MINES AND SUBMARINES

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 21

MINES AND SUBMARINES

Ul2 RAMMED AND SUNK. 'LONDON, March 10. The Admiralty reports that the destroyer Ariel rammed and sank the German submarine Ul2. Her crew were taken prisoners. Official: The Ariel rescued 10 out of the crew of 28.

The radius of action of the German submarine Ul2 was 1000 miles. Her size was 650 tons, and her speed on the surface waa 14 knots, derived from an engine power of 1400 h.p. She had four torpedo lubes, and she mounted a- 141 b gun, besides two one-pounders.

SUBMARINE ACTIVITY. LONDON, March 11. A submarine w T as sighted off Dublin Bay.

Judging by the largeness of Ul2’s crew, ither the numbering of the submarines

has been altered to deceive Britain or Germany is training double crews.

Sixteen of the crew of the trawler Grisnez were landed at Newhaven. She met a German submarine off -Beachy Head, which signalled them to go aboard another trawler in the vicinity. Before the crew wore able to get out their boats the submarine opened fire, badly damaging one boat. Finally „a shot exploded the Qrisnez’s boiler, and she was left in a sinking condition. A large steamer appeared, and the submarine dived.

The Admiralty reports that since the Ist February 14 vessels have been unsuccess-

I fully subjected to submarine attack. There 1 were several narrow escapes. A SHIP CAPTAIN’S CLAIM. LONDON, March 10. Captain White, now in America, claims that the steamer Overdale sank a German submarine in the Irish Sea on New Year’s Day. The Overdale has since been drylocked at Queenstown (Ireland). It was hen found that two of her propeller lades had been stripped and that her dates had been damaged. BRITISH FAIR PLAY. LONDON, March 10. That British fair play in the observance -if international law is in direct conflict with our own interests is exemplified in two directions. The president of the Admiralty Court over-ruled the objections of the Attorney-general regarding a captured prize which contained 1000 tons of copper from the United States to Gothenburg (Sweden), though it was desired to requisisition it for arsenal purposes, and Britain was prepared to pay handsomely for it. The copper was for the use of contractors to the Swedish Government. The second instance was an announcement through the British Embassy in Washington that, in regard to the measures proposed to be taken in restricting enemy trade, the rights of neutral contractors would be respected to the extent that cotton, when consigned to neutral ports only, and providing that all engagements as to sale, freightage, and insurance were contracted before March 2, would be allowed free passage; or, if seized, compensation would be paid at the contract price. Periods of grace are being fixed within the current month, during which cargoes may be loaded and vessels desSatched. The announcement foreshadows irders-in-Council covering all trade passing through neutral channels. A BOMBASTIC ADDRESS. AMSTERDAM, March 10. The Reichstag was opened to-day. The Presidential address declared : “ From the Vosges to the Channel, from the Baltic to Bukovina, our armies are standing like a wall of steel. Brave Turks are guarding the Dardanelles, which the Anglo-French are vainly trying to conquer, and they are also threatening Egypt.” THE GERMAN BUDGET. BERLIN, March 11. The Budget estimates a surplus for the current year of £1,900,000, and asks for a credit of £500,000,000 to finance the war until late autumn. It sets out that the German finances are more favourable than those of the Allies, Britain’s being the only noteworthy • loan success. No policy of starvation or strangulation will Cut off Germany’s life-breath. An honourable peace may amply atone for all sacrifices, and the future will be Germany’s.

