THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 5

THE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN.

FRENCH SHIPPING UNAFFECTED. EFFECT OF REDUCED INSURANCE RATKS. iht;k profits earned. Received Feb. 17, 7.30 p.m. Paris, Feb. 1(1. The average arrivals and departure* from Freni'li ports have been maintained. Britain's reduction of the insurance rates for neutrals is expected to entice more from their harbor:-;. A 0000-ton neutral ship engaged in carrying coal from Britain to Italy is now able to make JJI7O,(HIO a year profit. ARMING AMERICAN MER- ' CHANTMEN. , NAVY PROVIDES GUNS. ACUTE CRISIS CREATED. Received Feb. 18, Co p.m. Washington, Feb, 17. Cabinet considered the question of arming American merchantmen, and it is believed that it is convinced arming forthwith is the only possible solution, It' is, expected that the navy will provide guns, and perhaps gunners, within ten days. The Now York Times' Berlin correspondent lias been given to understand that the arming of merchantmen will make the crisis most acute, as it will prohibit the submarines from saving the lives of passengers and crews, even if other circumstances permitted this. TRAVERSING THE BARRED ZONE. STRICT WATCH ON BERNSTORFF-S BOAT. Received Feb. 18, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 17. Twenty-one ships, whereof fourteen have traversed the barred zone, arrived on Friday. The strictest watch is kept on the Frederick VIII, aboard which is Count Bcrnstorff. There are guards everywhere, communication with the shore has been cut off, and the ship lias been strictly searched for possible contraband. CAPTURED SUBMARINES. AN ENGINEER'S STORY. Reuter Service. Beceired Feb. 18, 6j5 p.m. Baltimore, Feb. 17. An engineer on the American steamer 'Mongolia, (which has arrived here, states that while at 'Plymouth, he counted 187 captured submarines, including the Deutsclilanrl. Captain Koenig and the crew of the Deutschland have been imprisoned.

CRUISER AND RAIDERS. A REPORTED ENGAGEMENT, New York, February lfi. 'Unofficial reports from Brazil state a British cruiser chased three raiders and sank one. The earlier report of a naval engagement off Brazil are supported by a messago from Bio do Janiero, stating that the newspaper Rua says an officer of a British cruiser confirms the reports of a battle off tire island of Fernando Noronha. It is stated that the commander of the cruiser received a report of the battle by wireless from another cruiser, which was alone when it fought the raiders. The cruiser sighted three raiders at six m the evening and allowed them tcV approach. As they did so it saw tlicra! clearing for action and manoeuvring for position and -almost immediately they opened fire. It was then nightfall. The cruiser returned the fire and the raiders fled, the cruiser pursuing. When near Fernando Noronha it was seen that 'one- raider was sinking. The others escaped under cover of the darkness. One raider, it is believed, was beached in a battered condition. The cruiser suffered slight damage, one man being killed and a few wounded. YARROWDALE SAILORS RELEASED. Received Feb. 18, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 17. A telegram from Berlin states that the American sailors from the Yarrowdale have been released and handed over to the Netherlands Minister to be sent home, via Spain. ' SUFFERINGS OF TRAWLER'S CREW. Renter Service. Received Feb. 17, 7.30 p.m. London, Feb. IG. Nine of the crew of the torpedoed trawler Ashwold met with terrible sufferings. They were seventy hours in the boat with three tins of corned beef and some bilge water. They were mol&ly frostbitten when rescued. The Germans took the skipper prisoner. BRAZIL'S NEW WARSHIP. Received Feb. 17, 7.20 p.m. Rome, Feb. 10. The Brazilian warship Leara, built in ( Italy, in leaving for Brazil was ordered' to follow'the usual route i