ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

HUNS LATEST CAMPAIGN. SINKING OF THE HIRANO MARU. A TERFJBLE STORY. MOST SHOCKING CRIME SINCE LUSIT AS IA. Received Oct. 3, 5 5 p.m. London, Oct 12. The sinking of the Leinster and Hirano Maru are apparently incidents in the new submarine campaign recently inaugurated with much larger and more heavily-armed U-boats on the routes of American transports. Thb stories of the survivors emphasise that it was nothing short of murder. A high sea was running and rain was falling in torrents when the Hirano Maru Was torpedoed without warning on Saturday night. The seamen hurriedly attempted to launch the boats, but the'y were smashed against the sides of the vessel.

The passengers, when they realised the disaster, rushed up on deck to find huge waves sweeping men, women, and children into the sea. Soon, a couple of hundreds were fighting for their lives in the waves, piteously shrieking for help. The Hirano Maru sank in five minutes, with the captain and all the officers. A big explosion finally shattered the vessel. Doors, seats, and other woodwork which were loosened by the explosion and flung into the sea, served as makeshift rafts- Men and women struggled towards there and hung on desperately, despite the high waves. The wireless operator continued to send messages until his cabin wes flooded and he was unable to escape. The dropped messages brought an American destroyer, but the latter was forced to discontinue the rescue as a submarine winch was lurking near and watching the victims in the water, fired a torpedo against the destroyer. Meanwhile, the unfortunates were dropping off the woodwork and drowning every minute. Tl-e propeller of the sinking vessel cut a number of people in pieces, their mutilated bodies being tossed on the waves- When the destroyer had scared off the submarine and was able to resume its rescue work, the cries of the victiß'R had almost reased, there being only 29 alive. THE ATTACK ON T THE LEIXSTER.

The attack on the Leiister was equally determined. She narrowiy escaped torpedoing on Monday. Finally, the German? used three torpedofs, though the vessel was only a fragile across-channel packet. The newspapers are c,t opinion that this is the most shocking sea crime since Ihe T.usitania. The latest infamy disqualifies Max's Government from conducting further negotiations. The latest information shows there were 150 men and women aboard the Lcin9ter. Fifteen landed, and several Itaev since died. —Aust. Cable Assoc.

SINKING OF THE LEINSTER. SECOND TORPEDO SMASHES BOATS AND RAFTS. London,Oct 11. A wireless message for help, and 50 vessels of all descriptions quitted Kingstown Crowds lined the pier awaiting the tidings, a".d 200 ambulances awaited the survivors. The first rescuing vessel brought a hundred, and five others about a hundred, alii a number of dead. An officer says that all would have been saved but for the second torpedo. Only four boats were then afloat, and the occupants saw a most terrible spectacle. -The ship heavily listed, the propellers being out of tr.e water, when, for the second time, 'ho vessel was struck. The torpedo's tiack wa3 seen, but no submarine. There was a tremendous explosion, some of ihe boats arid rafts being smashed to matchwood.— United Service. Received Oct. 13. 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 12. Official: There were 780 aboard the Leinster, and 193 survivors —Australian Cable Assoc.

FATE OF TICONDEOGA. ' BRUTALITY OF THE HUNS. Received Oct. 13, 5.5 p.m. Xew York, Oct. 12. The ship's j;uns were quickly silenced by the U-boat',s shells. All but two lifeboats were destroyed. One member of the crew swam alongside the U-boat and asked the commander to cease firing, but the commander p'MiU-u a at him and ordered him to swim away. After the ship sank, a single surviving boat was compelled to a tow-line aboard the U-boat, and when the American sailors refused to answer the questions of the U-boat commander, the Üboat suddenly submerged. The lifeboat was saved from being capsized by the towline breaking. The submarine is described as having eight-inch guns aboard. The survivors were adrift for four days, many of lliem being seriously wounded—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. . Official Statement of Losses

BRAZILIAN STEAMER SINKS U-BOAT. Received Oct. 13, 11.30 p.m. Washington, Oct. 11. The Navy Department announces tiie deaths of ten officers and 111 men on the steamer Ticonderoga, which was submarined on September 28. Five survivors arrived aboard a British steamer. A Brazilian steamship reported an encounter with a U-boat off the coast. The steamer believed she sank the U-boat by gunfire.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.