Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 13 November 1914, Page 5

Maritime Activities

| H.M.S. NIGER SUNK. GERMAN SUBMARINE IN THE DOWNS. A DARING lACCOMPL!SI IMENT. Till-; GERMAN ESCAPES. Received 12, <J.2O p.m. London, November 12. The Press Bureau reports that a .submarine torpedoed I {.M.S. Niger in the Downs, and she foundered. All the offi - cors and seventy-seven of the crew wen; saved.

Thousands of spectators along the sea-front were watching a hundred sh:;>3 that were anchored in the Downs. Suddenly an explosion occurred, and smoke, was seen rising from the Niger, two miles out. There was great excitement while scores of shore-boats were launched, and the crew was rescued. The Niger sank in twenty minutes. Three of the survivors were injured 'n the explosion. The submarine was seen, but the torpedoers patrolling the Doivns failed to catch the vessel.

H.M.S. Niger was a torpedo-boat of SlO tons, carrying two 4.7-inch guns, ono of the old tvpe, having been bu : k 'n 1803.

The Downs roadstead is eight nrics long, on the east coast of Kent, England, extending from the North Foreland to the East Foreland, protected on the east by the dangerous Goodv/'n Sands. Ships can anchor safely in the Downs except during southerly gales. This is not the first time that the Downs have borne hostile vessels. i?n October 11 and 12, 1639, this was toe scene of a bloody engagement between the Dutch, under Van Tromp, and the Spaniards. About forty ' Spanish ships ivere sunk, burned, or taken. Here also were fought at least six naval engagements between the Dutch and the Eug lish in the seventeenth century.)

THE END OF THE EMDEN. HIM.S. SYDNEY SUMMONED BY WIRELESS. COMMONWEALTH WARMLY, CONGRATULATED. Sydney, November 12., Senator Pearce received congratulations on the Sydney's victory and the blooding of the Australian navy from many sources, including the Governor and Premier of New Zealand, the Hon. J. Allen, and the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr). The First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Fisher, cabled to the Sydftey's captain his warmest congratulations on the brilliant entry of the Australian navy into the war. Signal service had been rendered the Allies' canse and peaceful commerce by the destruction of the Emden. Mr. Fisher made a statement in the House covering the facts cabled. He added that Coeos Island sent a "wireless message for help just before the Germans destroyed the installation, which the Sydney picked up. The Sydney was recently out of.dock, therefore she had the advantage of speed. In conclusion, he said he did not think there was a soul in Australia who was not pleased that such an opportunity had arisen, and that such success should have been achieved by their own ship. The statement was punctuated by frequent cheering.

The manager of the Eastern Extension Company in Sydney states that lie understands, but could not say for certain, that the cable was cut, but was temporarily repaired. He is unable to say whether the damage prevents traffic going through Cocos, but messages have been received from it. In any ease, the bulk of the traffic went by the other route, via Port Darwin. Brisbane, November 12.

11l the (Assembly, on the Premier's motion, a resolntion was passed, expressing satisfaction at the immortal hondr won by the Australian cruiser Sydney, There was much enthusiasm. London, November 11. There is general satisfaction at the fact that the Enulen's commander was not injured. The Japanese Ambassador telegraphed to Sir George Reid, congratulating Australia on the destruction of the Emden.

Wellington, November 12. Yesterday the Governor sent the following cable, to the Governor-General of Australia: —■ "New Zealand desire 3 heartily to congratulate Australia and her navy on the splendid defeat of the Emden."

The Governor-General replied as follows:—"Australia gratefully acknowledges New Zealand's congratulations on the successful exploit of the Royal Australian Navy. I hope the time <3 not far distant when the sister Dominion will 'more closely slut re with Australia the glories of His Majesty's Pac;S»t Sea forces."

MORE ABO IT TUK EMDEN. Wellington, Last Night. The following cable has been received by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner:— London, November 11. Official: The Admiralty announces that the captain of the Kmden and Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern are both prisoners, and unwounded. Unofficial: The losses on the Emden were 230 wounded. The Admiralty directs that the honors of war be accorded to the survivors, and the captain and officers are not to l)e deprived of their swords.

'MR. MASSEY'S OONCRATULATJONS. Wellington, Last Night. ■ The Prime Minister lias despatched the following cable message to the Prime > Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia:— "Tlie Right Hon. A. Fisher, Melbourne. "I desire to extend to you, as Prime I Minister of th» Commonwealth, Ufew

Zealand's heartiest congratulations oil the brilliant feat performed by tlu: the brilliant feat performed by 11.M.A.5. Sydney in destroying the Emden, which, since tlu; outbreak of war, has done so much harm to British shipping. While not only appreciating to the full the protection afforded to the British communities in the Pacilic by the Australian squadron and the Imperial navy, wo are all proud of the splendid services rendered to the Empire by their fine ships and their excellent seamen. "(Signed) W. F. Massey."

SIR GEORGE REID EXPOUNDS. "THE BREED IS LVLL RIGHT." AUSTRALIA DESERVEDLY IX THE LIMELIGHT. NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES. Received 12, 8.10 p.m. London, November 11. Sir George Reid, referring to the capture of the Emden, said: "The sea breed is all right, and never more all riuht than when Australians are on Australian ■ships, under the White Ensign, with Australia's (lag at the jackstaff." Newspapers contain highly congratulatory tributes. The Daily Telegraph says that in a Nelsonian spirit of humanity every assistance was rendered to the Emdcn's survivors. The Australians may be proud of the manner in which their navy was blooded. It was New Zealand's joy to know that her gift ship shared the honors in the scoring-out movement in Heligoland Bight. Today it is the Commonwealth's turn to rejoice."

The Daily Mail says: "The rest of the Empire will frankly envy the exploit, which, with the very useful work in the Pacific already standing to Australia's credit, overwhelmingly justifies the prescience and patriotism in starting Australia's own naval unit."

American papers declare that it must ho an especial gratification to Britain that an Australian warship sank the Emden, in view of the virulently contemptuous tone in which Germany invariably commented on the uselessness of the British overseas Dominions for military and naval purposes.

JAPANESE FLEET GOING SOUTH. ■SCARE IN BBITISH COLUMBIA. Ottawa, November 11. The Government announces that certain channels on the British Columbian coast have been closed to navigation. It is understood that the precaution is taken against the risk of the German fleet coming north.

Japanese battleships arc reported off Honolulu, proceeding towards the coast of Chile.