ON THE SEA

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13234, 4 March 1915, Page 5

ON THE SEA

THE RECENT NAVAL FIGHTS COMMANDERS' DESPATCHES HOW THE ENEMY WENT DOWN RUSSIA'S HAMMER Austria suffers great defeat WESTERN PROGRESS MAINTAINED (I'm Oilili.—Phii Aiiocisiiun,—Uowrlfht)

\ '■'''' • • • • .*■ •' THE WESTERN CAMPAIGN,

■":'.' DASHING WOlUv. • LONDON, March 2. General Sir John French's bulletin states' dial the enemy's activity in the ■ Ypres region has been checked, the ' enemy, being repulsed to-day. The attack was preceded by Die heavy bombardment of a portion of'our line. - Princess Patricia's liifantrv, on our ■■ ■ i. left, with great dash, killed 11 occu-

pautii of a trench and drove off the re inainder, finally blowing lip the trench, The Canadian losses were trifling. AVt steadily progressed by skilful trench- ' ■work near La Bassee and completely mastered the enemy's snipers. Our casualties in consequence were greatly reduced.. Our artillery forced the enemy's batteries to change their positions at several points, and lliis in J creased bur ascendancy. ;/;! ' A communique states that despite Tyllio storm our progress eonilnues be tween Perthes and, B'eausejo'ur, where the' enemy suffered extremely heavy . -losses. o|i Suii'day night wc captured their trenches and gained 300 metres at La C'liapelotte, in the Vosgcs rcgiaiu •LONDON,, March,, 2 (5,30 p.in.) |,; Ijaris-. reports that, ..Champagne and Rlieims were again bombarded, SO Bliells falling. The Allies arc holding the- summits parallel to their firing line. 'The German * guards sustained L I extremely heavy losses as the result of Ml our counter-attacks .on Sunday and JrfVlonday. In the region of Vaulois wc ft progressed and arc maintaining the ■ ' ground conquered in spite of two couiiI ter-attaeks, Some prisoners were taken. F In. tlie Yosges region more trenches wcr6 captured and 300 metres of ground gained. Sic John French reports that / on - Moudav morning an enemy attack, preceded by a heavy bombardment, was Successfully repulsed. Princess Patricia's Gauadiaus captured a German trench with great dash. Near La Bassee wo gained ground steadily by skilful trench \Vork, and in this zone wc ■ obtained complete mastery over the enemy's suipera. Our casualties were consequently (groatly reduced,. Our artillery'forced the. enemy's batteries to change their positions, and this increased our ascendancy over Hie opposing: guns which lias been observed for gome- time past: I . t ON THE IvOAD TO CALAIS, KAISER,'S LAST HOPE. THE BATTLE OF GIIELUVELT. LONDON, March 2. On the 31st. October, when -'IOO Scots Guards,- South Wales Borderers, Welsli and Queen's Iteginients held a/hastily f- coivstriictedirench at Ghelnvelt village, against 24,000 Genitalis, the enemy at dawu shelled the chateau where tho !)attaliou comiuanders were quartered, The Britishers fell in dozens, but the officers carelessly patrolled tlf position cheering up the men. When the ehclliug ceased the Germans charged, and thousands were mown down by rifles and machine gun liro. The second line stumbled over tho grey heaps to \ the scarcely unwounded Britishers in the long line of 'trendies, but rein- ' forccmeuts were hurried from the scan- ✓. ty reserves behind the chateau. Towards dusk the Germans were massed for a second attack, and every Britisher was sent into the trendies. The . full fury of the charge fell on the , Welsh regiment centre, which fought with bayonets and hands rather than give way. After the Germans had'cap turod tlm trenches ihoy savagely bayoii' . ctcd the British wounded. The Scots Guards left and Queen's right still held their positions, and when the officer oi tlic South Wales Borderers found them hoJjrouglit up 500 Worcestors who had liceu expected all day. The wounded Worcesters charged through the shot swept streets Gheluvcll right into tin lo'st trenches, and the Germans turnci! aid lied, though twenty times as num

1 , GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED,

Received Mareh .'!, !>.2i5 p.m, PARIS, March 11, (Official):

Sharp artillery actions, resulting to our advantage, have occurred in the Aisn.e. Attacks in the region of Jfhcims were repulsed. We are progressing between Souain and Beausejour, A German counter-attack at Vanipiois was repulsed, and we captured a hundred Germans. A night attack at Puntaiuousson failed. "

THE RUSSIAN lIAMMEIt,

GERMANS GENERALLY INACTIVE

PETItOGIIAL), March 2,

Prisoners captured at Prasnysz be longed to lifteen different German regi ments.

