THE NAVAL DISASTER.

Evening Star, Issue 15606, 24 September 1914, Page 6

THE NAVAL DISASTER.

THE LOSS OF THREE CRUISERS CONFIRMED. WELLINGTON, September 23. The High Commissioner reports under date London, September 22 (5 p.m.):— " Official: Tho armored cruisers Aboukir, Hogue, and Cressy were sunk by submarines in the North Sea. The Aboukir was torpedoed, and while the Hogue and Cressy closed and were standing by 6aving the crew they were also torpedoed. A considerable number of tho men were saved by a division of destroyers, trawlers, and boats." THE SUBMARINES SUNK. LONDON, September 22. Renter reports that the two submarines which destroyed the three British cruisers were in turn destroyed. DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY. LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 9 a.m.) The steamer Floras has landed 387 survivors, including a few wounded and one dead. The survivors state that the Aboukir was hit in several places about 6 o'clock. She disappeared in five minutes. The other cruisers, apparently thinking she had struck a mine, rushed to her assistance. The Hogue, after lowering her boats, was hit, and soon sank. The Cressy reported the presence of two submarines, but was torpedoed afterwards, and sank at 8 o'clock. Th.irtv uninjured officcre were landed at Harwich. It is believed that 700 men have been saved. Captain Nicholson, of tho Hogue, served as a midshipman on the Calliope, and was aboard that .ship during tho great Apia (Samoa) hurricane. THE CRESSY GOES DOWN FIRING. Reuter's Ymuiden (Holland) correspondent states that the British survivors are clad in all manner of clothes, some as Dutch soldiers, some in khaki jackets. The crews of the crui.<eis were largely reservists from Chatham. 'The Florae's captain states that he saw only the Creasy, and he at first knew nothing of what had happened. Then he saw her suddenly heel and go down. He lowered his boats and picked up the survivors, who were clinging to rafts and timber. Several English sailing boats are bringing more survivors to Ymuiden. All the spectators agree that the Cressy was firing, and that as 6ho sank she sent two submarines to the bottom. This, however, is not confirmed officially. It is also stated that British deetroyers appeared as tho Floras was getting read to steam away. RESCUED BY DUTCH STEAMER. AMSTERDAM. September 23. (Received September 24, at 10.15 a.m.) A Dutch steamer landed 13 wounded and 5 dead from the sunken cruisers. She had originally 114 survivors, but transferred the others to British torpedo boate. The disaster is Raid -to have, occurred at 7.30 on Tuesday morning. EAST PRUSSIAN FRONTIER, GERMANS CROSS INTO RUSSIA. LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 10.15 a.m.) The 'Daily Chronicle's' Petvograd correspondent states that the Germans have landed at Memel and penetrated toJuburg. Other German troops from the Masurian lakes occupied Suwalki and Mariampal. but were checked there on Friday. ANOTHER VIEW. (London 'Tim**' and Sydney ' Sun * Services.) LONDON, SeptemJxT 23. The cause of t}ie concentration of eight German army corps in East Prussia i« considered to be political rather than strategic. It is evident that Germany will concentrate most of her troops at BTeslau, which will keep the interior lines of communication with Prussia open. ; IN GALICTA. RUSSHNS INVEST PRZEMYSL. , ROME, September 23. (Received September 24, at 10.15 a,m.) The 'TribunaV Petrograd correspondent states that all the fortifications in Galicia have fallen except Przemyel and Cracow. The siege of Przemysl has commenced. THE TURNING POINT OF MARNE BATTLE DUE TO GENERAL CASTELNAU. LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 9.10 a.m.) The 'Daily Telegraph's' Bordeaux correspondent says it was General Oastelnau, and not General Pan, who brought up 200 000 French troops to join Sir John French on the Allies' left, and so determined a German retreat after the battle of th* Marne. . [General Ounerea de Castelnau is next in command to General Joffre.] A GREAT CHARGE ' BY LRISH GUARDS LONDON, September. 23. ' (Received September 24, at 10.15 a.m.) A wounded non-coramisakmed officer relates that at the battle of the Marne the Irish Guards were eeleoted to dislodge tho enemy from a commanding position. The guards, under a hail of shrapnel, reached j a knoll 800 yds from tho enemy, who nwin[iftined a/hfiayj rifle fira* '

