ANOTHER ENEMY HAUL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17191, 19 December 1917, Page 5

ANOTHER ENEMY HAUL

SIX MERCHANTMEN SUNK.

ALSO ESCORTING VESSELS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 17.

(Received Dec. 18, at 8.50 p.m.j . Sir Eric Geddes, in the House of Commons, stated that one British and five neutral merchantmen en route for Norway were attacked on the 12th inst., and the six. were sunk. One destroyer and four armed trawlers escorting them were also, sunk.

\. FULLER DETAILS

AN INQUIRY PROCEEDING.

SUPPORT VESSELS' NON-ARRIVAL. LONDON, December 17. . (Received.Dec. 18, at 10.45 p.m.) Sir Eric Geddes said the convoy was bound from Scotland, and aggregated 8000 tons. It was projected by an anti-sub-marine escort consisting of the two destroyers Partridge and Pellew and four armed trawlers. For some unexplained reason the force sent by the Commander-in-Chief to secure the convoy against attack by surface vessels did not reaqh. the scene of action in time to prevent the convoy's destruction. A second convoy, which was also being covered, was not attacked. Admiral Sturdee was presiding over an inquiry into the circumstances.

The Partridge sighted four enemy detroyers at about 11.45 on the morning of the 12th. The Pellew* and Partridge engaged the enemy, while the convoy scattered. Shortly after the engagement began the Pellew observed that the Partridge was heavily hit, and a little later saw an explosion and the vessel sank. About this time the Pellew was holed on the water-line. The engine-room filled with steam, and the engines were partially disabled, but she safely reached port. ;■ The enemy then attacked the convoy, and the •six merchantmen and four armed trawlers were sunk. Eighty-six Scandinavians, two of whom were women, and 10 British survivors were rescued by four destroyers despatched at full speed from the cruiser squadron which was hastening to the scene. Other survivors reached Norway in their own boats. One trawler's crew was saved in its own boat. The Pellew had. one officer and three men killed, and two seriously injured. A report from Kiel states that three officers and 21 of the Partridge's crew, and 26 of the crews of the trawlers, have arrived there, and 10 of these were wounded.

SURVIVORS' STATEMENTS. VISCOUNT GREY'S NEPHEW A PRISONER. COPENHAGEN, December 18. (Received, Dec. 19, at 1.15 a.m.) Survivors of the sunken, convoy state that the Partridge sank in 10 minutes. Her crew continued to serve the guns until, she sank. The merchantmen sunk were the Norwegian BolMa and King Magnus, the Danish Maracaibo, and the Swedish Bothnia and Thorleif. Four ' German cruisers, with destroyers, participated. The Germans offered to ''rescue the neutrals, but the latter refused to enter Ger man ships. • .

Lieutenant Grey, nephew of the exForeign Minister, sulvcommander of the Partridge, was wounded and taken prisoner. . \ '