ON THE SEA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4601, 3 July 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

BRITISH BOMBARDMENT OF ZEEBRUGGE.

ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, July 1. A German from Zeebrugge declares that nearly forty torpedo boats and submarines were lost in the recent action with the British naval forces.

ATTACK THE GERMAN FLEET,

AN AMERICAN OPINION

Reuter’s Telegrams. NEW YORK, July 1. Rear-Admiral Fiske declares that the Allies must go in after the German fleet before lack of oil ties up’the British. The Germans could be swamped in their own harbors and the war won if a swarm of torpedoes and planes accompany the Allied fleet. The Navy has almost doubled its personnel since the war, and requires less tlian 25,000 to reach the authorised strength, 150,000.

ENEMY-OWNED SHIPS

TAKEN OVER BY AMERICA

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

WASHINGTON. July 1

President Wilson has ordered the Shipping Board to take over 87 Ger-man-owned ships, the total tonnage exceeding 500,000. The Board is empowered to use interned vessels lor any service, hut it is believed they will mostly he used for the transAtlantic service, alleviating the shortage of shipping of the Allies.

HUNTING SUBMARINES.

BRAZILIAN NAVY ASSISTING

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association WASHINGTON. July 1.

The Brazilian navy is co-operating with the American fleet in hunting submersibles off South America, thus practically joining the Allies. Officials are doubtful whether Brazil will formally declare war, because the Brazilian Government is inclined to think that Brazil’s attitude slmuld be defensive rather than offensive..

UNSINICABLE CARGO SHIPS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, ROME, July 1.

An Italian naval engineer lias invented a system of constructing cargo ships practically unsinkable by torpedoes.

destroyers as terriers.

HOW, TRANSPORTS ARE GUARDED.

PRAISE FOR. THE NAVY

MELBOURNE. June 29. In describing the works of the destroyers belonging to the Royal Navy, Corporal Richard Magee becomes enthusiastic. The following extracts are from a letter written to his friend, Mr A. F. Colvin, of 47 Queen Street. The letter is dated from somewhere at sea:—

■“Life in the military at sea on a small craft like this,” he writes, “is much of a muchness day by day. Yet it has its humourous part. Our old friend, Sergeant-Major Marriot. still roars at the' duffers, and we carry on as usual. Just a word of commendation to our splendid navy. ‘Ours!’ Next time you think of it take your hats of to this wonderful, powerful service.

“We wake up in the morning, and there is our cruiser'watching us like a hen with her six chicks. She takes no risks and shows, her teeth quickly.. Today we have the pride of the navy—destroyers. They are like terriers Each seems to flv round its charge. I understand that ‘sausage’ (German submarine) sinks at 10 miles if ‘sausage’ knows these terriers are about. To-night we are in the waters where Germany was going to smash all of our commercial craft, and if she ,o-ets us and beats our little terrier, I’m satisfied.