ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

ANOTHER HUN OUTRAGE. CAPTAIN OF THE BRUSSELS SHOT. Wellington, July 2!). The High Commissioner reports under date London July 29, 8.40 p.m.:— "A wireless message received to-day says that Captain Fryatt, of the British steamer Brussels, who was captured recently, lias been shot for a Frane-tireur crime against an armed German force. Tile sentence was passed on (lie fact that although Frvatt did not belong to an armed sea force, he tried to ram the German submarine U33 near Maas lightship. Captain Fryatt's lirst officer and !ir-t engineer received gold watches from the British Admiralty and were mentioned in the House of Common-,. At the trial, Captain Fryatt admitted that he was following the instructions of the Admiralty." SENTENCE CONFIRMED BY KAISER. deceived July I'.fl. 5..1 p.m. London, July 2ft. It is reported that the Duke of Wurtomburg announced Captain Fryatt's -entente to headquarters for confirmation, and that the War Council, including the Kaiser and General von Falkenliayn, agreed. A FOUL JUDICIAL MURDER. JUSTICE AND HUMANITY OUTRAGED. Received July 20 5.5 p.m. London, July "29. Captain Thorkon, of the Great Eastern, officially states that the Brussels was befogged, and, when the fog lifted, Captain Fryatt saw foui submarines surrounding him, and he was compelled to surrender. The Times, in a leader, says 'the execution was a brutal and flagrant violation of justice and humanity. It was a foul judicial murder, and once more a reminder of Germany's unmitigated ferocity and barbarism. ADMIRALTY'S INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWED. THE BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED. CAPTAIN FRYATT'S ACT UPHELD. Received July 20, 5.5 p.m, London, July 2S. A sensation was created in Britain on receipt of the German Government's wireless announcing the result of the proceedings of the naval court on Captain Fryatt's steamer, Brussels. The sentence of death verdict was based on the evidence that Captain Fryatt did not belong to armed forces, but nevertheless endeavoured to ram the U33. The sentence was confirmed, and Captain Iryatt shot foi a Fr.uictireur crime against the German sea forces. The message adds that Captain Fryatt. bis chief officer and chief engineer all received gold watches from the British Admiralty for their brave conduct. The submarine signalled asking the Brussels to show her flag and stop. Captain Fryatt did not heed the notice, but turned full-speed towards (he submarine, the latter only escaping by instantly diving. Fryatt admitted that he followed the instructions of the British Admiralty. The British Foreign Office has published the correspondence concerning the Brcssels. Viscount Grey wrote to Mr. Page on June 28, requesting to ascertain whether British subjects were aboard the Brussels when she was brought to Zeebrugge. He enderstands that there were six British stewardesses, and hopes these will be quickly repatriated. Mr. Page relied • first stating that Mr. Gerard, had reported that tlie officers and crew as well had been interned at Ruhleben. Captain Fryatt desired his wife to be informed, and that the prisoners desired parcels from England. Mr. Gerard urged that prompt repatriation of five stewardesses who had been separated from the crew, [but their whereabouts had not been ascertained.

Viscount Grey wrote on the 18th, and learned tliat the Telegraaf 011 the ICtli had announced that Captain Fryatt was being tried by court-martial at Ghent for ramming a submarine, and asked Mr. Page to urgently ascertain its correctness. Viscount Grey on the 20th, requested Mr. Page to arrange that Mr. Gerard should secure a proper defence for Captain Fryatt in the event ot a court-martial, and also to inform Mr. Gerard confidentially that Britain was satisfied Captain Fryatt acted legitimately in self-defence for the purpose of evading capture or destruction. Viscount Grey followed this on the 25th, by asking Mr. Gerard to be informed that if the allegations were established by evidence, Britain regarded his (Fryatt's) action as perfectly legitimate and considered that the act of a merchant ship steering for a submarine and forcing the latter to dive was essentially defensive and precisely on the same footing as a defensively armed vessel using her defensive armament to resist capture, which the English and American Governments hold should be exercised and is an undoubted right. SHOT IN COLD BLOOD. AMERICA ASKED TO REPORT, A SERIOUS CONDITION 01 AFFAIRS, Received July 30, 11.15 p.m. London, July 30. The Press Bureau states that Viscount Grey communicated to the press reports of Captain Fryatt'9 execution to Mr. Page, adding: The Government finds it difficult to believe that the master of a merchantman who, after German submarines had adopted the practice of sinking merchantmen without warning, regardless of the lives of the passengers and crew, took, apparently, the only step possible in giving him the chance of swing the vessel and the lives of those on board, can have been deliberately shot in cold blood. If the German Government had perpetrated such crimes against a British prisoner, it was evident that a most serious condition of affairs had arisen. He asks Mr. Page for a report to enable the British Government to have a full and undoubted account of the facts.

