ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SINKING OF HOSPITAL SHIP. dastardly work of THE HUNS. NO WOUNDED ABOARD: __. London, March 28. ■ Two torpedoes struck the Asturia3 at midnight on March 20. The weather Was fine and the night was dark. The majority of the crew and the hospital Staff were in their bunks.

The first torpedo struck the rudder and thence the engine-room, where the damaged machinery put out the electric light throughout the ship. Patrol vessels quickly - answered the distress signals. Many of the survivors were towed to a British port in boats. Tlrey were most thinly clad, as they had jumped out of their hunks. As far as the German submarine could tell the Asturias was full of sick and wounded men.

Those on hoard knew of the Gerttans' threat to torpedo hospital ships, but most considered such dastardly conduct impossible and unbelievable. The newspapers recall the declaration of the Foreign Office on January 31 that if .the-threat to sink hospital ships was carried out reprisals would Immediately be taken. This was the second attempt to torpedo the Asturias, the first being northwest of Havre on February 1, 1915. The Morning Post states that the first torpedo passed right through the •stern. Another large hole immediately ahove that made by the torpedo was caused by the breaking and twisting of the> propeller. Water poured in, and the Asturias drifted on to the rocky coast, where she now lies. Meanwhile.the boats, which were already out, were lowered away. The nursing sisters were first placed in them. The exceptional number of women on board was owing to the vessel bringing back sisters whose period of service had expired. One fullyloaded boat capsized, and some of the occupants were in the water an hour. The thought of every man on board the Asturias was "Thank God we landed the patients yesterday." Otherwise there would have been a thousand sick and wounded on hoard, many unable to move hand or foot, and some unable prat to cry for help. The villagers generously supplied the hospital staffs and crew with clothing, blankets and boots. There were many Blight injuries apart from those severely hurt. The Asturias was not carrying wounded, who had been disembarked at an English port, but was returning to her ibase with 300 persons on board.

TWO DESTROYERS LOST. Wellington, March 29. The High Commissioner reports, unfler date London, March 27, 8.30 p.m.: The Admiralty states that a destroyer was recently mined and sunk in the Channel. To-day another collided with § pteamer and sank. ~'

UMERTCAN' VESSEL REACHES ENGLAND

New York", March 23. The armed American steamer Manchuria* has reached England safely. (The Manchuria is a vessel of 13,639 tons, with a speed of 16 knots. She is fewned by the Pacific Mail Company.)'