ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE 3RITANNIC OUTRAGE. ADMIRALTY REPORT RAID OX ZEEBRUGGE. London, Nov. 23. Ms. Asqnith, in the House of Commons, stated that it was not yet definitely eertain whether the Britannic was torpedoed. J.ondon, Nov. 23. The Admiralty states that there were no wounded on board the Britannic. Naval aeroplanes attacked on the 22nd icaplane shells at Zeebrugge and the destroyers alongside the mole. On.' destroyer was hit and the sheds damaged. The machines returned.

ONE HUNDRED MISSING. BOY SCOUTS ABOARD. Seoelvcd Nov. 23, 1.50 a.m. Athens, Nov. 24. The latest reports state that one hundred are missing from the Britannic. A number of Boy Scouts were aboard. A MATRON'S ACCOUNT. Received, Nov. 24. 5.5. p.m. London, Nov. 23. The Daily Crnniele's Athens correspondent reports that Matron Dowse, ef the Britannic, states the explosion occurred whilst they were at breakfast There was no idea of any danger of sinking, bv.t all were lined up on deck quietly. A few of the staff who were siek were carried up and got away safely All taa nursing sisters were saved, but they abandoned their medals and belongings. For (wo hours the boats were near the laud in a smooth sea. Many of the res-cued are suffering from strain and are distracted.

GIANT ILLUMINATED CROSS. " London, Nov. 23. Every effort was made to indicate the character of the Britannic. On each side of the hull a gigantic cross wa? painted nnd each arm was illuminated with 300 electric lights. It was impossible for a submarine to mistake her by day or night. In the House of Commons, replying to Sir Edward Carson, Mr. Asquith said this was the wreck of a hospital ship, known to be a hospital ship. The Government was considering calling the u'ltention of neutrals to the case.

The ill-fated liner Britannic was launched at Belfast in 1914, the construction of this mammoth liner marling an epoch in the history of shipbuilding. She war about 900 ft. long, and over 48,000 tons gross register. She lepresented the highest skill and perfection yet attained in naval architecture and marine engineering. Her double bottom extended the whole length, being sft. Sin. deep, increasing under the engine-room to 6ft. 3in. The vessel was buTlt with massive beams and close framing, shell-plates, steel decks, double skin and watertight bulkheads, and hydraulic rivetting being utilised. These ideas were carried out with a view to ensuring the safety of passengers, the inner skin and watertight divisions being introduced as a protection against serious damage, and allowing the leviathan to float with any six compartments flooded. She was fitted with wireless, submarine signalling apparatus, and electrically-driven sounding machines. The decks were connected by electric lifts, and the boats could be lowered bv a perfect system of davits, on either side of the vessel, whichever happened to be clear. The gear in this connection was kept far inboard, so as to give a wide pa.ssage for marshalling in case of emergency. The Britannic's largest beam was 92ft. long. The vessel had three screws, driven by reciprocating engines and a low-pressure turbine, and her effective speed was over 23 knots. The Britannic was the largest Britisn steamer, and is exceeded in size only by the German linerg Bismarck, Vaterland, and Imperator.

RUSSIAN BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP. TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN OF CREW PERISH. Received Nov. 24, 10.55 p.m. Petrograd, Nov. 24. Official: A fire on the 20th October exploded the magazine of the Dreadnought Imperatriza Maria, which sank, 213 of the crew perishing. THE TON FOR TON POLICr.

Heeeived, Nov. 24, 5.5. p.m. Reuter Service. London, Nov. 23. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Mr. Asquith said: We are in consultation with the Allies as to desirability of adopting a ton for ton policy with regard to sunken ships.

THE SUBMARINE SITUATION. AMERICA'S ATTITUDE, Received Nov. 25, 1.55 a.m. Washington,- 'Mov. 2'4>. Correspondents emphasise the seriousness of the situation with regard to submarines. They express the opinion that Germany will contend that armed merchantmen are not immune from warningless attacks, and they consider that the United States will reject that contention