ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE MOEWE MYSTERY FURTHER DETAILS OF THE RAIDER. Received Feb. 25. fi.ls p.m. London, Feb. 24. Madrid reports that the Moewe captured the Westburn, which was coal laden, six days before arriving off Pcrnambuco. The Westburn brought to Teneriffe men belonging to the sailer Edinburgh and others belonging to the Dromondy. Lieut. Badewitz, who commands the prize crew, wears an Iron Cross, and the Moewe's name appeared on the caps of some of the crew. The Luxemburg is a Belgian steamer, and it is believed that the Cambridge is really the Corbridge. The authorities at Teneriffe allowed the Westburn twenty-f our'hours to quit. Accordingly, oil expiry of the time she left, while a British cruiser was watching. Ultimately the Westburn was blown up, it is believed by her crew, who took refuge on shore. Teneriffe reports state that when the German cr»><v were transferred to the Westburn the name of the latter was changed to Moewe, and the other Moewe was sunk because she was considerably damaged, rendering further navigation difficult. A naval correspondent, states that the victims of the raider number thirteen, with a tonnage of 53.000. The sunken ships and cargo were valued at £1,450,000. He adds that the destruction represents a serious blow on our most vulnerable spot, and it would bo absurd to deny the unpleasantness of the situation. PARTICULARS OF THE VESSELS SUNK. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Feb. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb! 24. The announcement of further Moewe exploits wa3 not unexpected in shipping and insurance circles, and very high rates were quoted for the Flamenco and Luxemburg, which wero seriously overdue. The Westburn left Liverpool for Buenos Ayres on January 31. The Flamenco was bound for Rio, and the Horace from Rio to Liverpool. The Cambridge is probably the Corrbridge. The Edinburgh was on the voyage from Rangoon to Liverpool, having left Rangoon on September 22. The Luxemburg, River Plate to Newport, left on January IS. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. A CLEVER PRIZE CREW. Reecived Feb. 25, 11.50 p.m. Madrid, Feb. 25. The. Westburn, on coming into Tencrifle, under Commander Dadewitz, passed several British and French warships without arousing suspicion. When she arrived at Santa Cruz a British cruiser, which was in the harbor, left and lurked about for the purpose of recapturing tho vessel outside Spanish waters. After disembarking the vessel's 20G prisoners, the prize crew left the harbor and blew up the Westburn within territorial waters and returned to Teneriffe in boats.

LOSSES TO DATE.

A TREMENDOUS AGGREGATE. Received Feb, 25, 11.50 p.m. London, Feb. 25. Mr. Lloyd George's record shows that 2193 vessels, of 3,774,000 tons have been detained, captured, or destroyed by the belligerents, whereof 485 vessels, of a tonnage of 1,506,000 were British; 601, with a tonnage of 1,276,000 were German; and 736, with a tonnage of 441,000, belonged to neutrals. Submarines have sunk 225 British vessels, of a tonnage of 746,000, and many captured neutrals have been released.