PRISONERS IN GERMANY. HOW THEY ARE HOUSED. LONDON, March 10. A Times correspondent who visited a prisoners’ camp in Germany learned that all prisoners are placed in the quarantine pen for a month and are then drafted into other pens, fenced to a height of 7ft, surmounted by barbed wire, and surrounded by buildings accommodating 250 men each. They are heated by coke stoves. The mattresses are filled with shavings, and blankets are scanty, the prisoners using their greatcoats as coverlets. Breakfast consists of coffee and bread ; the midday meal is a bowl of meat and potato soup, with black bread ; the evening meal is bread and potatoes. It *is impossible to purchase any extras, except soup, brushes, towels, and German dictionaries. The last-named are ridiculously cheap, being sold for 3d. An officer explained ; “ We want the Anglo-French to learn our. language and understand us better.” The clothing of many of the prisoners is pitiable. They are permitted to write one post-card weekly. An officer intimated that they would be employed in planting the crop in spring. He added thoughtfully: “ No doubt they will bo with us for the harvest.” Speaking in the House of Commons, the Hon. Neil Primrose (Under-secretary for the Foreign Office) said there was an inclination to exaggerate the harshness of treatment meted out to prisoners in Germany. Our wounded w’ere well treated, but the treatment on the battlefield and in the transit to Germany was harsh in many cases. There was reason to hope that Germany would accept the Government’s suggestion that an officer of the American Embassy should keep in touch with the prisoners. In the House of Commons the Hon. Neil Primrose said that in deference to the Pope's desires Germany had decided to release by exchange all civilian invalids. ATROCITIES IN FRANCE. PARIS, March 11. The second report of the commission inquiring into German atrocities in France states that civilians allege that husbands were often separated from their wives and parents from their children. Of 19 inhabitants of Marne despatched to Germany, four were killed en route because they fell behind exhausted. They received two meals in four dgys, and were frequently struck with fists and sticks. Two thousand men were marching to Gravelines for medical examination when the Germans attacked them with machine guns and several w'ere killed. Women were imprisoned for a month in a church at Combes, sleeping in pews. The sanitary conditions were terrible. A workman was fatally bayoneted for breaking a pane of glass. The report of German atrocities also deals with 10,000 French women, children,, and aged men wdro have recently returned to France from 28 German concentration camps. All were subjected to much brutality. They were ' without food for long periods; some were wilf ully exposed to French artillery fire; several were massacred for slight offences; and nearly all were verminous. Nothing was done to prevent sickness or death. The report accuses the German s of scientifically spreading consumption germs among them. BELGIAN RELIEF. ■ LONDON, March 10. The Government is refusing Treasury grants towards the maintenance of Belgians except under Sir E. Grey’s conditions. It unofficially recognises the Relief Commission, and authorises the organisation to convey succour. The commission is compelled to rely solely on its own resources and Germany’s undertaking. It is probable that the w'hole system of collection and distribution will shortly be placed on a different basis. GENERAL NEWS. ■ LONDON, March 10. The War Office is appealing dor more doctors. Altogether £72,750,000 were tendered for the Exchequer bonds, at an average of £95 18s Id. The general opinion of manufacturers appears favourable to Mr Lloyd George’s scheme for taking over factories. Lieutenant Shepherd, when flying at Eastbourne, fell into the sea and was drowned. Canada is providing 18 steamers to insure a tri-weekly service to France for the conveyance of supplies ordered by the Imperial Government. CHRISTIANIA, March 11. The Naval Commission is satisfied Ibat the Belridge was sunk by the Germans. ROTTERDAM, March 10. The Prize Court at Hamburg has requested all Dutch shippers interested in the cargo of the Durward, of which mention was made on January 22, to notify their claims for possible identification. AUSTRALIAN WOOLLEN MILLS. MELBOURNE, March 11. Senator Pearce (Minister of Defence) states that the Federal Government is taking over all the wollen mills in Australia, and also controlling their organisation in order to obtain the maximum results. Goods will be turned out solely for military purposes, and they may even have to import material.

SHIPPING SPACE FOR MEAT. HOBART, March 11, Tire Secretary of State (Mr L. Y. Hapcourt) has cabled to the Governor of Tag. mania that the Imperial Government has taken all shipping space except that taken over by the commonwealth. Lord Inchcape expects that the Imperial Government will interfere as little as possible with the regular fruit trade, but points out that the congestion of the meat trade must be relieved.