ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. FIFTEEN VESSELS LOST. Received Jan. 31, 8.30 p.m. London, Jan. 30. The British Admiralty report on the submarine campaign for the week ended January 2ti gives the following figures: This Last week- week Arrivals -S.V2 ?;2~>~> Sailings 230!) Ziii Sunk over 1001) tons !) (i Sunk under 1000 tons. (i 2 Unsuccessfully attacked .. S li One fishing vessel was sunk. TWO TRANSPORTS LOST. IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. ALSO A RESCUING DESTROYER. Received Jan. 31, 8.15 p.m. London, Jan. 30. Two transports were lost between Otranto and Alexandria. The drowned included four nurses. A destroyer was also lost while engaged in rescuing. Both transport* were included in the sinkings recorded in the cables of January !). The larger of the transports was the Pacific mail steamer Aragon, with .2000 aboard, including troops, nurses, and medical officers. The second vessel was the old Khedive steamer Osmanieh, with 800 aboard. It is believed both vessels were rammed, the disasters occurring within a few hours of each other. It is interesting to note that (hiring the war nine transports have been lost, the casualties aggregating '2OOO. Something like eleven million effectives have been carried without a casualty, thougli there has been close on a quarter of a million afloat in a single day. OVER 800 DROWNED. DESTROYER SUNK WHILST RESCUING VICTIMS. Received Jan. 31, 10 p.m. The Admiralty losses announced in the House of Commons on the 23rd were the transport Aragon, torpedoed and sunk sunk on 'December 30, and the auxiliary Osmanieh, mined and sunk on December 31, both in the same locality, in the eastern Mediterranean. A destroyer was torpedoed and sunk whilst picking up the Aragon's survivors. The Aragon's casualties were 010, including Captain Batcrnan, and the Osmanieh's casualties 109, including Captain Mason and eight nurses. TURNED AGAINST THE GERMANS. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST VESSEL. Received Jan. 31, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Jan. 30. It is announced that the Leviathan, formerly the Vaterland, has arrived at a European port, carrying thousands of soldiers. (The Vaterland, the biggest vessel , afloat, formerly belonging to the Germans, has accommodation for 13,000 troops, besides immense quantities of cargo,) A LINER IN TROUBLE. j ARAB FIREMEN MUTINY. Received Feb. 1, 1.30 a.m. New York, Jan. 31. An S.O.S. has been received at Atlantic ports from an unnamed British liner, in mid ocean, stating that the Arab firemen had mutinied. THE WARSPITE FIRE. London, Jan. 30. The Warspite boys who set lire to the ship have been committed for trial. The defence suggested that the boys revolted against flogging. LOOK-OUTS FOR SUBMARINES. The Admiralty has taken an important step in order to ensure the better protection of Britisli merchant vessels against enemy submarines. Experience has shown that ships which keep a good look-out have the best chance of escapefrom attack. Officers with full know- ; ledge have come to the conclusion that a merchantman with a well-disciplined crew, efficient look-outs, and an adequate armament has comparatively little to fear from the submarine. Un- , fortunately, when the campaign began ' the" merchant service was not well disciplined, few ships were armed, and few ' of thera kept men on the look-out. The merchant service has undergone a great ' change under the pressure of war. Officers and men have been brought to realise how much depends upon the maintenance of discipline on board ship, and how effective are the steps they can take to protect themselves and their ships. As the First Lord revealed the other day, good progress is being made in arming merchantmen, and officers and men are being instructed how to net in case of attack Now a new regulation has been issued under the Defence of tise Realm Act, which provides that the crew of every vessel of 2500 gross tonnage and upwards must include fotir men, speci- ' ally engaged, who will, when required, act as look-outs at the masthead and elsewhere. When in areas in which submarines may be encountered these lookouts are to be employed solely on their special duty, keeping watch in four watches, each watch to be of not more than two hours. When off watch in these areas they are not to be employed upon any of the ordinary work of the ship. The men must obtain the special Board of Trade certificate as to eyesight. These special look-outs are to be given extra pay at the rate of 15s a month while the ship is in areas in j which submarines may be owt.