MANY SUBMARINES MISSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16757, 25 January 1918, Page 5

MANY SUBMARINES MISSING.

GROWING ALARM IN GERMANY

AUSTRIAN SITUATION VEILED.

Further attacks have been made by aircraft upon the Goeben, lying beached in the Dardanelles. Two heavy bombs were dropped upon her by naval aircraft. The attacks are being continued. A report from Italy states that 22 German submarines were missing in December. The German Admiralty, in order to allay anxiety in naval circles, announced that they had been despatched to distant waters, and that all' hope had not been abandoned.. No news has been received from Austria since Friday. Messages from Genoa state the only mention of a collapse of the strike comes from Vienna, and that the temper of the people remains violent. The official newspaper of the Austrian Socialists states that the patience of the people Is exhausted, and that they can endure no longer. All classes are demanding peace, and the strikers are translating that wish into a definite act. There has been raiding and patrol activity on the British front. Several attempted enemy raids were repulsed in the neighbourhood of La Bassee and south of St. Quentin. The artillery has been active on the Cambrai and the Flanders fronts. Another extensive British air raid has been made into Germany, many bombs having been dropped en steel works at Thionville. An account of the most recent peace negotiations at Brest Litovsk, given 07 M. Trotzky, describes the Germans as making no secret of their annexation aims. They hope to seize Poland, Lithuania, and Courland, and to make Moon Island, in the Gulf of Riga, a new Gibraltar. M. Trotzky believes that a final decision will soon be reached by the conference. CONTINUOUS AERIAL ATTACKS UPON THE GOEBEN. BRESLAU AND CONSORT ENGAGED BY TWO DESTROYERS. RUNNING FIGHT UNTIL MINEFIELD WAS REACHED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. and Reuter. (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 23. The Admiralty announces: Our aircraft made further day and night attacks upon the Goeben and secured two hits with heavy bombs. They also bombed a tug alongside her. Anti-aircraft gunfire was encountered, but all the machines returned. The attacks are being continued. Details furnished by the Admiralty of the engagement with the Goeben and Breslafu show that the destroyer Lizard, while patrolling, sighted the Breslau and Goeben steaming north. The Lizard opened fire. The Goeben then sighted the monitors in Kusu Bay and engaged them, the Breslau continuing to engage the Lizard, which was pre- ' vented from closing to torpedo range by the enemy's accurate fire. The destroyer Tigress arrived, and both made an effort to cover the monitors with a smoke screen, but both monitors were hit and sunk. The destroyers followed the enemy. An explosion was observed' on the Breslau six miles south of Cape Kephali, on the island of Imbros, followed by three more explosions, and the vessel sank in ten minutes. The Goeben continued southwards. Four enemy destroyers were, then sighted coming out of the Dardanelles supported by an old Turkish cruiser. The Tigress and Lizard immediately engaged the enemy destroyers, which retired, one being repeatedly hit. Our aircraft forced the Goeben to.make for the Dardanelles. While turning she struck a mine. She steamed slowly, escorted by enemy seaplanes and destroyers. The Goeben was now so damaged that she steered for shore, and reached the end of Nagara Point. Admiralty, per Wireless. . LONDON, Jan. 23, A Turkish official message says: In an attack by the Goeben and Breslau upon British destroyers, they destroyed two monitors, a transport ship, a signal station, and numerous munition depots. The Breslau was mined and sunk. Australian and N." 5. and Renter. LONDON, Jan. 23. A German official message states' that the Goeben is not firmly aground, and asserts that she will be safely got off again. The Goeben was armed with ten llin guns and twelve 6in. The Breslau carried twelve 4.lin guns. Each was capable of developing a speed of 27 knots. . The Lizard and the Tigress both belong to the "I" class of destroyers, with a, speed of 27 knots, and each carrying two 4in guns and two 12-pounders. TWENTY-TWO SUBMARINES MISSING IN DECEMBER. ENEMY ANNOUNCE DESPATCH TO DISTANT WATERS. NEW TYPE OF SUBMERSIBLE CRUISER PREDICTED. Australian and N.Z. (Received 8.10 D.m.) ROME. Jan. 23. The Berne correspondent of the Agenzia Liberale states that 22 German submarines were missing in December. The German Admiralty, with a view to counteracting alarm in naval circles, has issued a statement that most of the missing vessels were sent to distant waters and hope has not been abanc PARIS, Jan. 23. It is rumoured that German submarines have been recalled to their bases in connection with the new spring campaign. The Petit Journal is of opinion that a fleet of so-called submersible cruisers is ready. French naval writers urge increased protection for troopships and cargo boats. Writing in a recent number" of the Naval and Military Record, Mr. Hector C. Bvwater formerly Berlin correspondent of that journal, stated that the increasing success of the British anti-submarine campaign in home waters rendered it certain that Germany would seek to evade the traps and snares which abound in the North Sea and the Channel by designing boats of a size, seaworthiness, and radius, sufficient to allow them to operate well beyond the narrow seas. There is reason to believe that the first units of this new typo were well under construction 18 months ago. The new submersibles, it is understood, can store enough oil to carry them 9000 miles or more, while thoy also have an abundant supply of torpedoes. Moreover-and this is not their least important feature—the living quarters have been greatly improved. Each member of the crew has almost double the amount of cubic space that could bo allotted in the earlier types, the ventilation is superior, and the broad decks enable the men to take plenty of exercise. Germany's hopes are running high, for she believes that her big cruising submersibles constitute a menace which it i« beyond the power of the allies to defeat. This, however, is not the opinion held in allied naval circles. That the big, ocean-going submersible cruiser may prove an awkward customer is admitted, but if she is detected when submerged, the large boat is equally at the mercy of the various devices which were first invented for the benefit of the small boat, and she is under the same disadvantage during the brief interval that must elapse between changing from submerged to surface trim German writers lay great stress on the formidable armament of the U-crmVrs which are reported to carry 6in guns. But it is doubtful whether tin guns have been mounted on any underwater craft vet built, for there are very grave technical difficulties to be overcome in mounting really heavy guns in submarines and the best-informed authorities do not accept the German, stone, on this point. It might be possible to devise an arrangement for carrying a gun of 6in bore, but it would have to bo a short, low-velocity weapon which would b e inferior in range to the standard 'Jin gun. 708 LIVES LOST FROM TWO TORPEDOED SHIPS Auatrahan and X.Z. ' >' m) LONDON. Jan. 2, • Dr T J McNamara, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, stated in the House of Commons that two ships had been torpedoed in the Mediterranean. The lives lost totalled 484 in the case of one ship, ' and 224 in chat of the other.