ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE MERCILESS HUM, . FRENCH HOSPITAL SHIS TORPEDOED, , SISTERS OF CHARITY MURDEpp, . fieoeived April 2, 5.5 p.m. . Paris, April 1. A German submarine in the Black jferf torpedoed the Messagerieg Company's steamer Portugal, which was being QHd as a hospital ship. One hundred and fifteen people «ra missing from the Portugal, including flfrf teen Sisters of Charity. IN BLINDING SNOW. THE RAH) ON SYLT, "SIGHT AND SMASH."

London, March The Scotsman says the Sylt raid WW one of the most stirring days since the' war. When nearing the German <jq»«t' a blizzard burst on the British squadraf'. icy blasts filling the air with hail and blinding snow. It was a marvel the air-< men attempted the task, but they went off in defiance of tho elements wKih *n eagerness which honored the service.

The naval action began as soon as the British glimpsed the enen)y flotSß* tiirough the blizzard. Germany had lo*g sought an opportunity of finding the [British fleet, but 'the big ships new left the shelter of Kiel and Heligoland. iTha enemy flotilla fled and the British I began the chase. Concerted action W»» impossible owing to the snowstorms and "sight and smash" was the order. Sighting was possible only at short range and the smashing was deadly. The British soon disposed of the fait powerful armed trawlers and aimed salvoes at the fleeing destroyers whenever tho snow cleared. One was sofn, blazing from end to end, and further salvoes poured into her sealed her fatp< A second destroyer's plight was scare** ly less' terrible and '.he probably iovtyi* eredj

T.'Vmc'itTframatic moment was whan #"t Cleopatra in the drift and blizzard | saw sa enemy destroyer at close range i and rushd in headlong, ramming the destroyer and simultaneously subjecting her to deadly gunnery. The cruiser's bow out deep, and the destroyer fill away sinking fast. The blinding snow blotted everything out, and when it cleared there was no trace of the d»i stroyer save debris and oil. A SEAPLANE SAVED. ' Copenhagen, March 31.. A Danish fisherman at Nebel on Saturday sighted a seaplane riding 90 the sea and reported it to the military, wko rowed out and found a British seaplane which had participated in the'Sylt raid. The three occupants were trying their utmost to start the propellers, but faili •eri and surrendered. "'"^*

-- THE USUAL LIE* ANOTHER NORWEGIAN VESSEfi iJ ...... ;; sunk. Received April 2, 6.6 p.Bf. Christiana, April '< Germany has notified Norway, dear* ing that a German submarine *a_k <£*> Silius. , i The Norwegian steamer Memento tt» been sunk, and a Bailor was drowned ARCHANGEL PLOT, ; v Received April 2, 5.S p.m. Copenhagen, April fjr - The ice in the White Sea is beginuhg to melt, and it is expected that Arm* angel pirt will re-open about the middla of April, GERMAN STOWAWAY., f ;• INCIDENT ON A STEAMER, . New York, March Sty Ernest Sehulter, "the stowaway wlip held up the Metaphe, confessed to being a German spy and asknowledged that he tried to blow up the Metaphe, but asserted that his nerve failed him. He controlled the captain and cr»w with an automatic revolver and etble the ship, papers and money and afterwards rowed ashore on a lonely beach; but the captain signalled to the ooattguards, who effected his arrest.

Sehulter refused to give his real nape, but admitted that he was sent to England as a German agent to serve on the British training ship Conway and endeavor to discover naval secrets.