With the Fleets.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 243, 23 March 1915, Page 5

With the Fleets.

HOLLAND'S ANGER ROUSED

BV GERMAN INTERFERENCE WITH

SHIPPING,

Received March 23, 12.25 a.m. London, March 22.

Tlie seizure of the Zuanatroon and Batavier by tlie U2B has aroused consternation and anger in shipping circles. There were sixteen Belgians aboard, and these were taken prisoners.

A German aeroplane threw two bombs at> the Dutch steamer Zevcnbergen in the North Sea, but missed. Washington, March 21. The Netherlands communicated with Mr. Bryan, informally outlining a protest addressed to Britain and France describing the embargo on neutrals' commerce with Germany as an unprecedented step.

SUBMARINE SERVICE NOT

RELISHED.

GERMANS SEIZE HOLLAND'S

SHIPPING.

STORY OF GERMAN SAILOR.

London, March 21

A German sailor on the destroyer which rammed the German submarine Ul2 says that prisoners declared that when their previous submarine put into Kiel for repairs tlie crew were forced on board Ul2 at the point of the revolver. Amsterdam, March 21. German warships seized the Dutch steamer Zaanstroom, laden with eggs for London, and have taken her to Zcebrugge.

The Germansalso seized the - steamer Batavier, bound from Rotterdam to London, and took her to Zcebrugge.

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION.

OF KARLSRUHE'S LOSS.

London, March 20. The Admiralty states that there is every reason to belieye that the Karlsruhe sank in the West Indies at the beginning of November, and that the crew reached Germany on the steamer Rio Grande early in December.

New York, March 21. The Herald states that the Navarroxv was sunk off the River Plate on November 11. She tried to avoid a fight, but after an hour's chase the Orama opened fire and the Navarrow's upper works were soon ablaze. The fire <lestroyed all the boats except four, which escaped just before an explosion took place. The crew were taken prisoners and the Navarrow turned turtle.

ANOTHER STEAMER TORPEDOED.

London, March 21. An 800-ton cargo steamer was torpedoed off Beachyi Head on Sundav afternoon. It is believed she was not sunk.

Received March 22, 9.5 p.m.

London, March .22 The vessel torpedoed off Bcachv Head was the Carntoff. coal-laden, from the lyne to Genoa. 'She sank while a destroyer was towing her to Newhavcn. Tho crew is safe.

THE KARLSRUHE.

London, March 20.

The Admiralty states that there i< reason to believe that the Karlsruhe sank in the West Indies at the beginning of November, and that the crew reached Germany in the steamer Rio Grande early in December.

FORMIDARLE'S END.

TORPEDOED TWICE.

AN OFFICER'S NARRATIVE.

| The sinking of the Formidable during t'le early hours of New Year's Dav is graphically described in a letter received in Auckland from an officer on board the Implacable, one of the battleships which was with the Formidable at th e time of the disaster. The writer savis:—

"Tlie fleet, consisting of eight battleships, and two light cruisers, was at exercise, practising steam tactics all New Year's Eve. When it got dark wp were steaming in line ahead at about ten knots, all tlie vesst'lg being one Ix'-iiml each other, the admiral leading. We were the fourth ship in tlie line, the Formidable being hist. At 7 p.m. we were somewhere near the Is!;' of Wight, then we turned round and went west till about 3 a.m. The night was very light, there being a full moon. A slight breeze was blowing, but wind and sea were both getting up fast. When the vessels turned in succession we noticed that one was missing, but had no idea which the ship was or whither she had gone. It was presumed that the admiral had sent li%r away. At 3.30 a.m. we received a signal to alter our course, and to increase our speed, and at 5 a.m. vve intercepted a wireless message saving that the Formidable had been sunk. We went straight back to Portland as fast as possible, frequently altering our course, so as to give the slip to any submarines. By this time there was a howling gale, and it was raining in torrents.

"It appears that the Formidable had been hit by a torpedo on the starboard side at about 2.30 a.m. Three-quarters of an hour later she was struck on the port side by a second torpedo. It took her two hours to go down, and during that time those on board managed to get out two of the bigger boats, which was a very fine piece of work considering the sea that was running. It seems that the second torpedo was actually filed at the Topaz, but went beneath her and struck the Formidable. Th c Topaz had made an effort to get alongside the Formidable, but had been ordered away by the captain, who -aid that a submarine was close at hand. "The Formidable went down by tlie bows at about 4.30 a.m. She must have been actually standing upon her ram before she heeled over to v OV t with her «t<'rn up in the air. for her length was 430 feet, and the depth where she 1 sank was only 3H fathom's, or 210 feet