THE NAVIES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 241, 25 September 1914, Page 5

THE NAVIES.

NORTH SEA DISASTER. FURTHER DETAILS. LANDING OF .THE SURVIVORS. London, Sept. 23. The Press Association says .that nearlv -100 of the survivors of the crews of the ill-fated cruisers Aboukir Cressy and Hogue were landed at Harwich. On y 48 cut of 8-13 on the Aboukir were saved. The warship Lowestoft. which brought the majority of the survireports that she saw the two German submarines dive. There were twenty officers among the rescued. The sunken cruiser had twentyeight cadets aboard called up for midshipmen's duties on the outbreak oi war. So far 505 of the survivors rescued have reached port, whereof 38 are wounded but not seriously. The chief petty officer <>f rhe Aboukir says that he believes Jie torpedo struck .be Aboukir amidships. He saw no periscope. The Cressy’s and the Hogue's boats were searching for the survivors an hour later, when he saw two German submarines fire torpedoes. The Hogue sank in half an hour, whilst an hour afterwards four torpedoes struck the Cressy. The submarines were -in strong force. The skipper of a trawler says that tie was quite close when tiie Aboukir sank in four minutes, the Hogue in ten anti the Cressy in three. He saved 350. Captain Nicholson is among 'the saved. A midshipman from the Aboukir jumped overboard. The Hogue rescued him and he again jumped overboard when the Hogue was struck. The Cressy picked him up, and finally he was flung into the water and clung to wreckage t ill the Titan picked him up. DUTCH SKIPPER TO THE RESCUE. London, Sept. 23The .-aptuin of the Dutch steamer Titan, at Rotterdam, states that thirty miles from the coast he saw three English ci nisei s on the horizon. He noticed one disappear, and looked again and saw heavy smoke bursting from another cruiser. He heard a far-away explosion and altered his course. While going io their aid the third ship was struck. He saw a submarine dashing away at a great rate. The two remaining cruisers rolled on their sides and disappeared. W hen the Titan arrived he found two cutters saving men. all naked. They had been in the water so long that they had discarded their clothes. There was also a sloop absolutely full of men. and all around other swimmers near y exhausted by long immersion, some clinging to wreckage and others on a floating table. He got out two boats ami rescued 111. including Commander Sells, who collapsed from sheer exhaustion but. soon revived.

THE CRESSY’S GUNNER'S STORY. A is WARM OF SUBMARINES. ONLY ONE HIT. (Received 25, 9 am.) London, Sept. 21. Mr. Dougherty, gunner on the Creasy, states: “We were steaming slowlv iu line somewhere off the coast of Holland, 100 yards approximaterly separated each vessel, when suddenly we heard a great crash about the middle of the ship Aboukir. which heeled over and went down rapidly. “We closed up with the sinking ship when there came a second crash, and the Hague began to settle down. “As we drew near them, someone shouted to me, “Look out! There’s a submarine on t he port beam I saw it about 400 yards away, the periscope above tfie waves. 1 took careful aim with a twelve pounder. The shot went over her about two yards, but it gave the range, and 1 fired again anil hit the periscope. She disappeared, but catne >'P again.

showing her conning tower. 1 fired the third time, and smashed in the top of the conning tower. ■After that. I shot at a trawler, 1 GOG yards off, evidently a German disguised, directing the operations. 1 shot and -et her afire, but her ultimate fait* is not known.

''By this time, we had been struck by one torpedo, but the damage was not vital. ’I hen I saw a second submarine to starboard, .■mil made <1 desperate effort to get her, but failed.