The Germans arc inactive along Die whole front, except al Osowicez, where they continue their bombardment,using •12 centimetre guns. The enemy has assumed the defensive in Galicia.

BUCHAREST, March 2, Tiie Russians are within twenty kiloijielres of Czernowilz. PETIiOGHAD, March 2, Aeroplanes saved two. Russian regiments during the reverse in East Prussia. Besides guiding the Russians through the encircling enemy the aeroplanes supplied them with cartridges. OFFICIAL NEWS. PROGRESS IN BOTH THEATRES. The High Commissioner reports:— Pctrograd, describing the Russian victory at Przasnysz on Saturday evening, states that the Hermans began a disorderly relreal, seeking lo make their way in the direction of Mlawa and Cliorzcle. The Russians, scorning the fatigue inevitable after marching, followed by four days' constant lighting, pushed on a vigorous pursuit, and iullicted heavy losses on the enemy's rearguards, making ten thousand prisoners. In (lift Carpathians the AttnIrians are unsuccessfully attacking the front at Ukpow and Voiiln, with enormous losses. In Eastern Clalicia the enemy have assumed the defensive in Eizopul region. A Russian armed train is operating successfully in Bulunvinn and the Russians have occupied Sa'lagora. .Paris reports that from the sea to I lie Aisne there have been frequent artillery engagements, to the Allies' advantage, All along the front sector at Klieims, particularly at the farmhouse near Port Pompellc, the enemy this, morning made attacks that were easily repelled. Between Souain and Beausejour the Allies progress. AUSTRIAN'S' TERRIBLE PLIGHT. Tho lligli Commissioner reports:— LONDON, March 11. ■1.40 p.m. ,I'otrognid leporls that on the front between the Memoir and the Vistula the Russians continued the offensive on Monday. North-west of Grodno the enemy have fallen back, resisting stubbornly. From Pizasaysz (lie German;are retiring precipitately ou .lanow and Mlawa., In the Carpathians, in the Rabba Razzeiow district,' a furious battle raged throughout Sunday. AH tlie slopes of the mountains, as well as the ravines, are strewn with Austrian dead, and many units' have been annihilated; North o'f Stropko ou Monday night the enemy made six attacks in massed formation, and were dispersed on every occasion. Finally the Russians charged u'itli the bayonet and o Willi row tlic Austrians, who suffered considerable defeatjilso ou the roads to Haliez aud Stanislaw.

MR ASQUITH'S SPEECH. AMERICAN OPINION* NEW YORK, March 3. American 'opinion is highly critical of Mr Asquilh 's declaration, and many regard it as tantamount to a.paper blockade. The New York Times and' Tribune consider the Government ought to try and hold the Allies to the;ac-,-copted .forms of blockade, in the interests of neutrals. .•.;.'■■ ! ■■':..-,,

erpus. Of the fl\c hundncd W'orccstcrs only two huudied uuno'uiidcd answered the roll tall, and of the 2400 Britishers only 800 wcio alive next .morning. . Ghpluvclt pi overt the "Kaiser's last I hope for leaching Calais.. - ■: ,■.

; REOENT; NAVAL BATTLES, " 'ADMIRALS' DESPTCHES. | ;• V Received March 3, Co -p.m. ' •■ LONDON, March 3, 'Admiral- Slui'dco's and Admiral Beal'ty 'a 'despatches have ten issued, Roar-Admiral Bcally states that his squadron reached- a speed of 28j| knots. Particular credit was due to the engineers of 11.M.5. Now Zealand and Indomitable., The only ships hit were the' Lion and the Tiger. Vice-Admiral Sturdco reports thut prisoners state that six hundred, of the Giieisewiu ■'» crew irero hilled and wounded when their animuuiliou was expended.- '■; '

THE BATTLE 01' THE I'ALKLANDS.

ADMIRAL STURDEE'S REPORT.

