AMAZING HOAX FROM AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

AMAZING HOAX FROM AMERICA.

"WHOLE BRITISH NAVY SUNK." "CALDjORNIAN EAGLE'S" BRIEF FLIGHT. Under the heading, "British Navy Sunk" (in letters 24 inches deep) there appeared in the Californian Eagle, at Los Angeles on August 29. a circumstantial and detailed account of a great German naval victory off the coast of Norway. This paper, a copy of which has reached the Westminster Gazette, purports to be No. 45 of Vol. 23. As a ■matter of fact, there is no such paper. It was the Eagle's first and only appearance, hut the entire issue sold at enormous prices. The bogus telegrams were as follow:

London, August 29.—1t is reported here the greatest sea fight of the age has taken place in the North Sea.

Bergen, August 29.—Heavy firing began off this port last evening, and continued throughout the night. Eighty Dreadnoughts and battle cruisers were engaged .

Gottenhurg, August 29.—The entire British home fleet was sunk off the coast of Norway to-day, only two fast cruisers escaping, one of which was in flames, is a wireless report that has created the greatest sensation since the war began. Christiansand, August 29.—A British cruiser put into this port at 6.40 a.m., having on board several hundred wounded. The cruiser is the sole survivor of the British Fleet. German submarines are said to have played a prominent part in the destruction. The Iron Duke held out to the last.

Berlin, August 29.—Nineteen British Dreadnoughts are accounted for. The home fleet was caught napping. Berlin is wild with joy to-day. Then follows a series of messages from other parts of Europe and a detailed message from Berlin:

Berlin (via Wireless), August 2f>.— Despatches received from Bergen, Norway, indicate that the loss of life on the English Fleet exceeds 40,000 men. The vessels known to have been sunk by the Germans are:

(Here follow the names of 38 battle' ships).

A delightful touch of reality is given by the following: "The Lion took no part, as it developed engine trouble early in the cruise, and returned to Lough Swilly for repairs." To summarise the remainder of the messages we learn that our slower battleships were sunk by submarines, and that the Invincible, Inflexible, Indomitable and Indefatigable made a dash westward, but were soon overhauled by the Derflinger, Von der Tann, Luise and Hertha (and here we are allowed a cnimb of comfort—"the Hertha sank") The German Fleet, it appears, crept up in the Norwegian- coast in a fog. The bigger vessels carried 17-inch guns, and the British Fleet, ten miles off shore in a clear atmosphere, offered an excellent target. There appears to have been some unreported casualties among the Kaiser's fleet, for we are told that it has been "so reduced that it will be unable to cope with the Mediterranean fleet," which has been ordered home I