ON THE SEAS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 340, 27 January 1917, Page 5

ON THE SEAS.

THE TORPEDOERS’ FIGHT.

GERMAN CLAIMS. ONE BRITISH SHIP SUNK.

[“ ADMIRALTY PER WIRELESS PRESS.”] London, Jan. 26.

A German official messages states that the V 69 received a direct hit on the bridge. Captain Mak Schultz, commanding the flotilla since the beginning of the war, was killed with two officers and a few others.

The steering gear was also damaged causing the ship to collide with another ship. The V 69 was seriously damaged and ran to Ymuiden unmolested.

The ship previously rammed by the V 63 continued to participate in the fight, ramming aud seriously damaging an English destroyer which a German aeroplane subsequently reported as sinking. The German vessel escaped at a reduced speed and reached a German point d’appui. A third ship encountered numerous enemy destroyers and attacking immediately sank a large destroyer with a torpedo at close range. She reached port safely. The British Admiralty reiterates the statement"that the only British casualty was the destroyer torpedoed and sunk as already cabled.

GERMANY’S NAVAL LOSSES.

SMALL CRAFT USED UP

MUCH REPLACEMENT NECESSARY.

[AOSIHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASS’N] (Received 27, 9.15 a.m.) London, Jan. 26.

The “Daily Mail’s” correspondent states that the petty officers and men of the V 69 admit that German smaller craft were rapidly' used up last year. The Jutland and submarine losses were heavy, necessitating much replacement. The replacement of the latter is regarded as well worth while.

CONTROL OF THE MEDITER-

RANEAN

ALLIED NAVAL CONFERENCE

EFFECTIVE UNITY OF ACTION

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASS'n] London, Jan. 26. The Admiralty states that in the last few days an important naval conference was held at the Admiralty between the British, 1 rench and Italian Admiralties, which discussed the naval policy in the Mediterranean. The British delegates were bir Edward Carson, Sir John Jellicoe, Captains Halsey. Oliver; the French delegates, Admirals Lacaze, Debou, Fatou, Delostende; Italy’s, Aclmirals Corsi, Marzola, Saptain Divillarey. Moreover, Dallolio, the Italian Minister of Munitions, and Dejoly, French Director of Shipping, and Ancona, Italian Undersecretary of Transports, attended, also naval and civilian experts. Mr. Lloyd George indicated the proposals which the British Government were of opinion would tend to the closer co-ordination and more effective unity of action of the AlHed forces in the Mediterranean. The results were entirely satisfactory. Important decisions were reached, affecting, besides the naval operations, the use of shipping, control ot trade routes and other cognate problems.

DESTRUCTION OF SUBMARINES

OUR TONNAGE LOSSES

INCREASING MONTHLY

[AUSTRALIAN ANS N.Z. CABLE ASS N] London. Jan. 26.

The ‘‘Daily Chronicle’s” expert states that the Navy is destroying many more submarines than are officially announced The Admiralty publish no lists. It is certain, however, that the enemy is building submarines faster than they are being destroyed.

Our tonnage losses are increasing. Germany claims that she sank 3°°?' 000 British tons in November and 419.166 in December, with a_ total since the war began of 2.947,475. The official British figures admit the loss of 787,575 tons from January to October. . The tonnage of new British ships launched during the war until September 13th was 1,873,965. Building was never more rapid than now. Nearly 50 standardised cargoers are now being constructed, representing 500,000 tons. The United States is also building at the rate of over 100,000 tons monthly.

RAID ON SUFFOLK COAST.

BY SMALL GERMAN VESSEL.

INSIGNIFICANT DAMAGE

[high commissioner”, message.] (Received 27, 8.30 a.m.) London. Jan- 26. Lord French reports The Suffolk coast was bombarded by a small unidentified German vessel last night. There were no casualties. Insignificant damage was done.

THE RAIDER.

THE SAINT THEODORE’S CREW.

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] (Received 27, 9.55 a.m.) Perneambaco, Jan. 26. The cautured crew state that . the Saint Theodore kept the raider companv until she transferred her prisoners to the Y'arrowdale. Then the Saint Theodore’s crew were placed aboard the raider, and the Saint Theodore went off raiding. On December 28th, when the Mount Temple was sunk, many horses broke loose and swam to the raider. They were shot from the deck- The captives are badly nerve-strung because they were confined in water-tight compartments during the various chases.