Received.March 3, 1J.15 p.m. . ' LONDON, March 1

Vice-Admiral Sturdee's despatch slates Unit the (Inoisennu aiid NiirnlJeJ'g were sighted eight miles away, and'two oilier of the enemy twenty jniles away. The (iiieisennii and Nurnberg approached wiffi ihcii: guns trained on the wireless station until the Canopus opened' lire across the lowland at eleven thousand, yards. They soQiued about to attack the Kent when the Invincible and Inflexible were sighted, ately the enemy altered their course and speeded to join their consorts,

The British left the harbour lit !).-lf> ii.iii.; the sea was culm, and there was ;i bright, clear, light breeze. By eleven the. enemy's funnels and bridges were just above the horizon, The Bristol and the Macedonia were detached to destroy three transports, reported at Tort Pleasant. The enemy still maintaining their distance, I decided to attack with the Invincible, Indexible, and Glasgow, and opened lire at 12.17 |i.iu, at 1fi,500 yards. The Liopzig turned south-west with the Niirnberg and the Dresden, and the Kent and the Glasgow following. The battle-cruisers chasing the Schamhorst and the Gneisenau, forced them to return our lire at 1.30 p.m. The enemy at two o'clock turned ten points.to starboard, and there was a second chase until they were forced to open lire at -.55 p.m., when the Schamhorst was a/ire forward. This was not serious, though her lire slackened perceptibly, and she turned at .1.30 p.m. for the purpose of bringing her starboard guns into action. The effect of our lire was now appalcut. At times a shell would cause a hole to appear in her sides, tnroiigli .vhiih could be seen the duil red glow of Humes. At four o'clock the Seharnliorst, whose Hag was Hying to t/ie last, suddenly listed to port, and within a ■ninutu it was clear thai she was (loom'il. The list increased very rapidly until she lay on her beamends, and disappeared at l.l" p.m.

The (Ineisenau continued her determined but ineffective effort tu light Iwo battle-cruisers. One shell struck 'he Invincible at 5.10 p.m. and this was '.lie. Guciseiiaii's. last .effective effort. Sooivshe hud'a heavy list In starboaid, with steam pouring from llnV cs'c'ap'e pipes, and smoko from shell fires was everywhere, I ordered "Cease iirc," but tiic Giicisciutu reopened with a .duple gun, her Hag Hying, until 5,50 i.iii. The Gnciscnaii heeled over at ix o'clock very suddenly, showing.men withered on her decks, then walking on her side as she lay a minute on her beamends. The survivors had been irdcred to secure hammocks and other 'tollable articles, ami when she sank hove were probably two hundred unbounded on board, but. the shock of the •old water drowned many within sight •jf the boats.

Every eltorl was mafic to save life, t'he Invincible rescued 10S, Iml fourteen were dead lieforw they were got iboai'd. They were buried the following day with full military honours, .

Meanwhile the Glasgow, steaming ahead,. forced the Lelpsiz to alter her course, enabling the Cornwall to open' lire The Kent, owing to Hie excellent strenuous endeavours in the engineroom, got i»t» ''Ji'i'S l ' o! tll( ' Nurnbcrg :it live o'clock. The Nuruberg was ifirr at-fi.il p.m., and when-she sank at 7.20 a group of men were o-t her deck waving the German ensign. The. Kent had four men killed and twelve wounded, mostly caused by one shell. The Dresden escaped owing to the necessity of the Glasgow stopping the Lcipsiz. The weather changed at four o'clock, nid was cloudy, assisting the Dresden's escape.

Admiral Sturdoe adds that the olli-i-crs and men carried out the orders with' admirable elliciency and coolness. Sergeant Mayes, of Hie Kent, display-ed-conspicuous gallantry, worthy of .a medal. A shell burst and ignited the cordite charges in the casemate. A Hash of llame went down the hoist into the aniii'unition passage. Mayes picked up the charge of cordite, and threw it ;i\vay, and then Hooded the cumpartnient, saving a disaster that might have lost.the ship.

