ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

GERMANS ATTACK A CONVOY. SIS VESSELS SUNK. ALSO FIVE OF ESCORT. fieceived Deo. 18, 8.55 p.in London, Dec. 17. Sir Eric Geddes (First Lord of the Admiralty), in a statement made in.the House of Commons, said that one British and five neutral merchantmen, while en route to Norway, were attacked on the J2th inst, all the six being sunk. One destroyer and four armed trawlers escorting were also sunk. Received Dee. 18, 10.45 p.m. Sir Eric Geddes said the convoy was bound from Scotland and aggregated 8000 tons, being protected by an antisubmarine! escort consisting of two destroyers. the Partridge and Pellew, and four armed trawlers. For some unexplained reason the force sent by the commander-in-chief too secure the convov against attack by surface vessels did not reach the scene of action in time to prevent the convoy's destruction. The second convoy, which was also Leing covered, was not attacked. Admiral Sturdee presided at the inquiry into the circumstances. It was stated that the Partridge sighted four enemy destroyers at about 11.45 in the morning of the 12th. The Pellew and | Partridge engaged the enemy while the convoy scattered. Shortly after the engagement 'began the Pellew observed the Partridge was heavily hit, and a little later saw an explosion. The vessel sank. About this time the Pellew was lioled on tho waterline. The engine-room was filled with steam and the engines were partially disabled. However, the vessel safely reached port. The enemy then attacked the convoy. Six merchantmen and four armed trawlers were sunk. Eighty-six Scandinavians, two of whom were women, and ten British survivors, were rescued hy four destroyers that were despatched at full speed from ihc cruiser squadron which hastened to the scene. The other survivors reached Norway in their own lioats. One trawler crew was saved in its own boat. The Pellew had one officer and three nien killed and two seriously injured. A report from Kiel states that three officers and twenty-one of the Partridge's crew and twenty-six of the crew of the trawlers had arrived there, ten of these being wounded. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. INHUMANITY OF HUN& Australian Cable Association. Received Dee. 19, 1.55 aja London, Dec. 18. The evidence at the inquest on the crews of the fishing trawlers sunk on December 12 showed that three German destroyers suddenly appeared at 5 a.m. 200 yards distant and sank the trawlers without warning, making off without assisting to rescue any of the victims. British destroyers took off the crews of four other trawlers near by unharmed. STATEMENTS OF SURVIVORS. PARTRIDGE FIGHTS TO THE LAST. GERMAN CRUISERS PARTICIPATE. NEUTRALS REFUSE TO ENTER A GERMAN SHIP. Received Dec/lfl, 1.45 a.m. Copenhagen, Dec. 18. The survivors of tho sunken convoy state that the Partridge sank within ten minutes. The crew continued to serve the guns till she sank. Merchantmen sunk were:—Norwegian: Bollsta, King Magnus. Danish: Maracaibo. Swedish: Bothnia and Thorlief. Four German cruisers, with destroyers, participated. The Germans offered to rescue the neutrals, but tihe latter refused to enter a German ship. Lieutenant Grey, nephew of tile exForeign Minister, who was su'o-com-mander of the Partridge, was wounded and taken prisoner.

TRAWLERS ATTACKED BY ENEMY. EIGHT LIVES LOST. Reuter Service. London, Dec. 17. In the House of Commons ,Dr. MacNam ara announced that two trawlers were attacked by destroyers off the Tyne, one being damaged and the other sunk. Eight of the crews were killed.