Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 19 February 1915, Page 5

Maritime Activities

THE KAISER'S EXCUSE. FORCED BY FOOD SHORTAGE. TO AGAIN IGNORE THE INTERNATIONAL LAW. New York, February 17. A Berlin wireless message states that Admiral Behncke informed the American naval attache that the stoppage of food supplies had forced Germany to a point where she was no longer able to feed her people and it was necessary to bring England to terms, therefore she had f.doptcd the only means of saving herself. Times and Sydney Suit Services. London, February 17. A neutral observer states that Germany is more closely united and less disturbed than in Augvist. It is a great mistake to under estimate her military reserves. He had failed to find anvono who had actually seen the 42-centi-l.iclre (17-inch) mortars. The photographs published were really of the Austrian 30.5 e»iuii.".et.re (I'2-lnch) suns. It is rumoured in Pi.rlin that Count iV/nstorff has been ice:'lied. His wife, who was sailing for New York, has cancelled her passage. STEAMERS SUNK IN THE CHANNEL BLUCHER'S CAPTAIN DEAD. London, February 17The collier Duhvich was blown up by two explosions off Cape. Antifer. A French cruiser rescued twenty-one. The iest were landed at Fecamp. Paris, February 17. Tiie Dulwich was torpedoed on a clear night without warning. A German submarine, No. 1(1, on Tuesday blew up and sank the French steamer Ville-deLiH;, . between Cherbourg and Dunkirk, giving the crew ten minutes to escape. The submarine was about to sink a Norwegian steamer when torpedo boats arrived and the submarine disappeared. London, Februarv 17. Captain Erdmond, of the Blucher. which was sung in the engagement off the Dogger Bank, has died in Edinburgh of pnuemonia. He was one the" reatest authorities on gunnery in Germany. Amsterdam, February 17. A lifebuoy, apparently belonging to the German submarine, No. 12, lips been found at Zuydcoote. London, February 17. The Ayrshire passed Dover at 3 o'clock. The Australian Government trawlers Brolga, Koraaga and Gunimdaal have sailed. A STEAMER'S ESCAPE, Received 18, 5.30 p.m. London, February 18. Three submarines chased the steamer Kirkham Abbey, bound from Rotterdam te Hull, for ~'mety minutes on the Dutca coast. The steamer went full, s zigzagged, and escaped. GERMANY'S REPLY TO AMERICA. BRITAIN BLAMED. , Received 18, 8.50 p.m. London, February 18. It is officially reported from Berlin that Germany's reply to America states that the blockade is necessary in selfdefence against. England's violation of international law. \

STRAINED RELATIONS. c PRESIDENT WILL AVOID WAR. AMERICAN PROTEST SENT TO i BRITAIN. c Received 18, 8.50 p.m. ' Washington, February IS. ' Germany has notified the United r States that strained relations exist oe- ' tween Germany and America. It is understood that war is unlikely. President Wilson is deeply concerned, but is determined to prevent war at al'costs. The Cabinet decided to again notify Britain of its strong objection to the proclamation of a blockade against foodstuffs intended for Germany. THE BRITISH FLEET. THROUGH GERMAN EYES. LEADERSHIP AND TACTICS FAULTY. Received 1!). 1.10 a.m. London, February 18. Captain Persius, in an article in the Berliner Tagebhitt, warns the Germans not to expect the fleet to give battle yet. lie hints at the unpalatable truth that such a procedure is only courting destruction, and rebukes those who speak of the cowardice of the British fleet. He declares it would be self-decption not to admit that Britain's navy on the whole has fulfilled the task of protecting both her own trade and that of the Allies, and give- safo conduct to transports. He adds: "But the leadership of tlie British squadron, as well as the training of th" crews in the Chili fight, slowed a lack of strategy, and the Falkland battle was lacking in tactics, while in tlie North Sea fight the British xvere guilty of bad manoeuvring. All tliir. made him believe it would b feasible for the German fleet yet to deliver a successful attack. H.M.S. PHILOMEL. A FIGHT, BUT WHERE? Wellington, Yesterday. The Minister of Defence has been advised that an n'fmcd landing pariv from the Philomei came into contact wilh the enemy, who was in much L! greater force. Tlie ollicers and men behaved very well indeed, and retired un--1 del' cover of the ship's guns. Two were i> killed, as previously reported, and three 1 wounded. The wounded are doing well. . The enemy's casualties were at least '2(l killed and many more wounded.