ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1915, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SINKING OF THE ARABIC, THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. HEROES OF THE ENGLNEROQM. AMERICAN PRESS DEMANDS . ~ ACTION. London, August 20. Captain Finch says the torpedo's terrific explosion shook the vessel from stem to stem, A column of water shot up, and the largest lifeboat was blown to fragments. All the lifeboats had been previously swung out, life-rafts were ready, and lifebelts had been distributed on the decks. Fourteen lifeboats were launched, but two capsized. This was unavoidable, because the Arabic rose almost perpendicular before sinking by the stern. Captain Finch remained on the bridge, and was carried down by the suction, returning to the surface amid the wreckage with a severely injured leg. With the assistance of firemen, he helped several passengers, including a woman with a baby, who were struggling in the water, into the lifeboats. Finch was so exhausted that he had to wait until the rising of the swell. made it easier to scramble on a rait. He was twenty minutes in the water and 2£ hours on the raft. When the vessel was struck without warning he telegraphed to the engineroom men to make their way out, and his orders were carried out. Twenty Victoria Crosses ought to be given the engine-room heroes. The third engineer and assistant electrician, who remained on duty in the engine-room, perished when the steamer foundered. Two warships rescued the survivors after two hours, but all their belongings were lost. Miss Stella Carol cheered up the other women in the lifeboat by singing "Tipperary." Some passengers declare they were breakfasting when the boilers exploded. Many landed with their clothes torn. It was a pitiful sight. One woman was dressed in a naval officer's overcoat. Sixteen were sent to the hospital at Queenstown, mostly members of the crew. Only two American passengers by the Arabic are not accounted for. The Arabic carried the San Francisco mails to F 'ind. New York, August 20. Local newspapers bitterly condemn the sinking of the Arabic, and ask whether it is Germany's reply to the American Note. The World says that even if the American passengers escaped, it does not modify the submarine commander's intention to commit deliberate murder. The Tribune says the act fulfils President Wilson's definition of a deliberately unfriendly act. To talk further is to encourage, not to avoid, murder. The Journal of Commerce asks: Does there exist no power in the civilised world to keep this arrogant barbarian among nations within bounds? President Wilson and the State Department refuse to comment on the Arabic until official details are received. The press demands vigorous measures, as it is pointed out that Germany is past all endurance, and is deliberately defying American opinion. Several newspapers criticise President Wilson's weakened attitude. Amsterdam, August 20. Details of the sinking of the Arabic have been withheld from the German newspapers. The news has caused nervousness at the Foreign Office, fearing difficulties at Washington.

RESCUER CHASES SUBMARINE. TWO MORE BOATS PICKED T"\ Received August 22, 3 p.m. London, August 21. An American passenger 9tatc9 that a rescuing vessel chased the submarine and fired five shots. She then picked up eight l'"'\tloads of the Arabic's survivors. Two of the Arabic's boats have been [jicked up, containing two bodies. A..1 ERICA WILL ASP. FOR EXPLANATION. Received August 22, 4.10 p.m. London, August 21. Keuter's Washington correspondent says that the State Department announces that Mr. G-vard,' Ambassador at Berlin, will probably be directed to call Germany's attention to the sinking ol the Arabic, and ask for an explanation.

BOVIC REPORTED LOST. ANOTHER WHITE STAR SHIT. New York, August 20. Advice received by the American press reports the torpedoing of the White Star liner Bovic (4230 tons net register) formerly engaged in the Australian trade. The locality is unknown and details have not been received. El 3 WRECKED. UN HE!! WAV TO THE BALTIC. l.ondmi, August 20. The Admiralty announces that the British submarine El 3, on her way to the Baltic, went aground yesterday morning on the island of Saltliolm, an island in mid-channel opposite Copenhagen. Fifteen officers and men are reported to have been saved and fifteen are missing. DANISH VESSELS TO THE RESCUE. Received August 22, 2.10 p.m. London, August 20. Six of the El 3's crew are dead, and seven are missing. Her position is considered hopeless. Danish vessels immediately went to her assistance, and took, off fifteen survivors, two of whom were sent to hospital. NEAR DANISH WATERS. NEW GERMAN CRUISERS GOING NORTH. Received August 22, 3 p.m. Copenhagen, August 21. Several large derman cruisers of the newest type are steaming northward in international waters, near Saltliolm. They are evidently in wireless communication with a Zeopelin scout.

INHUMAN TREACHERY, .

QUMMANDEII LAYTON'S REPORT, Received August 22, i p.m. Copenhagen, August 21. A salvage company reports that it is possible to salvage the El 3. Renter states that the Berlin official report is that the El 3 was destroyed at the southern outlet of the sound. London, August 21. The Admiralty announces that Lieu-tenant-Commander Layton reports that when the El 3 grounded at Saltholm all efforts ivere made to refloat her. A Danish torpedoer appeared at five in the morning, and in a communication to the El 3 the latter was allowed twenty-four hours in which to get off. At the same time a German destroyer arrived, and remained at close quarters until two more Danish torpedoers came up, when she withdrew. At nine in the morning, while the three torpedoers were anchored close in, :■. submarine and two German destroyers appeared from the south. When about half a mile away one of the destroyers hoisted a commercial flag Bignal, but before he had time to read it the destroyer fired a torpedo at a distance of 300 yards, but it exploded on hitting the bottom close to her. At the same moment the destroyer fired all her guns, and Layton, owing to the submarine fire being fore and aft,,was unable to defend himself, because he was aground. He ordered the crew to abandon her, and while the men were in the water they were fired on by machine-guns and shrapnel. A Danish torpedoer immediately lowered boats, and steamed between the submarine and the German destroyers, who had to cease fire and withdraw.

STRATEGY UNOER WATER. HOW AN AUSTRIAN SUBMARINE FARED. Received August 22, 3 p.m. Rome, August 22. A bluejacket's story of the sinking of the Austrian TJI2 states that an Italian torpedoer, while cruising, saw the Austrian approaching. The Italian pretended not to see her, and manoeuvred, bringing the Austrian near a waiting Italian submarine. The two submarines almost met bow to bow under water, and then the excitement began. The Austrian fired a torpedo, grazing the Italian, and both manoeuvred under water for an hour and a-half, the Austrian vainly firing two torpedoes. Finally, the Italian suddenly reversed and plunged a torpedo into her adversary's vitals.

THE TORPEDO TOLL. A BAG OF SEVEN MORE. Received August 22, 3 p.m. London, August 21. The Spanish steamer Rena Castillo has sunk. Three of the crew were saved. The Norwegian steamer Sverresborg, and the British steamers Ben Viaccie and Gladistor were sunk, the crews being landed. The steamers Bittern and Sumara, and the Norwegian ; learner Bras have been sunk. The crews were saved. TURKISH STEAMER SUNK. Received August 22, 2.10 p.m. London, August 20. Sevastopol reports that a Russian submarine sunk a Turkish coal-laden steamer off the Anatolian coast.