GERMAN VESSELS SEIZED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 8

GERMAN VESSELS SEIZED.

SHIRE LINER DOGGED.

London, August 9.

Tho British cruiser Vindictive captured the North - German Lloyd steamer Schlesien, a vessel of 5536 tons, outward bound from Brisbane. Eight of the crew of the Schlesien, which was taken to Plymouth, were wounded and died in Shotley Hospital.

Thirty-four North German Lloyd vessels were seized at Antwerp on Friday.

It. is reported that a German cruiser is dogging the Federal Shire liper Durham from Lyttelton to Bristol, in the vicinity of Las Palmas.

The Durham left Lyttelton on June 16 and, Rio de Janiero a month later. THE' VESSELS INVOLVED. Tho Vatovlnnd is one of the largest steamers afloat. She was built in 1913 at Hamburg by Blohm and Voss for the Hamburg-Amerika Line. She is of 56,000 tons gross, with a length of 948 ft, breadth 98ft 4in, and a depth of 101 ft 7in. Tho vessel has a carrying capacity of 12,000 tons, and carries a crew of 1234 all told. The Yaterland has accommodation for 2000 passengers, and is a sister ship to the Imperator. On her , trials she attained a speed of 26 knots.

The Durham is a vessel of 5760 tons gross, and is owned by the Federal-Shiro Line. Sho waa built in 1904 at Newcastle by, Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co., Ltd. The Durham has visited Auckland on' various occasions, when engaged in the passenger and cargo service between Liverpool and Now Zealand ports. She had up to quite recently been employed solely in the trade between Liverpool and Australian ports. The Durham came to New Zealand in June, and loaded 1 at Southern ports for West of England ports.