GERMAN PIRATE CRUISERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16239, 24 November 1914, Page 5

GERMAN PIRATE CRUISERS.

FOR STREWING MINES IN LINERS' ROUTES.

PROPOSED SUBMARINE BASE.

LONDON, November 22. (Received Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.)

The Daily Mail's Copenhagen correspondent reports that the cruiser Berlin is bound from Wilhelmshafen for Iceland and thence south to attack British transAtlantic liners. Another cruiser i 6 reported td be going to Iceland with the same object. It is understood that the Berlin is equipped for strewing mines on the Atlantic routes and also provisioning depots suitable for submarines at uninhabited Norwegian islands.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY.

THE GERMAN FORCES.

A QUESTIONABLE PROCEEDING,

AMERICAN AUTHORITIES

INQUIRING,

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Nov. 22, (Received Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.)

The steamer Sacramento has arrived at Valparaiso. She reports that she was seized by a German warship and taken to the Juan Fernandez Island, where she was obliged to transfer her cargo of 6000 tons of coal. The Chilian authorities are investigating the affair.

The American authorities previously detained the Sacramento on passing San Francisco, as they were not satisfied with the statement as to the destination of the cargo. They questioned the vessel's transfer to the American registry, but eventually allowed her to proceed.

The Sacramento brought to Valparaiso the crew of the French barque Valentina, which the Dresden sank.

FRACAS IN ALIEN CAMP,

SENTRIES USE THEIR RIFLES,

TWENTY CASUALTIES REPORTED,

LONDON, November 23. (Received Nov. 23, at 9.40 p.m.)

A regrettable affray occurred at the alien camp at Douglas (Isle of Man), -where 4000 German and Austrian civilians are interned. They are guarded by 300 National Reservists and Manx Territorials. Everything was satisfactory until the arrival of the latest batch of prisoners, when insubordination commenced, the prisoners insulting the sentries and- refusing to obey orders. Finally complaints about the food resulted in violent scenes in the dining pavilion, knives and plates being thrown about and chairs smashed. A party of prisoners tried to rush the kitchen, but a fe\/ soldiers barred the passage. At first the soldiers fired in the air, and then it was necessary to shoot in earnest. The prisoners mostly held up their handsj while others sought to flee. Five were killed and 15 wounded.

CHANGING UNITS AT THE FRONTS

BENEFITING THE TROOPS.

LONDON, November 23.

(Received Nov. 23, at 9.40 p.m.)

The Daily Telegraph publishes an article by an American who was recently in Berlin and had ample opportunities to study the situation. He states that 68 army corps were mobilised, each of 43,000 men, and that 2,000,000 volunteers are ready to fill up the gaps. The Germans are continually changing the units at the two fronts. They find, that the journey rests the men, and that change of scene prevents them from getting "stale."

(Received Nov. 23, at 11.10 p.m.)

The German losses total 950,000, of whom many have already Tejoined the fighting line. The chief German trouble is the scarcity of rubber, copper, and saltpeftre, and it is probable that the failure of ammunition will render it impossible to continue the war on the present scale after June. They mean to keep Belgium as a final asset with which to negotiate peace. For the same reason it is unlikely that they will risk the fleet in an action. The military authorities are convinced that they can counter Russia owing to their mobility through the strategic' railways. If the Thorn-Breslau line is forced they can defend the Oder.