000,000, Austria £7,000,000, America £30,000,000. The personnel of the fleets of the Entente is 280,000, nnd that of Germany and Austria 102,000. THE ATTACK ON THE PEGASUS. CRIPPLED BEFORE FIGHTING BEGAN.

ljondon, September 22. The Kofnigsberg, at five, in the morning, disabled a British patrol boat with three shots, shooting very accurately. The Pegasus' broadside was cngag.d, but the guns were disabled within 15 minutes. Most of the casualties were round the guns. The Jl:ig of truce vas shot away, »nd murines held it up by hand.