AMAZING HOAX FROM AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2618, 13 November 1915, Page 9

AMAZING HOAX FROM AMERICA

"WHOLE BRITISH NAVY SUNK"

"CALIFORNIA!* EAGLE'S BRIEF FLIGHT

Under tho heading -'British Navy Sunk" (in letters 2} inches deep) there appeared in the "Californian Baglo," at Los Angeles on August 29, a. circumstantial and detailed account of a great' German naval victory off the coast of Norway. This paper, a copy of which has reached the "Westminster Gazette," purports to be No. 45 of Vol. 23. As a' matter of fact there is no such paper. It wjis the "Eagle's" first and only appearance, bait tho entire issue sold, at enormous prices. The bogus telegrams were as follow:

London, August 29.—1t is reported hero the greatest sea fight of the ago has iako place, in tlio North Sea. Bergen, August 29.—Heavy firing began off this port last evening, and con tinued throughout the night. Eighty Dreadnoughts and battle cruisers were engaged.

Uottenburg, August 29. —Tho entiro British homo fleet was sunk off the coast of Norway to-day, only two fast cruisers escaping, one of which was in flames, is a wireless report that has created the greatest sensation since the war tegan. Christiansand, August 29.—S British cruiser put into this port-at 6.40 a.m., having on board several hundred wounded. The cruiser is tlio solo survivor of the British Fleet. German submarines' are said to have played a prominent part in the destruction. The Iron Duke held out to the last.

Berlin, August 29. —Nineteen British Dreadnoughts are accounted for. Tlio home fleet was caught napping. Berlin is wild with joy to-day.

Then-follows a series of messages from other parts of Europe and. a detailed message from Berlin': " Berlin (via Wireless), August 29. — Dispatches received, from' Bergen, Norway, indicate, that the loss of life on the English • Fleet exceeds 40,000 men. The vessels known to have been sunk by the Germans are:

IHoro follow the .names of 38 battleships.] A delightful,touch of reality, is given by the following: "The Lion took no part, as it developed engine trouble early in the cruise, and returned to Lough Swillyfor repairs;'J To summarise the remainder of the messages, we learn that. our slower battleships were sunk by submarines, and that the Invincible, Inflexible, Indomitable, arid Indefatigable . made a dash westward, ■ but were soon overhauled by the Derfiingor, Von der Tann, Luise, and Hertha (and here we are allowed a crumb of comfort—"the' Hcrfcha sank"). The German Fleet, it appears, crept up the Norwegian coast iu a fog. The bigger vessels carried 17inch guns, and the British Fleet, ten miles off shore in a clear atmosphere, offered an excellent target.

There appear to have been soma unreported casualties among the Kaiser's fleet, for wo are told that it has been "so reduced that it 'will bo enable to cope with the Mediterranean fleet," which has been ordered home.