FIGHT WITH ATLANTIC RAIDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3007, 19 February 1917, Page 5

FIGHT WITH ATLANTIC RAIDERS

ENEMY'S SHIPS SEVERELY HANDLED THE. U-BOAT WAR AND AMERICA „. , , ■ „ ~ , New Yo|, Ki February 16. ■• Unofnoial reports from Brazil state that a British cruiser chased three raiders, and sank one.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The earlier reports of the naval engagement off Brazil are supported by a message from Rio de Janeiro, stating that the newspaper Run, says that an officer of a British cruiser confirms the- reports of a battle off Fernando do Noronha (a Brazilian convict prison island off the East Coast. He stated that the commander of his cruiser received a report of the" battle by wireless from another cruiser, which alone gave battle to the raiders. The cruiser sighted l three raiders at 6 o'clock iu the evening, and ordered' them to approach. As they did it was seen that they were clearing for action and manoeuvring for position. Arsiost Jmmediatoly they opened' fire. It was then nightfall. The- cruiser returned the fire and the Taiders fled, the cruisor pursuing thorn. When near Fernando, it was seen that one of tho raiders was sinking. The others escaped under cover of darkness. One raider is believed to have been beached in a battered condition. The cruiser suffered slight damage. One man was killed, and a fewwounded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ARMING AMERICA'S MERCHANT SHIPS CABINET BELIEVED TO BE CONVINCED OF NECESSITY. (Kcc. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, February 17. The United States Cabinet has considered the question of armiug American merchantmen.' It is believed that members are convinced that the ai-min* of these vessels forthwith will bo the only possible solution. It is expected that the Navy will provide tho guns, and perhaps the gunners, within the next ten days.— Cablo Assn. A LEFT-HANDED THREAT. (Hoc. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) x- „ , ,„• „ „ ,■ New Yorh > February 17. The "New York Times BerJm correspondent is given to understand that tho arming of Amorican merchantmen will mako the crisis most acute, as it will prohibit submarines from saving the lives of passengers and crows, even if other circumstances permitted.—Aus.-N-Z. Cablo Assh. INSPIRED VANDALISM ON INTERNED LINERS . GERMAN CAPTAIN EXPOSES THE AUTHORS'. (Rec. February 16, 11.5 p.m.) Boston, February 17. Captain Polack, ofthe Gcrman_ interned .liner Kron Princes'se'n Cecile at the hearing of a litigation suit involved in the proposed sale of the' steamer, gave evidence that he was instruoted by an official of the German Embassy to disable the machinery, and so prevent the use of the vessel by the United States in the event of war. The order was obeyed at the end of January, and damage estimated at £20,000 was done. Polack was excused from disclosing the name of the official. He declared that if ho did he would bo court-martialled iu Germany.—Router. MR; GERARD TALKS A REPUDIATED INTERVIEW. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) '\ „„ „, r ,-,,,,, . . . Pa ris, February 17. The' Matin has had an interview with Mr. Gerard (recently American Ambassador at Berlin), who said that the Germans failed to understand why the Americans could not place themsolvcs in the others' positions. This had caused all their errors. The Wilhelmstrasso policy was to terrorise individuals, and then terrorise the American nation. They thought that America, ■would bo afraid, but was deceived. If Germany app'oared temporarily to yield to President "Wilson, it was because she hoped 'to disarm American opinion Germany made her biggest mistake when s he made her declaration of the. so-called blockade. Mr. Gerard subsequently repudiated the interview. The "Matin" states that the interview was the substance of a conversation with Mr. Hughes Le Roux, a personal friend of tho Ambassador.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COUNT BERNSTORFF'S VOYAGE , - .i j, (Eec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) T , ,• , , '.'.■' , , NOW York, February 17. The strictest watch was. kept on the Frederick VIII when Count Bernsterff went on board Guards were ev ervwhere . Communication with the -Aus^N!z CU Ca°ble Assn IC% Kearched for «>»»t»biind. THE AMERICAN PRISONERS FROM THE YARROWDALE -pi, «< v n i •. u • , New York ' February 16. Ihe State Department has received no confirmation of the release of the \arrowdale prisoners and of the permission for .American relief workers to remain in Belgium, butthe Press reports have relieved tension for the immediate present.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) A telegram from Berlin states that tho-AmerSSs S"SyLwdale have been released and handed over to the »«„,•..+ I sent home via Spain.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn Aetheilands Mm,stor > *° LATEST VICTIMS OF THE PIRATES i Tho British steamers Longshear (2777 tons) and and four trawlers, have been sunk. uieeniand (1/od tons), alta *v e Portl, S»fo steamer Carado have been ntt&r ? t } \ r WltU \ M T mes of wLich a ™ not slated. »it jt Erlt , lsh shl P Mi »'garita and trawlers Ashwald, Ireland and Kino4ken priloner! 11 submaru?es - The raaster of the King Alfred was traW ' er Mal ' y BCII and ille Sa ' linS VeSS<?l Percy Ra y have aha been ' A total of 103,097 tons of shipping was sunk during the second week of the. new German submanno campaign. Neutral vessels amounted to 20 149 tons principally Norwegian. The total for the fortnight was 202,202 tons' of which 48 000 tons was neutral. The lives known to have been lost total over 200, including fifty neutrals, principally Norwegian and Greeks.—Aus -N Z Cablo Assn. ..-'*' (Rec. February 18, 11.5 p.m.) •n u m.- i . t i. uii • , Lotion, February IS. lhe British steamers Leonhardt, Jlarion Dahon, and Queenswood the smack Friendship, and the dredger Leyen have been sunk. Three of the Queenswood's crew were killed and one wounded. —United Service. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, February 17. Tho British steamers Hopemoor (37-10 tons) and Afton (1156 tons) have been sunk.—United Service. TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF A TRAWLER'S CREW. (Rec. February 17, 7.20 p.m.) London, February 16. The nine members of the crew ot the torpedoed trawler Ash wold experienced terrible sufferings, spending seventy hours in a boat, with threo tins of corned beef and some bilge-water. Most of the men were frost-bitten when ' Toscued. Tho Germans poisoned the skippor.—lteutcr. BRITISH STEAMER MINED. (Rec. February 18, 11.5 p.m.) London, February 17. The British steamer Ladyann has been mined. Two on board'were killdcl and five are in hospital. The captain, four officers, and four men are missing. —The "Times."

