ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

LOSS OF THE PERSIA. SURVIVORS' STORIES. A SUDDEN TRAGEDY. Alexandria. Jan- 4. The survivors from the Persia are mostly suffering from shock ami hardships. Many are bruised and bandaged One woman was taken to hospital with a broken leg. The tragedy was so sudden that tlie survivors are scarcely able to give a connected account. They dwell upon the rude change from a gay luncheon table, where they sat in the jolliest moods, to the ship's boats. In less than five minutes the luxurious liner was swallowed by the waves. They had just begun lunch when a terrific explosion shook the ship from stem to stern. She lurched heavily to po'vt. Only those who quitted the tables instantly or were on the decks had any hope of escape. Many seemed paralysed and sat as though glued to their seats. Their indecision was fatal. The water poured into the saloons the next moment. Some reached the sloping deck and slipped into the sea. Others were swept off by the waves. The survivors are loud in their praise of the promptitude and coolness of the crew. It was a brilliant feat to lower even four boats from a heavily listed swiftly sinking ship. The crew worked smartly but silently. There was not the least sign of panic. A young lady states that she jumped up from the tablp the instant she heard the explosion and ran to her cabin for a lifebelt. Twice she was thrown down by the ship's rocking. She gained the deck with the utmost difficulty, being thrown down repeatedly and severely shaken and bruised. She jumped overboard and was picked up after fifteen minutes.'

Others tell similar stories; they promptly rushed on deck and dived into the sea. Mothers rushed into their cabins to seek their children and never returned. Only two children were saved.

The chief officer was sitting in his cabin on the bridge deck. He helped with the boats and went down with the ship, but was picked out of the water. He did not see the captain, and believes that he was sucked down, though passengers think they saw him swimming.

Many passengers state there were six boats afloat, but the chief officer doubts the accuracy of this, but two may have broken loose. Other officers are convinced that anyhow there was no ona in them.

The survivors have lost everything and spent the most miserable thirty hours in the bouts. They were wet ana cold, hut had ample provisions. Reuter's interviewed Mr. Grant, an American survivor, who said: "While at dinner an explosion filled the saloon with smoke and steam and broken glass. I fastened the captain's belt on him and then slid into the sea. I was sucked down and caught by a rope, but got clear and reached some ■wreckage, and was picked up by a boat at four o'clock, when I saw five row-boats searching for other survivors. . Some were washed overboard. Four boats were tied together by the painters. At half-past three my boat separated from the others and we rowed for three hours and were then rescued by a cruiser, which picked up the other boats at seven o'clock. The end of the Persia was most affecting. Some people were screaming, others saying goodbye, while one boatload sang hymns." PROTECTION OF SHIPPING.

PRESS COMMENTS. London, Jan. 4. The Times points out that British mail liners are in a different position from foreign liners. They are unable to change their route. Their contract specified fixed routes. It ought to be posible to afford adequate protection to P. and 0. liners, which are the only link with India and Australasia. The safety and regularity of those services are of the highest importance. The Times' naval correspondent emphasises that the destruction of merchant shipping and the interruption of trade is the most serious danger of the war. We must keep the sea routes clear for the coming and going of merchandise. The enemy is attempting a third time to interrupt communications and molest and destroy realising the importance of success. Each scheme had a separate and distinct character. The. early attempts were foiled by the resourcefulness, adaptability, and organising genius of the Britisli seamen. The Mediterranean attempt must be scotched. The task is not insurmountable, although there are new features and methods. The Mediterranean submarine campaign commenced early in September, and is increasing in intensity as the number of boats multiplies. The principal centres of activity are the Egyptian and Tripoli coasts, Morea, .and off the Malta-Suez routes. Transports and supply vessels have somewhat suffered, but the main attacks are on cargo and passenger vessels. Whether the Persia was spceiallv convoyed as a mail steamer and a significant link in the chain of Empire is unknown. The question is rertain to be raised. The submarines' localities should indicate their bases, because their radius of action is limited. The Persia clearly proves that the statement made on December' 15, that the Allied Admiralties' measures were effective, was premature. Lord Inehcapo then remarked that the P. and 0. liners had enjoyed an immunity, but that thev would meet disaster philosophically. ' This is the proper attitude, hut the nation requires everything to he done to avert disaster. The previous determination and foresight applied to the Mediterranean will overcome it.

' The Daily Hail says that the loss of the Persia has stirred the nation to its depths. It is certain that it was a German submarine. The cowardly sinking will steel the hearts of Britons and prompt them to action and make them enlist. The most effective method of punishing the Germans would be to impose a fine from the £300,000,000 worth of German property in the Empire for each non-combatant killed.

CREEK SAILER STOPPED. ENEMY PASSENGERS REMOVED. Received Jan. 5, 9 p.m. Paris, Jan. 4. A ship of the British squadron seized a Greek- sailing vessel and removed 25 Austro-Bulgarian passengers, who have bsea, interned at Gibraltar,

DESTRUCTION OF A GERMAN SUBMARINE.

