ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

■' REPORTED NAVAL ENGAGE- 1 ' MENT. BRITISH SAILORS DISAPPOINTED. Amsterdam, May 11. The Telegraaf states that the German destroyers which were engaged on Thursday left Zeebrugge on Wednesday evening. The British hit a submarine m adflitioh to the destroyers. 'London, May 11. The Daily Chronicle correspondent at an East Coast port says that the men of Commodore Tynvhitt's flotilla were disappointed. A single shot from a British gun made the Germans bolt home. Though firing at a long rasge they,, are convinced thai they registered many hits on the enemy vessels. Some of the gmners declare that four eneifty -ships were so badly hit as to he of title use'if on some time. ?

GERMAN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. AN EXPLOSION'OLAIMED. Received May 18, 11.30 p.m. Loudon, May 13. A German naval official report states: On May 10 we sighted at 5.40 in the morning, eastward of the Noorhindcr lightship, three pmall modern English cruisers and fopr destroyers. An engagement developed in the, direction' of the Flemish coast, and continued to the Thornton iMlnk, where the enemy held back. Our artillery fire caused an explosion on an enemy destroyer, which sank. We advanced on the .enemy, who went-full speed towards distant cruisers, the, en* .emy,disappearing northwards., We'suffered neither damage nor loss. : GERMAN DISTORTION DOES NOT ,4;' ALTJSR FACTS. The British Admiralty asserts that the facts published on May 10 are unaltered by the German attempted distortion. j,,

LOSS OF ALNWICK CASTLE. /A TALE .OF OOERORS. j ix.m&E sufferings in boats. ' ' !s(' ,• |.- London, May, 11. The Press Bureau states that, the Alnwick Castle was torpedoed without warning 320 miles from the Scillies, the nearest land; 139 of those'on placed in the boats, including a baby three months old. Captain Chave, the Alnwick Castle's master, reporting to the*owners, gives an unvarnished tale of the horrors hia boatload of castaways endured during four days' exposure to gales andi bitter weather. Captain Chave had taken the precaution to instal all the boats with a supply of milkj, beef, biscuits, and blankets, but the suffering was inetnae. They were constantly soaked in ice-cold spray. Everybody gradually weakened and' sevefal died. THE CAPTAIN'S STORY; Captain Chave narrates that the whole of the secondly the crew spent fight* ing the sea. It was impossible to hoist a sail. They lashed two oars together and formed a sea anchor. On the third day thirst intensified t(ie' agonies of exhaustion, exposure, and sleeplessness. Pitiful appeals were made for water, but he was only able to issue an extra, ration to a few of the weaker ones. A hailstorm came on, and the hailstones were eagerly scraped from their clohting. I ordered a sail to be 'spread to catch the water, but unfortunately the rainstorm passed away. Several drank salt water in defiance of orders and (became light-headed. Next morning most of men were helpless, several raving in delirium, and one died. Once the boat was swamped, in the darkness, and I thought it rrfas all over. MoansVofi despair rose in the darkness. I sliouted; "gale, bale," and finally,, by superhuman efforts, the boat was saved. 'By morning several had collapsed, and more lost their reason and climbed about the boat threatening to fight. The appeals for water were so apgry that I gave an extra allowance, which was served out'to much cursing and snatclypg. Only, one ration remained. Another nfan died, and others wero dying. Mo one could no«i eat biscuits or swallow, anything solid. Everyone's throat was ailre, lips furred, limba numbed, 'hands bloodless, and feet swollen to twice the normal size. On the last day a French horse-boat, the iVenezia, picked up eighteen survivors in the afternoon. They were so enfeebled that they could not walk. All wero hoisted aboard and landed at New York. Captain Chave does not know whether the other five boats were picked up.

ITALIANS SINK SUBMABLNES AND | ~ ;; TRANSPORTS. ? Washington, Ma'y 11. ■ The Italians, in"three weeks, in the Mediterranean have sunk 1 thirteen Austrian submarines. " ' Rome, 'May 11. , fijufan destroyers penetrated Dnraazoi for the fourth timo this, year, sinking lour loaded transports. The destroyers; raturhed'iunßCOThed. "*1 ''' ~ m 1 ' LOSSES, fe{' ! Baris, May, 11. fn Vice /Admiral Benjamie states that^ fL';ISI,7QS tons of Allied shipping were sunk in the first) quarter of 1917. Tfee April [figures-were 700,000 tons. : . ,|j ,' NATiON|AiiieiN(; LIOYDS, London, -May 11. Owing ot tfye.high Insurance charged: for ordinary sea risks it is rumored that the Government is arraying to take over the greater part of ( Lloyds'business. FRENCH SHIRPISiG LOSSES. London, Miy. 11. {During the week ending May flarriv-, ftla of merchaatmcn at (French, porta numbered 940 end departures *O3O. Those' sunk were one over MtQO tons .and seven imsuccea&fuljy attacked and five ffahiiigi boats were sunk.