Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 140, 6 November 1914, Page 5

Maritime Activities

NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. REPORTED LOSS OF BRITISH • CRUISERS. Received «, 12.20 a.m. London, November 5 (Morning). The Admiralty has received rumours of engagements off Valparaiso, but discredit the German version, claiming a victory over Admiral Craddoek's fleet; The Times correspondent at Val. paraiso reports that the Nurnbcrg, Gneiscnau, and Scharnhorst sank the cruisers Monmouth and Good Hope, while the cruiser Glasgow sought refuge. Received 0, 1.30 a.m. London, November 5.

German reports from Valparaiso state that the Monmouth was sunk, and that the majority of the crew perished; also tliut the Good Hope and Glasgow were damaged. (The Monmouth was a cruiser of 9800 tons, of 23 knots, built in 1901. The Good Hope is a cruiser of 14,100 tons, 23 knots, built in 1001.

The Glasgow is a vessel of 4800 tons, built in 1910, having a speed of 25 knots.)

GERMAN CRUISER SINKS. AFTER STRIKING A MINE. Received (i, 1.20 a.m. s London, November 5 (Morning). Official: The German cruiser Yorck struck a mine, and sank in Yalide Bay. Half the crew wore saved. London, November 4. The Ijcipzig sank the steamer Vine Branch on the west coast of South America. GERMAN NAVAL ATTACK. BRITISH SUBMARINE LOST. GERMAN VESSEL CAPTURED.

London, Xovcmber 4. Residents of Lowestoft and Yarmouth were awakened at daybreak yesterday by a heavy cannonade to seaward. iA tbick mist enveloped the sea, but occasionally flashes were seen, and shells fell a couple of miles off shore, throwing up fountains of water. Many fishing boats had a narrow escape. The old cruiser Halcyon, on fishery protection duty, steamed into Lowestoft with, her wireless aerial shot away, her bridge and funnel damaged, and one of the crew wounded.

The fleet of fishing drifters witnessed the attack. They saw seven German vessels steaming in line, and thought they were friendly ships until the destroyers fired. Some of the German warships flew the white ensign, and, when challenged, replied with a hailstorm of shells. The Halcyon's escape was due to the captain's clever zigwurging. The German shooting was very poor. They should have sunk the Halcyon in a few minutes, A hundred shells were fired at the Halcyon, who fired one shot and retreated. The squadron steamed eastward, the last cruiser dropping mines. Two drifters struck mines, one losing nine men and the other several men. The drifters warned the submarines, but D 5 was blown up. It is suspected that the German fleet is in possession of a copy of the Admir. alty's new special chart of the North Sea, otherwise it would have been unable safely to traverse the extensively mined area.

Santiago, November 4. The Scharnhorst, Gne'isenau, and Xurnberg arrived at Valparaiso, took in provisions, and sailed again. Washington, November 4. The State Department announces that the warship Meier mast leave Honolulu by a given date, not specified, or be interned. Americans generally recognise that Britain's North Sea policy is a reasonable safeguard against mines. London, November 4. A British cruiser captured the German ship Melpomene, from Tocopilla, with a cargo of nitrates. STRUCK A MINE. Received 3, 11.5 p.m. London, November 4.

The Lowentoft steam-drifter Will and Maggie struck a mine. Six out of ten of tin; crew were drowned.