ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE NORTH SEA RAIDERS. HUN REJOICINGS. GALLANT FIGHT BY DESTROYERS. TERRIBLE SCENES ON MERCHANTMEN. Copenhagen, Oct. 21. The admiral commanding at Christiania reports that the survivors of the convoy have reached Bergen. They state that the convoy, consisting of twelve merchantmen, was escorted by two British destroyers and was ati tacked, on Wednesday morning, by two [large German warships. The latter ordered the convoy to stop and started firing immediately, quickly sinking the destroyers, which were inferior in size and equipment. The merchantmen were then sunk seriatim. The affair lasted an hour. The merchantmen launched some lifeboats, but the boats filled in the heavy sea.

After all the vessels had been sunk the enemy departed. The survivors |B»ved several' men from wreckage and reached Norway after two days' suffering on the open sea. It is reported that seventeen survivors of a British destroyer have reached Norway. Eighty-five sailors on the convoy j perished. The captain of the Norwegian steamer Kirstine is the sole survivor of his ship, He states that the crew took to the boats, but the Germans continued firing. A shell bit one boat and killed nine. The crew in despair returned to the steamer and signalled to the raiders to stop firing, but without result. The German press joinß in a chorus I of exulting praise, seeing in this and the Oesel operations proof of the bold wffensive spirit of the German fleet. The Cologne Gazette published an article entitled: "Where is the British I Fleet!"

The two officers and eight men. survivors of the Mary Rose, who were landed at Bergen, will not be interned, as they were rescued by a Norwegian lifeboat after the destroyer had sunk, Further reports state that the British destroyers fought gallantly, but were sunk in half-an-hour the men bravely sticking to their guns to the last. _ Terrible scenes were enacted on the 'decks of the defenceless merchantmen. Many sailors were killed. The weather is calm and it is hoped there will be further survivors,

SINKING OF U.S. TRANSPORT.

FURTHER DETAILS. [ Washington, Oct. 21. There were 167 saved from the transport Antilles. Vice-Admiral Sims has forwarded the news of her sinking. The Antilles was convoyed by United States patrollers. The U-boat was not seen. The torpedo struck abreast the engine-room, and the ship sank in five minutes. She was a 19-knot boat, owned by the Southern Pacific Co., not the Ward liner. It is believed the suddenness of the explosion trapped the men in the engine-room, who perished,

The attack was made well out at sea. No high officers were on board. The men showed perfect discipline. New York newspapers comment that it was fortunate the Antilles was bound to America, otherwise the death roll would have beeiL heavier. The news of the sinking of the transport came as a shock. They were the first real casualties, forcing the realisation that the nation is at war.

| (Reports show that 3ft who had enlisted I in the army were on board, of whom 17 were saved. The third engineer and two officers perished. It is believed that in | all 70, who are missing, perished. [ The newspaper* point out that the sinking will consolidate the support of the President, defeat the obstructionists, jand give a fillip to the Liberty Loan.

QUESTION OF NAVAL POLICY. EFFECT OF SINKING OF ANTILLES. Received October 22, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. 21. The Evening Post's Washington correspondent stateß that those who insist that the United State? must not fight a defensive war on the sea, induce a brush or join in an attack on submarine bases, feel that the sinking of the Antilles has meant an ultimate change in the Allies' naval policy.

. LARGER CONVOYS NEEDED. j HUGE EXPENDITURE ON I MUNITIONS. Received Oct. 22, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Oct. 21. _ The Antilles incident will result in more extensive convoys. The United States will spend a hundred million dollars on an ordnance depot and arsenal for the United States troops in France. ITALIAN SUBMARINE SENT TO BALTIC. Washington, Oct. 21. News lias been received that an Italian submarine has isafely journeyed from Italy to Archangel, and will be carried in sections to the Baltic. 119 SURVIVORS TURN CP Received Oct. 22, 7.30 p.m. Ghristiania, Oct. 21. One hundred and nineteen men from the convoyed vessels have landed in lifeboats on the Norwegian coast. These are considerably below half the crews.