INDIGNATION AND HORROR,

GERMAN OFFICER'S GLOATING. AN ABOMINABLE CRIME '' Received July 29, 5.5 p.m. London, July 29. The Fryatt murder has aroused indignation and horror at Harwich, where lie was well known He was a married man with seven children, the youngest under three. Captain Fryatt was locally nick-named the: "Pirate's terror." because of the skilful fashion he eluded the Kaiser's tin fishes. A Berlin official detailing the circumstances of the trial concludes: "Captain Frvatt was shot on the afternoon of the 27th, and thus one of the many Franctircur deeds by English merchant vessels against our warships was tardily, but rightly, punished." Amsterdam, July 29. The execution caused indignation in Holland. The Tekgraaf ays it is an abnominahle crime equalled only by the murder of Nurse Cavell. AMERICANS SHOCKED. BRUTAL VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. RIGHTS OF MERCHANT CAPTAINS. Received July '29. 3.25 p.m. New York, July 2S. American newspapers give prominent notice to Germany's execution of Captain Fryatt. for an alleged attempt to ram a submarine. The public arc greatly shocked, comparing his execution with that of Miss Cavell. The Evening Post says the execution must be regarded as a brutal violation of international law, likely to result in retaliatory measures by the British. Washington, July 29. State officials say the Government are following the incident with great interest. It is recognised that British reprisals may be followed by a more bitter submarine war. A high official states that the United States attitude is that a master merchantman has the right to assume that any submarine is liable to attack him, and consequently lie lias e- right to forestall it by ramming or shooting, Naval experts point out that merchantmen could not be classed as pirates, as the element of illicit gain is lacking. FISHING FLEET RAIDED. GERMAN SUBMARINE ATROCITY. Received July 29, 8.15 p.m. ' London, July 29. Submarines raided the fishing licet in the North Sea. It is reported they sunk eight boats. The crews of five boats have landed at Shields, The crews were treated courteously. SEIZURE OF DUTCH FISHING BOATS. IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEMANDED. Received July 20, 5,"> p.m. The Hague, July 28. Tlie Dutch Government has protested that Great Britain's claim against the exportation of Dutch iish to Germany is contrary to The Hague Convention. If Britain objects to the sale of the greater part to Germany, they must compete in the open market against Germany. The Dutch Government, therefore, expect the seized fishing boats to be released immediately. THE APPAM. RESTORATION TO BRITISH OWNERS,

Reuter Service. Received July 30, 11.15 p.m. Norfolk. Virginia, July 30. The Federal Court has ordered the restoration of the Appam to her British owners It was decided that a prize cannot be brought to neutral waters, nnconvoyed, in the manner in which the Appam was brought, in violation of United States neutrality.

CHESAPEAKE BAY MYSTERY. PROBABLY A GERMAN RUSE. Received July 3t, 5.5 p.m. London, July 23. The mystery regarding the alleged warship in Chesapeake Bay deepens. The British Admiralty says the vessel that was exchanging signals with the Louisiana was not recognised in the darkness. The theory is advanced that it was part of a German plot. to help the j Dcutscliland. i BREMEN RUMORS. j New York, July 2S. The arrival of thf second German submarine, the Bremen, is .-enied. Information from an undivulged source, but believed to come from Canada, has been received at Portland, .Maine, which reports that the submarine Bremen has been captured by the British, and is being brought to Halifax. PRIZE COURT MATTERS, London, July 28. Tn the Prize Court the officers and crew of submarine E5 were awarded £IOOO for sinking an enemy auxiliary off Borkum Island; those of Ell were awarded £4330 for sinking a Turkish torpedo boat, battleship, and destroyer between May 23 and December i, 1915; and those of Elli were awarded £025 for sinking an auxiliary off Heligoland. During a Prize Court case, which resulted in the detention of a cargo of cotton, a. letter from a Gothenburg firm was read, which advised American shippers how to evade the British blockade. It suggested that captains should go well north of the Shctlands, sliding down the Norwegian coast, where there was little risk of capture. The letter added: "We have directed several boats thus and they have not been interfered wifh. r