ACTION OFF FLEMISH COAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16538, 14 May 1917, Page 6

ACTION OFF FLEMISH COAST

STORY FOR GERMAN PUBLIC BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK. Australian t ana ; N.Z. Cable' Association. r (Received 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 13. A German naval official report says:— German light forces in Hooeden. on May 10 sighted .at 5.40 a.m., eastward of. the Noord- Hinder lightship, three small modern English cruisers and four destroyers. An engagement developed in the direction of the Flemish coast, and continued to the Thornton Bank, where the enemy was held back by our artillery. Our fire caused an explosion in an enemy destroyer, which sank. Wo advanced on the enemy, who made full speed towards the distant cruisers, the enemy disappearing to tho northwards. Wo suffered neither damage nor losses. The British Admiralty assorts that the facts published on May 10 have not been altered by the German attempt at distortion. The British report published on Saturday stated that a light cruiser and defrayers sighted 11 German destroyers. They immediately closed and opened fire. Tho onemv made off at full speed under cover of a dense screen of smoke. The British ships chased them for 80 minutes, and engaged them at long range, but were unable to overtake them. Four of the British destrnvers chased the 11 German ships to within range of the gun at Zeebragge. The only British casualty was one man slightly "wounded. The enemy destroyers wore seen to be hit. FIRING AT LONG RANGE. GERMAN SUBMARINE HIT. A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON. May 11. The Amsterdam newspaper Telegraaf states that the German destroyers engaged on Thursday left Zeebruggc on Wednesday evening. The British hit a submarine in addition to some of the destroyers. The correspondent of the Daily Chronicle at an East Coast port states that the men of Commander Tyrwhitt's flotilla were disappointed that a single shot from a British gun made the Germans run for home. Although they were firing at long range they are convinced that they registered many hits on the enemy vessels. Some of the gunners declare that four enemy ships were so badly hit that they will be of little use for some time. GERMAN SLAVE SYSTEM. RULE IN OCCUPIED FRANCE. FLOGGING AND CONFINEMENTAustralian and N.Z. Cablo Association. .Received 7.15 p.m.) PARIS. May 12. A decree issued in 1915 by tho German commandant in charge of the administration of 25 communes in the St. Quentin region has just been discovered. It directed that all workmen and children over 15 years of age were to be compelled to work in the fields seven days weekly and that idlers were to be punished by imprisonment for six months in gaol where they were to receive only bread and water on every third day. Children "shirking" work were to be flogged. The commandant reserved the right to administer twenty strokes daily on all labourers " shirking" The decree concluded with a statement that labourers in the commune of Veudelles had been severely punished. UNITY OF BRITISH PEOPLES GENERAL SMUTS'S SPEECH. VALUE OF WAR CONFERENCE. A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON. May 11. The freedom of Manchester was to-day conferred on General Smuts, Minister for Defence in South Africa. In reply, ho said that he had never been so hopeful of Africa solving the race problem and building up a great white community. He was sure that the Imperial Conference would become a landmark in the Empire's history. He at first doubted the wisdom of summoning the conference in war time, but from what he had seen lie was convinced that it would produce the greatest results. The experiences of tho delegates at the conference would assist them to appreciate Britain's difficulties and assist to build up the spirit of unity and cooperation in order to surmount the troubles ahead in the same spirit. The result would be a stronger commonwealth of the nations of the Empire. INTER-IMPERIAL TRADE. TWELVE NEW COMMISSIONERS (Received 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The Manchester Guardian states that the Board of Trade is appointing 12 additional Imperial Trade Commissioners to cooperate with the Dominion Governments in the promotion of inter-Imperial trade. MISSION*OF THE EMPIRE. LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. . LONDON. May 11. Mr. Lloyd George has sent the following Empire Day message to the Overseas Club:— " Recent meetings of the Imperial War Conference and War Cabinet have brought homo to me and every thinking citizen the unique character of the Empire, which is founded not only/on the freedom of the individual but on the autonomy of its parts, and is yet able to unite into one commonwealth peoples and natives varying immensely in race, language, religion Mid colour. No doubt with its new spirit and remodelled institutions tho Empire will take a leading place in ensuring liberty and justice the world over after victory over the greatest militarist autocracy ever known has been finally won." REWARDS FOR GALLANTRY. AUSTRALIAN V.C. A POSTHUMOUS HONOUR. A. and' N.Z. Cable. LONDON. May 11. The Government Press Bureau states that the Victoria Cross has been awarded to Captain P. H. Cherry, of the Australian forces, for bravery, determination, and leadership in commanding a company detailed to storm and clear a village. All the other officers of tho company were hit, and Captain Cherry carried on with determination in the face of fierce opposition, and cleared the village. He frequently reported progress when stopped by the enemy at strong points. He organised machine-gun and bombing parties in the captured position, setting a wonderful example to his mm. Next he beat off resolute, heavy counter-attacks. When wounded early in the morning this very gallant officer refused to leave his • post, and encouraged his men. Ho was killed in tho evening by a shell. NEW ZEALAND AWARDS. SEVEN MILITARY MEDALS. ' "; LONDON. May 11. J,. Seven . ■ New. 7 Zealajiders K havo : ' ; been • awarded the Military Medal ':!'':'•*"

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