THE NORTH SEA TIGHT.

which ms fouflli in the liiiO, and .he Tiger opened liro at the ie,"i ship. The enemy lclurnod our lire at M- n.1,1" aud bdou tho Now Zealand was engaging the Bluclici, which had diopped aslcm nilh a heavy list. "Tlio Pimcess Bojnl Has attacking tlio thud ship iu tho line, winch by 9.13 am, Om cnnscis and destrojcis gradtiallj manccuvied away in 01 dei not to foul the battle eiubjcis' lauge with then smoke, but the enemy's dcstiojcis Ihicatcniug to attack the Mctcoi and M Diusiou passed ahead, Captain Mcndo liniidliug tho division with conspicuous, ability.-Tlio oueiny's destroyers emitted vast columns ol smoke (0 screen their battleships'..' ' .. •, ■. ■ ■ ■.■ .•'.' • .•'■*'■ • ■ Received *iareh..:d, 1,25 a.iji. , .'■ . LONDON, March;]);"'" "Under cover of the smoke the latter altered their course to,the .northward, increasing their.distance. Tho enemy's, destroyers attempted to.attack,'uut.tho' Lioii. and the Tiger.forced them to',.retire. Submarines, were reported at ltiAi a.m.,' mid the Lioii immediately .tjimed to .port, but asthe starboard engilibjwiis giv-. ing'trouble,owingto priming and was incapable of immediate repairs, I shifted my Hag to (!).nml went at full speed to rejoin the squadron, which was met at noon, retiring from tlic iioitli-npi,-, west. Captain Brock reported the.sink-, ing of the Bluchcr and that the eucmy's. battle .cruisers hail,gone.eastwards,. A Zeppelin and seaplanes endeavoured to ; drop bombs on the vessels which jwent, to the rescue of the survivors of the Bluchcr. The excellent steaming o,f the. British ships was a conspicuous feature of the action," ; . Aboard tI.M.S. New Zealand Eiiyi giiiei'i'-Coiunijiuder Turner and chief engine-room artificer. Band are . men- I tioiicd in despatches, and chief stokers James and Sims for distinguished service medals. , . ', , ■ i

HOW THE BABY-KILLERS WERE - PUNISHED. Received, March' ii, 11.55 p.m. LONDON, March 3. , Itear-'Adiuirnh Beatly reports: "Wc ivCre pkiiol'liny at daybreak with the light cruisers Southampton, Nottingham; Birmingham, and Lowealol't disposed to' port, til' the battle cruisers, witi) the Arc'tlmsa, Aurora, Undaunted, ami the destroyer flotillas ahead, A Hash of guns was cMrved at 7.25 a.mw and the Aurora reported that she was engaging the enemy. I altered the cotir.so and increased the speed to twenty-two knots.■ Throughout the fight the light cruisers maintained touch with the enemy,.and kept inWully informed. They were ready to attack and vessel which might fall out of the enemy's line. .'

THE AMERICAN NOTE. , ,

WIIAT Til UI'OWMS ARE PREPARED TO UO.. ~ ,

Received March 11, 8 p.m. LONDON, March 3,

Renter's Amsterdam eorrespoiidcut stales that the American Note of February L'2nd proposes that within gunlire of a liarbour a submarine shall not attack merchantmen, except for the purpose of search,'' Britain lias agreed not to hold up foodstuffs addressed to agencies in Germany whicli distribute

exclusively to the'civil population. Germany replies lliat she is prepared not to employ drifting mines, mid submarines will only' be employed in search. She lias suggested that the regulation re food supplies is generally acceptable, but should include fodder ami raw material for manufactures.

SOUTH AFRICAN REBELLION.

REPORT AS TO ITS' CAUSE. CAPETOWN, March 3. • Mr Jlcrlzog, in lb« Assembly, vehemently protested against martial law and the gagging of free speech. Mi Burton (Minister for Railways ami Harbours), asked Mr jlcrtzog who it was that whispered "treason" into, the ears of the people, If Mr Hcrtzog had, lie said, done his duty as'a patriot, the recent state of affairs would have been avoided. The Government, hitherto had been lenient in tho hopb of avoiding trouble, but would not be so in the future, , PETORIA, March ? ? The ollicial report shows that the rebellion was chiefly due to the prophecies of \'aura)sbitrg,,w!io was captured* on October !llst. V.iurciisburg states that he saw in a vision six bulla' fighting a grey bull. The latter, which was victorious, represcntpd Germany. In another ho saw -10,000 Germans marching through London; Beyers and Kemp freely circulated stories of tho'visiou. Beyers arranged a complete rising on September 15th, -and playing on Be la Rcy's religious mifteplibililics, iirged the, rebels to seize' 1 Potchcfslroohi and the railway, Do la Key proceeded east and Beyers west to ; raise the rebellion, but Dc la Key was ncei'dcn'tally : shot that very night. Beyers' was a hypocritical traitor throughout. The vast majority of the rebels believed he was assisting the Government. DeW'cl' maintained the.campaign by the aid of the grossest lies and slaudcr against Botha and Smuts..'.