GERMAN GOVERNMENT'S COMPLAINT. SEVUEL TO THE ARABIC OUTRAGE. ALLEGED INHUMANITY BY BRITISHERS. AN OFFICIAL MEMO. Received Jan. 5, 8.5 a.m. London, Jan. 4. The Press Bureau has issued a memorandum from the German Government regarding the alleged incidents of the destruction of a German submarine by the auxiliary cruiser Baralong on August 19, and Sir E. Grey's reply thereto. The German document alleges that the steamer Nicosian was stopped by a German submarine, which fired on the Nicosian. After the crew had left, a steamer was seen approaching, flying the American flag, and while the submarine was firing at the Nicosian the stranger, which proved to be the Baralong, suddenly opened fire with hitherto hidden arms. The submarine began to sink and her crew jumped overboard, Several of the men who were clinging to the ropes of the Nkoaian were Killed by the gunfire of the Baralong, and partly by rifle fire from the Baralong's crew. One witness, Curran, an American, states that the commander of the Baralong ordered his men to shoot helpleas German seamen in the water. Curran and another witness, Palen, also an American, assert that the commander of the Baralong gave a definite order not to take any prisoners.

The statement continues: "The commander of the submarine, while swimming, raised his hand, in token of surrender, and was Bhot in the neck and killed. The commander of the Baralong requested the captain of the Nicoaian to impress upon his crew the necessity not to say anything. There is no doubt that the commander gave orders to kill the German seamen in a cowardly manner, and also that the crew obeyed the order, and shared in the guilt of the murder. The German Government inform the British Government of this terrible deed, and take it for granted that the British Government will proceed on a charge of murder against the captain of the Baralong, otherwise the German Government consider they will be obliged to take serious decision for retribution for an unpunished crime."

. SIR E. GREY'S REPLY. VINDICATING THE CRUISER. Sir E. Grey's memorandum to Mr. Page (the American Ambassador) states that the British Note caused satisfaction, though there was some surprise at the German anxiety. The principles of civilsed warfare were vindicated, and it was evident that to single out the case of the Baralong was the height of absurdity. He suggested that the whole question of atrocities on land and sea might fitly be examined by an impartial tribunal. As the very multitude of allegations against Germany would overload any tribunal, the inquiry might be confined to three incidents within a few hours of the Baralong allegations.

The memorandum continues: Britain accepted the allegations in the case of the Arabic, although no effort was made to save the crew, and 47 non-combatants lost their lives in this act of barbarism. The second incident was when a German destroyer fired upon a stranded British submarine on the Danish eoa3t, and when the crew attempted to swim ashore the destroyer fired on them. Forty-eight hours later a German submarine fired ehrapnel at the steamer Ruel, and one man was killed and eight wounded. No statement was offered justifying these cold-blooded, cowardly outrages.

Tlie memorandum concludes: These incidents might, with the case of the Baralong, have been brought before an impartial court, say, officers of the American Navy. Britain will do all in her power to further inquiry and carry out the findings of the court. It is unnecessary to reply to the suggestion that the British Navy is guilty of inhumanity; the number of German sailors rescued from drowning amounts to 1150, but the German Navy shows no such record. The German Navy aoea not show such a record, perhaps through want of opportunity."

The German document includes the affidavits of six Americans who were aboard the Nicosian, .vhich it is alleged was ■carrying 350 mules which were landed safely at Avonmouth, whither she was towed and docked. The witnesses, who shipped as muleteers and superintendents, allege that the Baralong had large canvas shields whereon the American flag was painted. Four German submarine men who scrambled up the sides of the Nicosian were found in the engine-room and shot in cold blood by the Baralong's boat's crew. L. Holland, an American, makes this affidavit: I was a member of the crew of the Baralong, which was disguised as an armed cruiser. On August 19 we picked up a wireless that a submarine had sunk the Arabic and was attacking the Nicosian. We rushed to the scene. Several of the crew of the submarine were killed by shot while in the water, and only one got aboard the Nicosian. After our crew boarded the Nicosian we found one of the submarine men on deck, and when asked if his submarine had sunk the AraTjic he refused to givo information. He said: 'Why don't you shoot?' A marine then shot him and threw the body overboard." ,1. M. Garrett, an American, in his affidavit, said: "Twelve submarine men jumped into the water, most of them naked. Twenty-five marines fired at the submarine captain while he was in the water, and I saw others similarly shot after the submarine was blown up. The Nicosian's captain (Manning) ordered the men with oars to hit a German on the head if he swam near."

.Tamos Jay, of Chicago, in his affidavit said that the 'Baralong's second shot smashed the submarine's periscope, and the third carried away the base 0/ tho conning tower, blowing two German* into the air. The submarine quickly sank, and after the British seamen bad boarded the Nicosian he saw the bodies of two Germans, each with a hole in the forehead. A revolting phase of the affair was that when the bodies were taken 011 deck some of the crew of the Nicosian kicked the faces of the dead men before throwing the bodies overboard.

THE CRUISER NATAL. A LARGE DEATH ROLL. Received Jan. 5, 11.10 p.m. London, Jan. <3. The Admiralty has announced that 380 of the Natal'f crew are dead and