THROUGH THE BARRED ZONE TO SAFETY NEUTRAL SHIPS FIND IT WORTH WHILE. (Bee. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) ,„ L '~,,., New York, February 17. lweuty-one snips, of which fourteen traversed the barred zone arrived bere on Friday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, (Rec. February 17, 7.20 p.m.) nil Paris, February 16 Xhe average of arrivals and departures lias been maintained at' thn i'reiieh ports since February 1. Britain's reduction of insurance rates to neutrals is expected to entice more ships from the harbours. As an instance, a bUOU-ton neutral ship, engaged in carrying coal to Italy from Britain, is now able to make £170,000 a, year in profit.—The "Times." SUFFICIENT TONNAGE FOR MAIN NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) ■m,. iu /r, • ■~-. . London, February 17. u f Massey (Prune Minister of New Zealand), interviewed, said that be had been authoritatively informed that the German submarines were being St? °?^ Sed - New £ a - ,alld mi « ht 6ulFer ' somewhat through «7of Sd Seivtce r6 WaS S available to carry her main products.ENEMY'S LOSS IN SUBMARINES NO INFORMATION FOR THE GERMANS. r„ iv w cr, „ ' London, February 16. in the House of Commons, Dr. M'Namara (Secretary to the Admiralty), in icply to a suggestion that the Government should announce the number ol submarines destroyed said the Government declined to enlighten Germany as to ner losses.—The 'rimes. Mr. Lambert urged that additional safeguards should?be provided to cope with tbo Mediterranean routes. He also urged the recall to the Admiralty of Jjord Fisher, who overcame the submarine campaign in 3915.— Km% -NZ Gable Assn. WHAT AN AMERICAN ENGINEER SAW. • (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) , • . ~ , . • Baltimore, February 17. An engineer Ironi the American steamer Mongolia, who has arrived here, states that while at Plymouth ho counted 187 captured submarines, including the German trans-Atlantic commercial submarine Doutschlund. Captain Koc" nig and the crew of the Deutscbland were in gaol.—Renter. EASIER TENDENCY IN WAR RISKS. ) t ,i • , , ~ . London, February 16. in the insurance market there is an easier tendency in war risks, proving. Lloyd s belief in the Admiralty's ability to grapple with the problem ■ M. Marcel Hutin states that in the first fifteen days of February only one I'rench vessel and six small fishing boats were sunk. Ho adds: "Neutral vessels will be encouraged.to resume sailings when it is realised - that since tie German proclamation the number of boats torpedoed is only a little higher than normal. Recently 230 steamers arrived at Italian ports without encountering a single submarine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ANOTHER AGITATION FOR LORD FISHER ADVERSE CRITICISM BY ADMIRAL MEUX. '. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) » j • i*r -lm n " London. February 17. Admiral Meux, M.P., addressing his constituents at Portsmouth," referred to the movement to bring back Lord Ffeler to deal with the submarine menace. to declared tout it Lord Fisher had wanted to stop the Dardanelles expedition ho could have done so by threatening to resign. Ho (Admiral Meux) know of what the feeling 0 f the Grand Fleet was It would be rfUliW* 1w" 1 • t"f a T' V lf L ° rd Ksher were brou K ht back. Peope d shked Lord lisher's.society, because he went about boasting of the number of officers he had ruined. It was necessary to say these things-, otherwise mtr.gue would continue to centre round Lord Fisher's name.-Aus-N Z Gable Assn. ' . LABOUR SECRETARY'S APPEAL TO THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE mi i r n r, -i ■ London, Fobniarv 16. the secretary of the Boilermakers and Shipbuilders' Society has'appealed to members lor tbeir best work in the output and repairing of ships. He says: The grand, attack on oilr vital artery has begun. It does not frighten us, but it is serious enough to stimulate us to pool our assets in the service of the national interest."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEW BRAZILIAN WARSHIP LEAVES ITALY (Rec. February. 17..7.20 p.m.) ' m, d r i • t , Rome, February 16! The Brazilian warship Leara, bu.lt in Italy, i s leaving for Brazil. She has, been ordered to follow the usual route—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ BELGIAN RELIEF SHIPS ■ .'■ . GERMAN COMPROMISE ON IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS. (Rec. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) It is officially confirmed that the Germans have 17 : engages in relief work in Belgium tffjrS '(W— Americans ■ seated, on the understanding that the? actings willnotlT ?"?■ w w. be on the same basis as existed before ™ plomatic breal bUi still adheres to her demand that the relief vesselswin !L™ . Brmany Rotterdam by the North Sea, route, Si ? tiffin le - ave fields, as almost to be impracticable. The result i,C?^nc S \° JS" 16 " while the Belgians' posit 4 is becoming