SECOND EDITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15832, 1 February 1915, Page 6

SECOND EDITION.

COASTAL SHIPS ATTACKED

A GERMAN SUBMARINE.

REACHES IRISH SEA.

BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK

CREWS LEAVE IN BOATS

(Received February 1. 2 a.m.)

London, January 31

The German submarine U2l torpedoed the coastal steamer Bencruachan, of 3092 tons, belonging to the Morrison Shipping Company, early on Saturday morning. The Bencruachan was then 21 miles from the mouth of the River Lune.

The crew of the steamer were given ten minutes to take to the boats and then the Bencruachan was blown up. A fishing smack picked up the crew.

The submarine intercepted the s!eamer Lindabanchc, bound from Liverpool to Belfast, at noon. She hoisted the German flag, and the officers, speaking English, boarded the steamer and ordered two small boats to be lowered- The crew got away in the boats, and the Germans then fixed a mine to the Lindabanches bridge, and another to the forecastle. The vessel was reduced to a complete wreck in five minutes.

The Germans told tho crew of a trawler to go in a certain direction, and they duly picked up the crew of the ill-fated steamer.

It is reported *that a third vessel was blown up two hours later.

The steamer Graphic, from Belfast, which has arrived at Liverpool, reports that a submarine chased her. She outdistanced the enemy. The officers also state that they had seen the wreckage of a vessel and that another vessel foundered while a German submarine was alongside.

The river Lune flows into Lancaster Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea, at Lancaster, to which town it is navigable for seagoing vessels.