AT SEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 October 1917, Page 5

AT SEA.

SINKING OF THE ANTILLES

SURVIVORS' STORIES,

GERMAN REPLY TO NEUTRAL

PROTESTS

NEW YORK, Oct. 25

The Sun's correspondent at a French port interviewed survivors of the Antilles. It is estimated that from fifty to sixty are dead. The crew wore preservers, otherwise the death roll would have been heavier- The sea was rough and three lifeboats .were overturned. Scores of men, including a brigadiergeneral, clung to the wreckage and were picked up after two hours. Many jumped into the sea and were sucked under. There were many thrilling escapes. Meanwhile the convoy unavail-ingly-searched for the U-boat.

The 6hip was torpedoed at «even in the morning. Many were killed in their .berths. Six men, returning wounded, were first lowered into the lifeboats. The vessel's stern rose almost perpendicularly. Many jumped from a height of sixty feet. The crew «howed the utmost heroism..

WASHINGTON, Oct, 25

It is announced that two of those killed on the Antilles were naturalised Americans, whose parents were living in Germany.

The destroyer Cassio, whilst in European waters, although torpedoed and with one engine disabled, continued to eeareh for the U-boat till nightfall.

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 25

Replying to neutral indignation at the sinking of Scandinavian ships in the North Sea raid, a -German official statement asserts that the vessels themselves are to blame for sailing un•dor convoy and attempting "to escape. Anyhow, they were navigating the barred zone, despite the warning given last February. The statement attempts to deny the shelling of the boats.