’’J iie torrn-ilo limiie somewhere about the engine room, anil the Cressy tn gait to turti over. I believe Captain Johnstui went li'iwn with tin ship. "One torpedo passed under our stern. The. enemy were actually discharging torpedoes while the water was thick with drowning men. "I saw five submarines, but only one was hit.” HOW IT WAS DONE. SAILING UNDER FALSE COLOURS. FLOTILLA FROM THE BALTIC. (Received 25, 9.0 a.m.) London, Sept. 24. The “Chronicle’s” Harwich correspondent says that the parent ship of the submarine flotilla flew the Dutch flag and made no effort to save life. It is reported that the flotilla left the Baltic last week, came through the Kiel Canal and dashed to Borkum. from whence the raid was made. Two torpedoes struck the Aboukir. and most of her crew were killed while asleei). The offieeis and crews of all the ships behaved admirably. TAKEN BY SURPRISE. 1000 HOMES IN MOURNING. (Received 25. 1ti.30 a.m.) Loudon. Sept. 21A mem'u-r of the Aboukn's crewvv iio was on V.-itch at. the lime i;f the <!'><-■*-:or. ‘-ay : that the cxplo.-jou shook the whole of the ship and lore a e 'e.it lump out of her side. Many men <ui ibe upper deck were killed out'ight. Then the vessel heeled over until ill" rail was immersed, and the order was given. "Every man for himself.” Long before the (Te«sv and the Hogue reached the spot, the Aboukir had disappeared. The Germans certainly took us bysurprise awl made the most of their opportunity. Most of the victims belonged io Chatbin. where about 1009 homes are faced with mourning.

BERLIN VERSION. ONE SUBMARINE DID THE TRICK. (Received 25. 10.30 a.m.) Amsterdam, Sept. 21. A message’ from Berlin states that only one submarine, I 9. attacked the cruisers and returned undamaged. None of the wounded sailors landed in Holland were seriously injured. GERMAN HOPES REVIVED. FORETASTE OF WHAT OUR NAVY MAY EXPECT. (Received 25. 10.10 a.m.) Rome, Sept. 21. News from Berlin states that the sinking of the cruisers caused great enthusiasm, and was declared to be only a foretaste of what Britain may expect when she faces the German navy. MUST EXPECT SUCH LOSSES. London, Sept. 23. The "Tinies.” 111 a leader on ilie North Sea losses, says: ‘We must expect more occurrences of this character, and must make up our minds to accept them with equanimity. The wonder reaUv is that we have not lost more ships in this manner. Tiie avowed Geiniai; policy is to endeavour 1:0 weaken our naval strength by moans of mines and submarines. Nevertlie ess. the outlook continues to inspire the utmost confidence.” THE AUSTRALIAN LOSS. CREDITED TO GERMAN CRUISERS. (Received 25. 10.30 a.m.) Rotterdam, Sept. 24. The "Morgen Post” of Berlin, remarking on the loss of the Australian submarine, says : "Evidently the German fleet in the Pacific is not idle." GERMANS SURPRISED. WHILST MIN E-LA YING. CRUISER AND TORPEDOERS SUNK. The High Commissioner reports: London Scot. 23 0.23 n.m. Paris reports that while a Ger’irtn cruiser am! two toniedo boats were laying mini’s in the Baltic they new sunk by the Russian cruiser Bivan. BRITISH NAVAL AIRMEN.

ATTACK GERMAN ZEPPELIN SHEDS. A DARING RAID. The High Commissioner reports: London. Sept. 23. 6.25 p.m. Official—The , Admiralty reports that yesterday British aeroplanes on the naval wing delivered an attack on the Zeppelin sheds at Dusseldorf. The condition of light rendered the operations difficult. The wea tlier was misty. Lieutenant Collet dropped three bombs on the Zeppelin shed. He approached to within 400 feet of the shed. The extent of the damage is not known. Collet’s machine was struck by a projectile, but he. together with the other aviators, returned safely. THE DARING EMDEN. SHELLS MADRAS. (Received 23, 9.0 a.m.) Calcutta, Sept. 21. Reul er states that the Emden shelled Madras, but no serious damage was done. H.M.S. PEGASUS. ACTIVE THOUGH BRIEF CAREER. I,ondon, Sept. 23. A Pegasus bluejacket says that she broadsided Dar-es-Salaam for five minutes until white flags went up everywhere. The Germans blew up. the wireless station. They sank a gunboat across tin* mouth of the harbour, ami captured three German mailboat'’, in port. He adds lhal Jhe Pegasus had bet-u searching for the Kcenigshurg.

TRAWLER STRIKES MINE. London, Sept. 23. The trawler Kilmarnock was mined, six of the crew being killed.