Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 5 November 1914, Page 5

Maritime Activities

GERMAN SQUADRON APPEARS. RUT QUICKLY RETREATS. BUBMARLNJS SUNK BY MINE. Wellington, Last Night. The .High Commissioner reports as follows: 4, 12.20 a.m. ' The Admiralty announces that early this morning the German squadron fired on the Halcyon, coastguard gunboat, with the result that one man was wounded.

The Halcyon reported the presence of vessels, and various naval movements were made, with the result that the enemy retreated rapidly. The rearmost tu>rman cruiser threw out a number of mines, and submarine D 5 was sunk, two officers and two men being saved. The bombardment of Akaba is reported.

Received 5, 12 20 a.m. | London, November 4. ) The Press Bureau reports that four. were saved from the D 5. I

SINKING OF THE HERMES. DESCRIPTION BY AN EYEWITNESS. Received 4, 6.15 p.m. London, November 3. An eye-witness of the sinking of the Hermes was walking along the seashore, trying to forget the horrors he had seen on the battlefields, when he blundered into the sea tragedy. The cruiser, he said, was well out. He heard a tremendous explosion when the troops found their target, and saw a great pillar ri! smoke shoot skywards, with the guns firing. The Hermes finally gave up herself to the deep, though before sinking she made a gallant struggle. The funnels were belching volumes of smoke, and the vessel appeared to be moving slowly when the waterline was far below the surface.

The survivors state that they saw the audacious submarine departing leisurely.

VESSELS WITH GOODS FOR ENEMY'S PORTS.

SUBJECT TO CAPTURE. Wellington, Last Night. A Gazette Extraordinary, which was issued to-day, notifies' that the provisions of the declaration are being enforced by the Imperial Government, with certain modificationa relating to vessels proceeding or carrying goods to an enemy's port, which will be subject to capture and condemnation if encountered on the voyage. Ships bound for ports in a neutral country are also liable to capture if it bf found that an enemy's Gov-' ernment h drawing supplies through such j neutral State.

MINES IN TRADE ROLTES. SCATTERED INDISCRIMINATELY. ADMIRALTY PROCLAIMS NORTH SEA A MILITARY AREA.

Wellington, November 4. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, November 3: — The Admiralty announces that during the last week the Germans have scattered mines indiscriminately in the open i sea on the main trade route from; America to Liverpool, via the north of i Ireland. Peaceful merchant ships al-1 ready have been blown up, with loss of > life, 'by this agency. The White Star liner Olympic escaped disaster by pure luek, and, but for the warnings given by British cruisers, other British and neutral vessels would have been, destroyed. These mines cannot, have been laid by any < irman ship 'of war. They have been laid by merchant vessels ilying a neutral flag, which have come along the trade route as if for the peaceful purposes of commerce. While profiting to the full by the immunity enjoyed by neutral merchant ships, the enemy has endangered lives, regardless whether they are friends or toes, or of a civilian or military character. Mine-laying under a neutral ilag and reconnaissance ■ conducted by tvawlcv. hospital ships, and neutral vessels are ordinary features of German naval warfare. In the | circumstances the Admiralty feel it necessary to adopt exceptional measures appropriate to the naval conditions. They, therefore, give notice that the whole of th'e 2\orth Sea must be considered a military area. Within this area merchant shipping of all kinds, fishing craft, and all other vessels, will be exposed to the gravest dangers from mines. Every effort will be made to convey this warning to neutral countries, and to vessels on the sea, but from November .3 all ships passing a line drawn from the northern point of the Hebrides through the Faroe Islands to Iceland do so at their own risk.

LOSS OF TUB HERMES. London, November 3. When the Hermes was sinking someone remembered that there were 400 tins of petrol on board. These were emptied, and the stoppers screwed down. The tins kept scores of men alloat until they were rescued'. The gale has driven a number of powerful German mines ashore on the North- | umberland coast.

DYSENTERY CHECKED. "ily little daughter when 14 months ; old was very ill with dysentery," says Mr. Wm. l'\ Long, "Rose Villa," Camden street, Newtown,' .N.S.W. '\\f\- wife was told of Chamberlain's Colic 'and Diarrhoea Remedy and I got a bottle at once. We. gave it to the child as directed, and after six dor.es the dysentery left (her; her appct ; te returned, and she 'had all the energy of a healthy child." Sold by all chemists and storekeepers. MXO-TONJC PILLS..