OTAKI FIGHTS MOEWE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9623, 31 March 1917, Page 7

OTAKI FIGHTS MOEWE

GREAT BATTLE OUTSIDE CAPETOWN CAPTAIN, MATE AND ENGINEER KILLED (Received -March 30, 10.45 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 3P. Twenty-two neutral sailors have arrived from Germany from the Moowe's victims. They state that many neutrals were captured on armed British ships. The Moowc met on Starch 10th tho armed British steamer Otaki outside Capetown. A violent battle took place. Six of the Moewe’s crow wore killed before tho Otaki was sunk. A fire broke out on the Moewe and raged for throe days. The Mocwe was hit seven times. Tho Qtaki’s captain, mate, engineer, and one or two sailors were killed. Tho Moewe’s hold was full of prisoners—nearly >6OO. MINED OFF SOUTH AFRICAN COAST BRITISH TRANSPORT'S EXPERIENCE MEN CALMLY PARADED ON DECK. VESSEL SAVED BY SKILL AND GALLANTRY OF OFFICERS AND CREW. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, March 28. A Press Bure all report states: The transport Tyndareus (11.000 tons), with a battalion of the, Middlesex Regiment aboard, struck a mine on. February 9th off Capo Agulhas. A strong soutn-easterly galo was blowing, and tho transport began to settle after tho explosion, her propellers showing. The men paraded in perfect order, and tho roll was called. After the order “Stand easy!” was given, tho whole battalion sang. Two steamers were dispatched to tho rescue, and arrived in half ah hour. Although faced with tho probability of imminent death, the troops maintained the same steadfast courage And discipline. Tho incident occurred in tho vicinity where tho Birkenhead was lost. Thanks to the devotion and perseverance of the captain, officers, and engineers, the ship was saved, and reached Simonstown under her own stennv, with two holds flooded and another leaking, and the troops wero landed. His Majesty the King expressed his deep admiration of all ranks in upholding the cherished tradition of tho Birkenhead. Capo Agulhas is tho southernmost point of South Africa, and Simonstown is' a naval station twenty miles south of Capetown. The troopship Birkenhead, on February 26th, 1852, struck upon a rock. off Simons Bay, and of 638 persons on .board only 184 were saved; 454 of tho crow and soldiers perished. The troops formed at the word of command, and went down at their posts, having pUti tho women and children in the;boats. URGENT NEED FOR MORE MEN MILITARY SERVICE BILL INTRODUCED IN COMMONS TO SAVE CAMPAIGN FROM BEING- JEOPARDISED. CASUALTIES IN COMING OFFENSIVE EXPECTED TO BE VERY HEAVY . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, March 29. The Government in the House of Commons, brought down the Military Service Bill, to enable it to review the cases cl all the men of military ago previously exempted on tho ground, of rejection due to ill-health, or discharged from the Army aud Navy. ' Mr Bonar Law, in in traducing the measure, said the difficulty of apportioning men for tho Army and essential industries was greater than ever. It was hoped that tho arrangements made last autumn would give the requisite men for the campaign as then arranged, but the homo requirements, wore so pressing that these expectations were not fulfilled, and the. Army’s needs wero obliged to give way, chiefly due to the urgency of food; production and shipbuilding. The recruits since tho New Year were a hundred thousand below the estimate. Some of the shortage was made up by weeding out men fit for the trenches from the men behind thcOinc. Tho authorities considered that unless tho deficiencies wore fully made up the prospects of the coming campaign would bo seriously jeopardised. The bill enables the authorities to deal with a million men, and it is estimated that a hundred thousand will be forthcoming during tho next three months. ; LONDON, March 29. Mr Bonar Law proceeded to say 'that every fit man should be in the fighting line unless required for national purposes. The casualties this year had been less than wore anticipated ; the casualties in' the prospective fighting will bo terrible. Mr J. H. Hogge (Liberal, Edinburgh East) moved the rejection until the Government undertook to provide pensions, for all men medically passed for tho Army in order to ensure adequate examination. Mr Asquith pointed out that as tho bulk of the prospective 100,000 had already been rejected there was increased risk of unfit men passing appealing to the Government to see that they were treated generously regarding pensions. Mr Bonar Law pointed out that pensions had been refused!, only to men taken into the Army quite unfit, and had perhaps done no service. He promised to communicate with the War Office with .ia view to ensuring an examination so strict that there would not be any risks of unfits passndg.

GERMAN ' DEMAND FOR SUPREMACY OF PEOPLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, March 29. . The Socialists in the'Reichstag put forward a series of demands, including ono that the Reichstag shall control the making and breaking-oif of alliances making for peace or war, and that the Chancellor shall be dismissed if tho Reichstag demands. Proportional representation votes, for all men and women at Parliamentary elections, and the abolition of all Upper Houses are also demandedON RUSSIAN FRONTS AN OFFICIAL REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. All), and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Eeuter. LONDON, March 29. A Russian official report states; Enemy attacks northward of Stanislau and south-Aest of Brzezany .were repulsed. Onr counter-attacks southward of the rivers Oussa and Tchabanioch were unsuccessful. HUNNISHMROCITY the deepest depths yet REACHED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PHILADELPHIA, March 29. Albert Staub, a Red Cross Director, says that spies have placed poisonous chemicals and ground glass in Red Cross bandages.

GERMANY’S TOOD TROUBLE APPARENTLY IN ITS LAST PHASE. By Telegraph—Preu Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, March 29. Reports from Holland state that Dr Batocki (Pood Dictator) informed the Reichstag Committee that it is necessary to seize all food and stock in Germany. THE UNSPEAKABLE HUN 500 YOUNG GIRLS SEIZED AS “LADY COMPANIONS." By Telegraph—Preu Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association NEW YORK, March 29. The “New' York Herald’s" correspondent art Paris says that 500 of tho prettiest girls in Roisel were dragged from their homes on the 16th inst., and sent to Maubenge as “orderlies and lady companions for the German Staff.” MACEDONIA FRENCH SUCCESS REPORTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Au*. and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Beater. LONDON, March 29. A French communique from Macedonia states:—After Violent artillery preparation, the enemy attacked the trenches we captured on March, 26th at Ocrvenastend (F), but our barrage stopped the attack. Tho prisoners taken in the recent operations in the Monastic region total 2104.