Leaving a force, to hold the knoll, the rest of the guards crept round the Germans' left, and gradually edged towards the German trenches. The whole jruaixU' battalion thei- lined up for a 200 yds final rush. The ridge was crowned with the enemy's machine guns, which were firing continually. "We fixed bayonets," said the non-com. charged under a fiendish fire, and. with a wild whoop readied the trenches. The Germans desperately attempted to reply to us with the bayonet; then thev wavered and broke. Their centre ran like liares throwing down their arms. We bayoneted, or shot them down in dozens until we were exhausted. The Germans who did not escape surrendered." THE AISNE BATTLE. (Loudon ' Times * and Sydney * Bun' Service*.) LONDON", September 23. llie limes,' in a leader on the battle of the Aisne, says: "All along the line the signs are hopeful. At all points, the indications are that advantages have lieen gained." The Germans are paying flattering respect to the British. " Thirty thousand French prisoners at Maubeuge were guarded by 200 Germans, while seven Britirh prisoners have 30 guards. WHITE FLAG AGAIN. TREACHEROUS GERMANS. LONDON, .September 23. (Received September 24, at 9.10 a.m.) A wounded Irish Guardsman reports that the Germans, during the battle of the Aisne, hoisted the white flag. The British, on advancing to secure their prisonera, were subjected to a terrible fire from concealed batteries, and were not able to walk on to the field. CAPTURED MERCHAXTMEN. RthSSLA'S HAUL. ' PETROGRAD. September 23. (Received September 24, at 10.15 a.m.) Seventy-threo German and 13 Austrian vessels that have been detained or captured in Russia are gazetted. GERMANY'S WAiTeOAN. DOUBTFUL SECURITY. LONDON. September 23. I (Received September 24, at 9.10 a.m.) j British ladies who have arrived from Germany through the recent exchange of refugees state that the. war loan has been subscribed, even servants giving their savings, 'lite Government promised that the money would be returned, with interest at the rate of 5 per cent., out of the indemnity France would have to pajy. AFFEAL to civilised world. KAISER ANtTwAR TARTY DENOUNCED. LONDON. September 23. (Received September 24, at 9.10 a»m.) The German Humanity League have ifipned an appeal to the civjlieed -world from Rotterdam. The appeal states that '• the inevitable end of the war must be the deposition of a. despot whose true aims and character have been nakedly revealed. As men passionately devoted to the Fatherland we owe a bonnden duty to every man caring for the welfare of mankind" to join hands in arresting the Kaiser and the men around him, who are responsible for the appalling crimes of the last five weeks. The interest of the German wage earner is to strive for the victory of the Allies. Prussia's domination in Germany must be crushed and swept away for ever." GLOOM. IN GERMANY. PEACE BEING" DISCUSSED. (London 'Times' and Sydney ' Sun' Service*.) LONDON, September 23. The 'Frankfurter Zeitung' in an article says : " These are critical days. Every competent judge knew our enemies would not bo easy to overcome, and that we. would have to deal with capable and brave opponents." The remainder of the article draws a gloomy picture, and. discusses peace prospects. WASHINGTON, September 23. President Wilson denies calling an international ' congress to interpose in the war. ON THE ADRIATIC. (London ' Time 3 * and Sydney' Pun ' Services.} LONDON, September 23. Operations against Cattaro by the French fleet have been suspended, and will not be resumed until a combined naval and military assault is made. A number of Austrian warships are at Cattaro, and made several unsuccessful attempts to escape the vigilance of the French, fleet. ITALY AND RUMANIA. (London 'Times' and Sydney ' Sun' Services.) LONDON, September 23. The Rumanian mission to Rome established perfect accord between the two nations in regard to the political eituatibn. GERMAN CRUISER SINKS ANOTHER MERCHANTMAN. . FREMANTLE, September 24. (Received September 24, at 10.46 a.m.) Passengers by the Paroo, from Singapore, report that the vessel City of Lincoln. was sunk. off Penang by-a German cruiser. The passengers were given 29 .minutes to leave the shjp, J

-A grave state of affairs exists at Singapore, -where all the tin mines are closed; also in Java, where paper money is useless. THE PACIFIC CABLE. FANNING ISLAND STAFF. SYDNEY, .September 24. (Received September 24, at 10.45 a.m.) The Pacific Cable Board report that the Fanning Island staff are safe. [The Pacific cable was recently cut in the vicinity of Fanning Island, by a German vessel.] AUSTRALIAN FOODSTUFFS. EXPORT PROHIBITED. MELBOURNE, September 24. (Received September 24, at 10.45 a.m.) A proclamation lias been gazetted prohibiting the export of wheat and flour. Another forbids the export of meat, revoking the previous proclamation limiting its export to tho Dominions. ALLIES TAKE ST. QUENTIN. FINE WORK BY THE FRENCH. TURNING GERMAN RIGHT WING. LONDON, .September 23. (Received September 24, at 12.15 p.m.) After terrific fighting between Peronno and St. Quentin the German right appears to have been turned. The Germans occupied Peronne on September 16, holding a strong position, with hills behind and marshes, in front. The French were ordered to take this position at all costs. They bombarded the Germ«i trenches with artillery, but the Germans stubbornly held the heights, their sguns causing severe execution among the French. The French then stormed the position, advancing in several narrow columns. They bayoneted the Germans in their trenches, and gained the position, the I Germans falling back to St. Quentin. P'rench reinforcements .arrived, an<! pursued tho Germans into the suburbs. There was savage street fighting, and the Germans were driven back until they received orders to abandon the town. The Germans are now making an effort to retake the town. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS MOVING FROM BELGIUM. OSTEND, September 23. (Received September 24, at 12.15 p.m.) The German forces in Belgium are still going to the southward. CAN THEY HOLD BRUSSELS? ANTWERP, September 23. Several divisions of troops are advancing against the German army corps which is based on Brussels. RHEIMS CATHEDRAL. INCREDULOUS BERLINERS. AMSTERDAM, September 23. (Received September 24, at 12.15 p.m.) Headquarters at Berlin indignantly protest against the accusation that the German troops, in their lust for vandalism, have destroyed .historical monuments. They deny that Rheims Cathedral was used as a mark in the bombardment. "If it is true that the cathedral suffered, nobody will deplore it more than ourselves," is their statement. DARING RAID BY SOUTH RUSSIAN TROOrS. PETROGRAD, September 23. (Received September 24, at 12.15 p.m.) Sixty Circassians entored Czestochowa. (in Southern Poland, across the frontier from 1 Prussian Silesia), overpowered the German patTols, entered the cafes, slew a number of German officers, and withdrew without loss.