NORTH SEA CONVOY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9870, 16 January 1918, Page 5

NORTH SEA CONVOY

THE DECEMBER DISASTER ESCORT AND ADMIRAL BEATTY EXONERATED. By Telegraph—Pre«a Association —Copyrißbl Eeuter’a Telegram*. (Received January 15, 11-35 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. .Sir Eric Geddes, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that the Admiralty confirmed the finding of the Court of Inquiry that the escorting vessels did their best to protect the Scandinavian convoy which was destroyed by enemy raiders in the North Sea in December. The escort fought in a proper seamanlike manner, covering the forces, and took all possible steps to come to their assistance and prevent the escape of tho enemy. The board was of opinion that tho circumstances preventing the covering forces arriving in time were unpreventible. Admiral Beatty’s disposition was the best possible with tho available forces. STEAMER TEXAN SUNK WIRELESS MESSAGE PICKED UP. liy Telegraph—Press Association— I Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Aaaodatlou. NEW YORK. January 14. A vessel which has arrived at an Atlantic port reports that she picked up a wireless message from the steamer Texan stating: “Wo are struck amidships. We are lowering the lifeboats. Good-bye. No more.” (Received January 15, 5.6 p.m.) WASHINGTON. January 14. It is now ascertained that the Texan, which wirelessed sinking at sea, collided with another steamship. The Texan is a vessel of 8615 tons, built at New York in 1902 for the Amerioan-Hawaiian Steamship Cornpay. NEW YEAR JN_ TRENCHES GERMANS SEEK TO FRATERNISE. DISPLAY FOR ANZACS. Eeuter’a Telegrams. LONDON, January 4. Reuter’s representative at British Headquarters states that the Germans attempted to fraternise on New Year’s Eve with the British soldiers. During the dav they displayed messages,- which were lifted above the parapet. One- of these, intended for Australian consumption, suggested that as the Germans were giving the Russians peace, perhaps the Anzacs would also be glad of peace. The appearance of the message was followed by a burstof firing, which shattered tho board on which the notice had been posted. Subsequently, about midnight, the Germans flung a large number of grenades,, accompanied" by a barrage and machine-gun firing;. . They, ,aW'sent up a very fine display of lights of all colours along the whole length of i the front, and a tremendous bass voice roared three times, “A Happy New Year. Australia,” ALL FORJTHE STATE U.S. PREPARATION. Eeuter’a Telegrams. VANCOUVER, January 4. A Washington message states that Mr MoAdoo. Controller of Railways, has announced that hundreds of passenger trains on railroads west of tho Mississippi will be withdrawn from service soon. Many offices in the west will bo closed in the unification plan. All efforts will be centralised for Government business; >’ Russia’s rejection of Germany’s peace terms and tho President’s messages to Congress have clarified tho railroad situation and have sent stocks up. LO! THE_POOR INDIAN HOW HE LOVES THE GERMAN. Eeuter’a Telegram*. LONDON, January 4. In connection with the report that tho Germans at Brcst-Ditovsk claimed that the natives in German colonies were whole-heartedly loyal. Commandant de Givrieux,. writing in “Le Matin,” points out that Gorman official figures show that German frightfulness reduced the population of Togoland from 2,500,000 to a little over 1,000,000 in 17 years. He also emphasises that the Gormans in South-West Africa, when they surrendered, begged to he allowed to retain their arms, because they feared they would he massacred by their native auxiliaries. VON LUDENDQRFF’S DREAM TG ANTICIPATE AMERICAN OPERATIONS. By Teloaraph—Pros* Association— Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, January 14. -M. Marcel Htitin, writing in the “Elcho do Paris,” states that he believes tho Germans will endeavour to exert pressure on the Franco-British front generally, hut the real offensive will be on the two wings, the first from St.- Mihiel to the Swiss frontier, the second from Armentieres to tho sea., Tho strategic plan is to take advantage of the St. Mihiel spur, and so to manoeuvre the two wings as to bring about a general descent upon Paris. This is von Ludendorff’s dream, to impose peace before the Americans get to work.