AUSTRIAN RETREAT DEVELOPING INTO ROUT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 6274, 4 January 1915, Page 3

AUSTRIAN RETREAT DEVELOPING INTO ROUT

IS Of FORMIDABLE.

British Warships shell Zeebrugge and Belgian coast. German. batteries reply unsuccessfully. Taking of Labassee regarded as essential by Allies-a Hard Problem. Heavy rains hinder operations.

ITALY CONCERNED OVER COMMERCE PROBLEM

(Per Tresi Association—Copyright.)

SHIP SINKS IN AN HOUR.

201 Survivors.

Rec Jan 1, 125 am London, Jan 3

Official.— The latest list shows that there were 201 survivors from the cruiser formidable. Survivors state that after a great explosion the fires were drawn and when the men came on deck there was a heavy list to starboard. The Formidable sank in an hour. Had the weather been favourable all aboard would have been saved. M&ny plunged into the sea and were picked up by boats. Darkness made rescue work difficult. A number of trawlers misunderstood the signals: otherwise more would have been saved. The Press Bureau publishes a statement that thirty-nine officers weie drowned; including Captains John Deed and Arthur Loxley, Comniaudra Charles Ball aid, William Harrison, and Henry Strest.

Rec JunA, 8 40 a m

LondoD, Jan 3

The explosion on the Formidable occurred abaft the magazine, aod an unbearable stench arose from the explosion. The vessel, which was thr last of a line of battleships, continued to Sound the hooter while sinking and flashed signals until she foundered.