ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE HAMPSHIRE TRAGEDY. ADMIRALTY'S REPORT. THREE RAFTS GOT CLEAR. SUFFERINGS OF THE MEN. Received June ifl, 3.30 p.m. London, June lfi. The following is the Admiralty's report, after examining the twelve survivors from the Hampshire:— "The vessel was proceeding along the west coast of the Orkneys in a heavy gale. Seas were breaking over the ship, necessitating her being partially battened down. She struck a mine at 7.30 p.m., and immediately began to settle by the bows, heeling over to starboard.

"Before she finally went down, fifteen minutes later, the captain ordered all hands to their established stations for abandoning the ship. Some hatches were opened, and an effort was made, without success, to lower some bouts, one being broken and its, occupants being thrown into the water.

As the men were moving up to tlieir stations Lord Kitchener appeared, accompanied by a naval officer. The latter called out, 'Make way for Lord Kitchener.'

The naval (tfllcer and Lord Kitchener went on to'the quarter-deck, and subsequently four military officers were seen walking on the port side. The captain called to Lord Kitchener to come to the forward bridge, where the captain's boat was hoisted, and told Lord Kitchener to get in the' boat, but no one is able to say what oc urred after, as not one of the survivors saw any boat get clear of the ship. "Large numbers of the crew used lifesaving belts and waistcoats, which were effective in keeping them afloat. Three '•afts were safely launched, with 50 to 70 men on each, and got clear of the ship. It was light until eleven o'clock. Though the rafts with these large numbers got safely away, the men gradually dropped off, dead from exhaustion and exposure to the cold. Out of 7ft men on one raft only six survived; the others perished in trying to land on the roskv coast, and some died after landing." A SEAMAN'S STORY. KITCHENER NOT DISMAYED.

Received June 10, 8.40 p.m. London, June 16. A seamftn named Rogerson, a survivor from the Hampshire, gave evidence that it was untrue that Lord Kitchener's boat overturned; it did not leave the sliiip. He said: "I saw Captain Saville help the boat's crew to clear the way to the galley. The captain was calling to Lord Kitchener to go into the boat, but owing to the noise made by the wind and sea Lord Kitchener apparently failed to hear him.

."When the explosion occurred Lord Kitchener walked calmly from the captain's cabin and climbed the ladder to the quarter-deck-, I saw him walking quite coolly and collectedly, calking to two officers. They were all in khaki, and without overcoats. Lord Kitchener was not in the least perturbed, and calmly awaited the preparations to abandon the ship, which were proceeding in a steady and orderly way. "Owing to the rough weather no boats could be lowered, and what people ashore thought were boats were three raits. Some of the men got into the boats, thinking that if the ship went down the boats would float, but .the ship, sunk by the head, turning a somersault forward and engulfing the boats and those aboard them.

"When I sprang on to a raft Lord Kitchener was still on the starboard side of the quarter-deck, talking to his. officers, and not giving an outward sign of nervousness. So little time elapsed 'between my leaving the ship and its sinking that I feel certain Lord Kitchener went down standing on the deck. "I had a terrible experience onthe rift. The battering sea killed many,' aid others died from the fearfnl coid. An almost overpowering desire to sleep overcame us, and we thumped each other on the back, as no sleeper ever awoke. The fury of the sea dashed the raft on the rocks with tremendous force." ESCORT SENT BACK. .Received June 16, 10.10 p.m. London, June 10. Rogerson continued: "I am not sure how I got ashore. It was impossible for a submarine to have torpedoed the Hampshire in such weather. Probably a mine exploded under the fore part. It was.hard luck that the Hampshire should have come through the Horn Reef battle unscathed and then come to such an end."

Othen survivors state that the weather was so rough that two destroyers which were escorting the Hampshire were sent back.

THE NAVAL BATTLE,

AN ADMIRALTY DENIAL. GERMAN LOSSES. London, June 15. Mr. Pollen, in Land and Water, states that the available unofficial evidence makes it higMy probable that the Germans in the Nort'h Sea battle lost six dreadnoughts, seven cruisers, fifteen destroyers, and at least three submarines. The Admiralty, in denying further German allegations, points out that the battleship Warspite, the battle-cruiser Princess Royal, and the light cruiser Bfrjningham, are safe in port. The report that the Admiralty has recalled all the warships in the Atlantic and. half of the crews of the warships in the Indian Ocean is without foundation. A full list of those lost on the Hampshire has been published, and it is untrue that the best representatives of trades and industry were on board, Including the manager of Viekers and Co. Mr. Asquith Is to-day .visiting the Grand Fleet,

GERMAN ESTIMATE OF LOSSES. Received June 10, 8,15 p.m. Berlin. June 10. The Admiralty reports: The British casualties in the Skager Rack battle were 334 officers dead and missing and iU wounded. Of our officers 172 are dead and 41 wounded. The British have 6104 sailors dead and missing and 513 wounded. The Germans have 2414 dead and +4!) wounded. We rescued 77 British seamen.