ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE BARALONG. A SUBMARINE'S FATE. \Y .hiUf DESERVED PUNISHMENT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Jan. 11. The naval correspondent of the Observer says that the submarine sunk by the Baralong was the destroyer of the Arabic, and the crew's hands were still dripping with the blood of women and children. Germany's allegations have riot been proved, and witnesses are contradictory and unreliable, but the commander of the Baralong obviously could not allow the Germans to reach the Xicosian, whither they swam instead of to the Baralong. The Germans could have taken out the valves, held up their hands and cried "Kamerad." Concerning the German commander, most think that the destroyer of the Arabic deserved his alleged fate. The statement that he attempted to surrender has been contradicted. The correspondent was sorry that the British kicked the faces of'the dead men, iPalpably the world knows what to think of those who whine over the necessary sinking of a submarine and crew while, perpetrating outrages like the sinking of the Persia.

RETRIBUTION, HOW THE PIRATES MET DEATH. London, Jan. 11. 'A gunner on the TSaralong states tliat slie received the Nicosian's wireless on August 19, and slip went full speed to her assistance. An hour later she sighted the Nicosian being shelled by a submarine while the crew were getting into lifeboats. The Baralong had plenty of ammunition ready on the poop, and the marines took shelter behind the bulwarks. The captain, by excellent seamanship, brought the vessel to starboard of the Xicosian, so that she was hidden from the submarine fur a few moments, during which she cleared for action, trained the guns outboard, and hoisted the white ensign. When y.v appeared around the Nicosian's bow* i!ie submarine fired a shot, and the marines replied with a volley wlii.li swept (he decks of the submarine and seemed to demoralise the crew, who immediately left the guns and rushed to the conning tower, several going overboard. We fired the port stern guns anil hit the submarine beneath the water-line. The second shot hit the conning tower, sending two men Hying high in the air. The submarine gradually sank, and every one of the crew was i-lther drowned or shot. Only 3 few parts of bodies and a lar>;p quantity of oil remained on the sUrt'a:c. The action lasted four and a half minute---. We fired thirty-seven rounds. The submarine ira- one of (.Vnuany's latest, and largest, 300 feet long and inOO tons burden. She had two guns fore and aft. slightly larger in calibre than the liaralong's. We were disgusted at the cowardice r.| the submarine's cr""' Apart fr'.m her heavier gun?, she had several torpedo tubes ready enough to kill or maim passengers or defenceless merchant vessels, but her cow had no stomach for fighting armed ships, even when the- odds were in their favor. We rescved 107 of the crew of the Xicosian. None v.'cre injured or killed, and our casualties ve/vo nil.