NEUTRAL SHIP TORPEDOED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16265, 26 June 1916, Page 6

NEUTRAL SHIP TORPEDOED.

NO WARNING GIVEN. (Received June 25, 7 p.m.) LONDON. „ JUNE 24. Copenhagen reports state that an Austrian submarine ineffectually chased the Norwegian steamer Rauma in the Mediterranean. A German submarine suddenly appeared and torpedoed the Rauma without' warning. "The crew have arrived at Bergen. The Norwegian steamer Rauma, 'of 3047 ton?, >#as built at . Middlesborough in 1895, for Andrew Olsen, of Bergen. RUSSIA'S LEGIONS. YOUNG AND VIGOROUS. CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. A well-known British war correspondent,after a visit to the Russian front, just before the - present successful offensive, said: — " I have seen the strength of the main positions and the ease with which our allies hold them. They outnumber the enemy and are far superior in morale. I have seen what masses of magnificent troops are held in reserve. As the guest first of an infantry division and then of cavalry corps I nave seen these troops both at dose quarters and at field exercises in open country. They are young, vigorous, and eager. Their equipment is complete and their instruction thorough. It is easy to understand after seeing them the dieery confidence at the approaching discomfiture of the enemy which is felt all along the front. Everywhere are the same large quantities of highly effective reserves held at strategic positions. "' Tell England,' said the chief of the staff of the army as he was leading us, ' exactly what you have "seen. We" want our allies to know how well prepared we are now.' As we talked the guns began, and' I saw shrapnel bursting above and round an enemy aeroplane driving it away. '"In all recent engagements the Russian troops have easily proved their su-' periority. When the moment arrives to advance we shall not .stop until we have driven them from every foot of Russian territory.' That certainly prevails everywhere I have been. Those in closest* touch with the enemy—officers of the regiments I have visited in the trenches— the most confident of all." SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. ENEMY BASES IN SPAIN. The extensive manner in which the Germans continue to utilise the Mediterranean coast of Spain is exemplified by a statement made by M; Andre Tudesq in the Journal, that between Barcelona and Gibraltar there are no fewer than 30 petrol depots or wireless stations. The former, with the aid of Spanish fishing smacks, supply the German submarines, while the wireless installations keep them informed concerning the movements of the allied warships and trading vessels. ! At. Barcelona, the chief of the submarine supply service is Herr Deutsch, who keeps an oil and benzine store and makes no secret of his .commerce. Enemy submarines are frequently .to be seen off the Spanish coast, on the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Mediterranean, filling up their tanks with fuel from sailing vessels. At Casta Antunez, a mile and a-half from Barcelona, the commander of a German submarine recently came ashore in a motor-boat. _ He was in- mufti, and dined at the German tavern Sport with Baron i Austmann, a German Consular official, and Herr Hoffer, the organiser of German pro- I paganda in Catelonia. Twenty-four hours later a German U boat sunk without warning two British merchant shins, the Angus and Horlock Head, in Spanish . territorial waters.- A rough sea was running, but the German commander refused to take the Horlock Head's boats in tow. " Impossible,", he replied, "we must wait-here for two other English cargo boats."- J