With the Fleets.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 279, 4 May 1915, Page 5

With the Fleets.

BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK. AN EFFECTIVE REVENUE. TWO GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT,? SENT DOWN. London, May 2Offical.—The destroyer Recruit was sunk by a submarine on Saturday. Four officers and twenty-one men were saved. German torpedo boats sunk the trawler Columbia, after which four British destroyers, at the end of an hour's chase, sunk both torpedo boats. They rescued 2 officers and 44 of the crew. Both events were in the vicinity of the Galloper and Hinder lightships. Thirty-five of the Recruit's crew perished. The submarine fired a torpedo at the Daisy, hut the. latter steamed away, leaving the rescuing boat behind. The submarine chased the rescuing boat and fired, wounding four of the crew. When the German torpedo boats sighted the destroyer they turned and fled. The Britishers' marksmanship was excellent. One of the enemy's vessels was hit amidships, enabling the destroyer to approach and sink her. The prisoners were landed at tjhotley this morning.

The Admiralty announces that both affairs were in the vicinity of the Galloper and North Hinder lightships. The Recruit was sunk by a submarine during Saturday forenoon. The trawler Daisy rescued four officers and twenty-one men.

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon two German torpedo boats approaching from the westward attacked the trawler Columbia without hoisting their colors. A torpedo sunk the trawler and only) onei deck .hand was saved. The British* destroyers Laforey, Leonidas, Lawford, and Lark chased the torpedo boats, and after an hour's running fight both the German vessels were sunk. Two officers and forty-four men were rescued and taken prisoners. The destroyers had one casualty

(The lightships mentioned are both some distance off the mouth of the Thames.)

GERMANS MAKE A POOR FIGHT. Received May 3, 9.20 p.m. London, May 3. The submarine crossed the Recruit's bow and manoeuvred into position. A missile crashed into the Recruit amidships and she slowly heeled. Signals brought the Daisy, and the latter's signals brought the" destroyers. The Germans, when overhauled, made an extremely poor fight, and their shooting was erratic. Received May 3, 9.20 p.m. Amsterdam, May 3. A Norwegian steamer picked up two officers of the German torpedo boat Bunk in the fight. FATE OF THE COLUMBIA. Eeceived May 3, 11.30 p.m. London, May 3. The trawler Barhadoes brought to Jannouts the Columbia's survivors and a German bluejacket, who had fallen overboard. Seventeen members of the erew of the Columbia perished. The Barhadoes, with two guns, defended herself against the torpedo boat. The latter was hit, and, as steam escaped, the trawler's deck fittings were riddled. The captain was wounded in the foot.

GERMAN SUBMARINES ACTIVE. FOUR STEAMERS TORPEDOED. London, MJly 2. Submarines torpedoed the French steamer Europe, near Bishop's Rock, The crew was saved. Submarines also torpedoed the steamer Fulgent, near Skelligs. Most of the crew arc missing. The Amercan steamer Gulf Light was torpedoed off the Seilly Jsles. She reached Falmouth. London, May 2. A submarine sank the British steamer Edwaie, from the River Plato. The crew were landed at the Seilly Isles. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Received May 3, 9.20 p.m. London, May 3. A trawler landed nine of the Fulgent's survivors and the body of the captain, who had been shot. A second boat with the balance of the crew is missing. The Gnl Light, bound from Port Arthur to Rouen, was towed by the crew into the Sound, awaiting the Falmouth tugs. One of the crew was drowned and one is missing. The captain's body was landed at St. Mary's with the remainder of the crew. NEW FRENX'H SUPER-DREAD-NOUGHT. Received May 3, 11.50 p.m. "Paris, May 3. The 25,000 ton super-Dreadnought, Languedoc, has been launched at Bordeaux.