ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16666, 26 September 1914, Page 9

ON THE HIGH SEAS.

' THE SUBMARINE RAID. GERMANS FLEW DUTCH FLAG. GUNNER’S GRAPHIC STORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, September 24. The “Chronicle’s” Harwich correspondent says that the parent ship of tho German submarine flotilla fletw the Dutch flag, and made no effort to save life. It is reported that this flotilla left the Baltic last week, came through Kiel Canal, and dashed to Borkum (an island in the North Sea), whence 'the raid was made. Two torpedoes 6tpuck the Aboukir, and most of her crew were killed while asleep. The officers and crews of all the ships behaved admirably. Dougherty, chief gunner on the Oressy, gives the following account: —“We were steaming slowly in a line somewhere off the coast of Holland. One hundred yards approximately separat*ed the vessels. Suddenly I heard a ] great crash, and the middle ship, the * Aboukir, heeled over, going down rapidly. ’ “Wo closed up with the sinking * ship, when there was a second crash, ana the Hogue began to settle down. 1 As \fe drew near them, someone shouta ed to me, ‘ Look out I there’s a submarine on the port beam.’ . away, its periscope above the waves. I took careful aim with the twelvepounder, and went over hex about two yards. I gave the range, fired again and hit the periscope. “ She disappeared and came up again, showing tho conning-tower- I fired ® third time, and smashed in the top of tho conning-tower. “ After that I shot at a trawler at one thousand yards. She was evidently a German ship disguised and directing the flotilla’s operations. The shot set her afire, and hof ultimate fate is unknown. “ By this time wo ihad been struck by one torpedo, but the damage was not vital. Then I saw a second submarine to the starboard, made a desperate effort to get her and failed. The torpedo got homo in the enginet room, and the Cressy began to turn over. t ,“ 1 believe Captain Johnson went ‘ down with the ship. One torpedo pa»e ed under tho stern, the enemy actually e discharging torpedoes whilo the water n was thick with drowning men. I r five submarines, but only one was bit. f ANOTHER ACCOUNT. . , LONDON September 24. e . A member of the Aboukir’s crew s tel 1? .the following story:— ft 0 explosion shook the whole ship and tore a great lump out of her side. Many mon ou *tke «PRf r g decks were killed outright ■ AVhen the i- vessel heeled over until the rail was immersed the order was given ‘ Every man for himself.’ Long before tho I ?, ressy Ak an , d . Hogue readied the spo fc y the Aboukir disappeared The Germans certainly took us 'bv surprise, r and made tho most of their opp° rtun, ‘ o y- :;f ' " A THOUSAND HOMES IN 5, mourning 6 . Most , of the victims belong to Chatham, where about a thousand b oßies i- are M with mourning

THE GERMAN REPORT. ONLY ONE SUBMARINE. AMSTERDAM, September 24. A message from Berlin states that only one submarine, tho U 9, attacked tho cruisers, and returned undamaged and nono wounded. ENTHUSIASM IN BERLIN. ROME, September 24. News from Berlin states that the sinking of the British cruisers caused groat enthusiasm. It is declared that this is only a' foretaste of what Britain may expect when she faces the German Navy. THE AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE. ROTTERDAM, September 24. Tho “Morgen Post,” Berlin, remarks on the loss of the Australian submarine, and 1 says: “Evidently tho German fleet in tho Pacific is not idle.” GERMANS JEER AT DROWNING BRITISH. (Received September 25, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 24. Despatches indicate that the Cressy alone saw tho submarines in time to attempt to retaliate. An officer said it was satisfactory to know that tho Germans had destroyed only three comparatively obsolete vessels shortly destined to bo scrapped. The scratch crews had only been together for six weeks. Tho hardest tiling was the fate of the cadets. Many were only fifteen years old. but acted as coolly as old hands. Twenty-four men were saved after clinging for hours to a target which floated off the Hogue’s deck. The-Titan’s captain, ignoring risks, cruised for hours on the scone and rescued many exhausted. Some submarines came to the surface and the crews from the conning towers jeered at the drowning British sailors. Five Germans from tho wrecked submarines were saved. EMDEN ACTIVE. SHELLED MADRAS CITY. CALCUTTA, September 24. Reuter’s agent states that tho German cruiser Emden shelled Madras, but no serious damage was done. THREE INDIANS KILLED. CALCUTTA, September 24. An official statement says that the Emden was at Madras on the night of September 23 and fired nine shots. The first hit the Burma Oil. Company’s tanks, igniting two. Other buildings were struck, but not much damaged. Three Indians were killed. When the shore guns replied tho Emden ceasod firing, extinguished her lights and steamed away. The affair lasted fifteen minutes. AUSTRIAN WAR VESSELS DESTROYED BLOWN BP BY MINES. (Received September 26, 1.80 a.m.) MILAN, September 24. Advices from Trieste state that two torpedo boats of tho Austrian high sea fleet and an Austrian destroyer struck mines off the coast of. Dalmatia and sank. The fate of tho crews is unknown.