ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SINKING OF DUTCH VESSELS. AX INTERESTING COMMENT. London, March 19. The Daily Chronicle's naval expert, commenting an the torpedoing of the second Dutch liner within two days, discusses whether there is any calculation in this apparently demented act, and whether Admiral von Tirpitz took fright at the prospect of suc'h enormities. He adds: "Holland has conferred, during tile war. many advantages on the Germans. Must we now conjecture that her enmity is werth more than her friendship? Are the Germans leoking to the forcible accupation «f Dutch territory and luping to seize Rotterdam as a centre/of operations against the most bated enemy? The British fleet has made Oatend and other points of the Belgian coast impassible as a bate for enemy submarines. "The Germans expected much from the psssession of supposed strategic vantage points in the work of naval attrition, but n»w that their hopes have been so effectively dispelled, Rotterdam wauld prrve a most excellent substitute, since it is connected with the Rhine and a!s» acc»rds safe shelter. "Or are they lisping; to possess the msuth of the Rhine? Did they imagine the Dutch would ultimately join us, and are the latest outrages their method of stealing a march on us," OUTSPOKEN DUTCH PRESS. Amsterdam, March 19. The Nieuwe Rotterdamsch Courant protests at the. infiendo tliat British might have sunk the Tubantia, and says: "There is not an atom of reassn to suppose such a thing, especially as British submarines have not sunk a single neutral vessel since the outbreak of the war. Since the German navy seeks a conflict with Holland it should say so. The Gorman Government is using t'he surest means of injuring our national feelings." Other newspapers are also equally outspoken. STIFFENING THE BLOCKADE. A WARNING TO NEUTRALS. Copenhagen. March 19. Owing to the exploit of the Moewe, the .British blockade has tightened, and it is new impossible for enemy's ships to pass, even disguised as neutrals. Britain has notified the Scandinavian Government of the new arrangements under Which neutrals failing to stop when signalled may be fired on. WHAT SANK HER? THE LOSS OF THE TUBANTIA. Received March 20, 8.35 p.m. London, Mareli 19. A German official statement says that no German mines were laid where the Tubantia was lost, nor could a German submarine have been there, the locality being within the area described in the declaration of I'ebniarv 4, 1915, as not dangerous 'to navigation. The secretary to the Admiralty states that no British submarines were in the vicinity at the time of the disaster. FRENCH DESTROYER SUNK. IN THE ADRIATIC. Received March 20, 11.25 p.m. Paris, March 20. Official: An enemy submarine sank the French destroyer Renabia in the Adriatic, The commander and fortysix men are missing. Thirty-six men were saved. LARGE NEW SUBMARINES. HEADY FOR SERVICE. Received March 20, 11.25 p.m. Amsterdam, March 20. It is reported that three of the largest submarines, each having a crew of 120 men, were completed at Antwerp last week, and are preparing for immediate service on the Belgian coast. NINETEEN SHIPS SUNK. Received March 20, 11.25 p.m. Amsterdam, March 20. German reports claim that nineteen enemy ships were sunk between March Ist and 18th, of a -tonnage of forty thousand.