TREATY RiaHTS.

AGAIN JONOHISD 111' lUSHMANY:

GENEVA, March-2,

In deference' to the Government's wishes the French have removed ,a bat-, lerv-Hint has been placed close to-the. Swiss, frontier. The Treaty'of-Vienna, prohibits fortifications within teiiiniles' of Basle; nevertheless the (jpriwiiis maintain heavy fortifications i|"ud ,contin no' to construct treuclfts to within a mile of Basle. ' - •'''

ULYDK SIIUKERS liEfiUim , LONDON, .March. 2. Tlic Clyde strikers 'have decided to resume work. '! The Kiiig'.guyo an audience lb. Sir George Askwith : for the purpose of discussing tho labour disputes, ■ ■ •

THE MINE PERIL,

PARIS,. March 2.

A. mine exploded on the ebast at' Kierikzcc; Diitch'' Zcelaud, killim,'; iivo civilians..'. Another mine exploded at West Capcllc..;. ■; ■

A SPI'PUNISHED,

PARIS, Mttrc^S,

Madame' llcycux has been c,ourtiiiarliullcd and sentenced to tv/OJity years' dcteutiun for espionage, MUTINOUS GERMAN SOLDIERS^ '/PARIS, Maftli \ '-•/< Prague "telegram's state that th 6 Hist' Czech Jlegliiioiit' refused to jjfy.ty; llciiv arid \ mutinied. All tho'-suporioK; ofllecrs and many, junior officers' Wei'O. massacred!"'* This jnutinccr3';w|rA' , ;'sjib;f jcctcdilqierriblo; reprisals.- .Jtpin)iauts; of the rpgi)pcnt, : li'avo,been-Beiit to the,

T '.'The wind was light,. with extreme visibility/ and the enemy wm'c stci'.iu-. iug'fast, steeling- south-east,' lit a distance of. fourteen, miles... We settled down to-.a loiig stern.chase, and hy.uiue o'clock iwcwcrc within twenty thousand -'yards' of. thfurcai' ship. The Lion, mado the;opciiiug-'hit/..as'-the Bluchdr (i

[ m VARIOUS,!'™ 'g \ PARIS, March 2, [Kfnm Salab Eddltio, Sudan's ugpliow, evhoitcd tlio Sultau to wcl;| couio tlio British and Fieneh as libou tot* and conclude peace tonus «t tlio' caihest moment in uidoi to a,i\o Tm fiom a catasliophc , ' COPENHAGEN, Maicl^S. Mi Asquilh's statement has" caused .1 fyc.it Impicssioii 'ln business (neks it is calculated to wipo out the turns' ppit tiadc and isolate noutials < ■Albert Jensen, tlio migloadoi in the epppdr affair, lias boon scutoncod to 00 ; days' imprisonment.' • ' ;£■:',■■ . ; ■ LONDON,, March li. "hi the House of-Commons the ltight Hon. EL; Samuel, in roply. to aquosjtiou, said ■ there were 05,000 Belgian ; ii|cn: and, 00,000 women, • and 'IO,OOO ciiildroii' in Englnnd, besides 18,000 womidod 'aud.ionyalcseoiit sohjioa'.,'.' ■.'>:'• /" 'NEW YOKKi March' 2.''• '•/ The Now York Herald states that the Allies' retaliatory meWcs arc 'the logical and inevitable' result of" Gcrjitiiiiy's'previous actioni , The paper adds':'-"The Allies will light the devil ' with lire, while .conforming to tljo'dictates of humanity."

.'.; , AMSTERDAM, March 2. ■'./•A Zeppelin flying over Cologne was destroyed in n-storm. - The ereirwere saved, .'".. '",'.'"" ,