ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

DUEL IN THE NORTH SEA. ARMED STEAMERS SUNK. Received March 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Marcli 25. The armed merchantman Alcantra engaged the German raider Greif in the North Sea on February 29. Both were Bunk. The Germans losj; 180 and the British 74. The Greif was a sister ship to the Moewe, and was disguised as a Norwegian vessel. The Press Bureau states that the Alcantara sank the Greif by gunfire, and was herself apparently torpedoed. Five German officers and 115 men were picked up and made prisoners. The Greif fired during the whole of the engagement over the Norwegian colors, which were painted on the ship's 'side. The news of the engagement is now published because a German wireless admits the Greif was destroyed before passing the British patrols, DETAILS OF THE FIGHT. FANTASTIC GERMAN STORY. Received March 26, 11 p.m. London, March 25. The Press Bureau says that after the Greif was sunk, British destroyers sunk a German submarine. The Bureau adds: The fight was apparently a determined and grim one. The raider first appeared to be an innocent merchantman. The Alcantara's gunnery was effective and badly battered the raider, though the raider had heavier armament and was speedier. British destroyers saved all possible, German and British' alike. The fantastic German official version says that the Greif fought three British erui*sers and one destroyer. The Greif, it adds, torpedoed a great 15,000-ton cruiser and finally blew herself up.

CHANNEL STEAMER SUNK. THE PASSENGERS SAVED. Received March 2u, 6.5 p.m. London, March 25. The Brighton Railway Company's j steamer Sussex was torpedoed between Dieppe and Folkestone. There were 250 passengers on board, 70 per cent, being women and children, chiefly Belgian refugees going to the south of France. When the steamer was approaching the Frencii coast a torpedo suddenly struck her amidships and crashed into the engine-room, wounding several engineers. Wireless calls brought assistance. There was no panic, and everything worked like clockwork. The passengers were taken off the Sussex, which was towed into Boulogne. FIFTY LIVES LOST. A LIFEBOAT CAPSIZES

Eeceivcd March 20, 11 p.m. Paris, March 20. Thirty Americans were on board the Sussex. The captain saw the torpedo a hundred yards off and fruitlessly manoeuvred to avoid it, but it struck the bow full. Part of the wireless aerial was destroyed, and when it was temporarily rigged the ship's position was ■inaccurately signalled, causing delay in the arrival of rescue vessels. A French trawler brought the majority of those on board to Boulogne, and British, destroyers took the rest to England. The explosion and slight panic resulted in an estimated loss of 50 lives, The first lifeboat launched capsized, and many survivors were picked up by boats after they had been some four hours in [the water. The explosion killed two of the crew and wounded others. ________ '■*"»' DISARMAMENT OF MERCHANTMEN. ALLIES WILL NOT CONSENT. Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. Washington, March 24. The Entente and Allies jointly refuse to consider the American proposal for the disarmament of merchantmen. GERMAN SUBMARINES. REPORTED OFF BRITAIX. Received March 26, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, March 25 The newspaper Politiken states that Steamers report seeing many of the newest and fastest German submarines in the North Sea, near the British coast. THE TUBANTIA. FLIMSY EXCUSES. Amsterdam, March. 24. The Telegraaf says the Tubantia's only wireless messages were one stating that she was torpedoed and another asking for assistance. Simultaneously a wireless message, now attributed to the German submarine, was received at Flushing stating that the Tubantia had struck a mine. LOSS OF AMERICAN LIVES. Received March 25, 5 5 p.m. Washington, March 25. Four Amcricang are reported to be missing in the Dominion liner Englishman, which was torpedoed in British waters. The State Department is considering action. ECHO OF SUBMARINE ACTIVITY. Received March 26, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, March 25. The submarine activity caused an incipient panic on the Stock Exchange. There was a general fall in steamship shares till a well-known member purchased a, million and a half, causing a «cov«v at a sli"ht advance,