SUBMARINE PIRACY

Otago Witness, Issue 3193, 26 May 1915, Page 27

SUBMARINE PIRACY

]'X)NDON, May 19

The vessel Dumcree (1 Dumbsa) was torpedoed by a German submarine, but not sunk. She was taken in tow by a Norwegian steamer. The submarine then gave chase, whereupon the Norwegian cast off. A second torpedo sank the Dumcree. The steamer Dumfries was torpedoed off Pembroke but was not sunk. The crew were saved. The trawler Lucerne was submarined and sunk off Rattray Head. Eleven of the crew were saved.

THE LUSSTANiA. GERMANY’S REPLY TO AMERICA. LONDON, May 19. Messages through neutrals predict that Germany will not accept President Wilson’s demands, but will courteously and firmly reply, justifying the sinking of the Lusitania and declaring that only one torpedo was fired; the second explosion occurring among war munitions? She would not have been sunk unless she was carrying explosives. The reply will throw the responsibility of the sinking upon Britain and also upon the American autho- , rities for permitting passengers aboard a vessel loaded with explosives. Germany will declare that she will persist in an unchanged blockade policy, hoping that America will understand its necessity. copENHAGEN> May 2 0. A fund has been started at Magdeburg to present a testimonial to the submurme crews for sinking tbe Lusitania. COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING. LONDON, May 19. The Hon. Tf Mackenzie, at the Guildball, emphasised the fact that compulsorymilitary service l in New Zealand had enabled tbe dominion to take its share in the war. New Zealand took this step, believing it was the first duty of tne manhood of the nation to protect their women and children and homes. The atrocities which will for ever disgrace Prussia had set the heather on fire, and now the clans of the Imperial race were rallying to their King and Empire. The sword would not be sheathed until the bloody disturber of the world’s peace was disposed of for all time.

In the House of Commons, on a motion for the adournment of the House, Messrs Ellis J. Griffith and J. Cathcart Wason (both Liberals) advocated compulsory service. Mr H. J. Tennant (Under-secretary for War) reminded the House what the change meant. He did not deny that the time might come when such a policy would be desirable. WANT OF AMMUNITION. STATEMENT BY EARL KITCHENER. LONDON, May 19. Earl Kitchener, in the House of Lords, referring to the use of asphyxiating gases, said the Germans employed them in defiance of recognised war rules and their pledged word. The British and French were utterly unprepared f'or this diabolical method of attack, which had undoubtedly been long and carefully prepared. Germany persisted in the use of gases, causing agonising deaths, whenever the wind was favourable and other opportunity occurred. Earl Kitchener added : <£ We know that sometimes the offensive against the enemy’s trenches demands an enormous expenditure of ammunition, both of the usual type and of the high explosive pattern. We are now making the country aware of the energetic steps taken to produce sufficient ammunition.” In the House of Commons Mr Asquith was interrogated as to whether provision had been mad© for a three years’ war. Mr Asquith replied r “ The Government cannot neglect the possibility of a long struggle, and is doing all in its power to husband the country’s resources to meet the strain. A discussion on the subject of the shortage of munitions would be highly inopportune and prejudicial to the strategic situation at the present moment. Ample opportunity will he given to debate the question hereafter.” CLYDE SHIPPING YARDS CLOSED. LONDON, May 20. Arrangements have been made for closing five of the minor shipbuilding yards orT the Clyde in order to utilise the men on Government work. His Majesty the King visited the Tyne shipyards and engineering works, GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, May 19. In connection with Earl Kitchener’s call lor 300,000 recruits, it has been decided

that the maximum age be 40 years and the minimum height sft 2in. The Government has requested the Jockey Club to suspend all horse racing, except at Newmarket, after this week. In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George, in reply to a question, said that the action taken since March 11 was effective in every respect in preventing cotton from reaching Germany. The Foreign Office announces that Cardinal Gasparri has informed Sir Henry Howard, British Envoy to the Vatican, that Germany has suspended her consent to exchange civilians incapacitated foi military service until Great Britain treats submarine crews as prisoners of war. The Foreign Office has informed Sir H. Howard that it regrets that Germany has broken faith with the Vatican. Sir Ernest Cassel, in a letter to the newspapers, denounces German war methods, [Sir Ernest Cassel is a German, having been born at Cologne in March, 1852. He is a son of Jacob Cassel, a Cologne banker. He holds decorations of Prussia, France, Sweden, Turkey, and Japan, and in 1906 was created a G.C.M.G. and in 1909 a G.C.B. He received his education at Cologne.]

DOMINIONS THANKED. , BRITISH STATESMEN’S TRIBUTES. LONDON, May 19. In moving at tlie patriotic meeting at the Guildhall a resolution expressing thanks for the unparalleled services of the oversea dominions, Mr Asquith said they had sent unequalled armies into the field, ■which they were steadily and continually reinforcing. But more were wanted to replace the fallen and to increase the defences, in order to make a decisive victory certain. We at Home had every reason to bestir ourselves. The main theatre of war was nearer London than were the northern counties, and a daily stream of wounded was pouring into their hospitals. It seemed sometimes that they could almost hear the echo of the guns. It was not so with their fellow subjects, to whose magnificent comradeship and cooperation this meeting now paid tribute. They were far removed from the conflict, the high seas were now cleared of the enemy, their commerce pursued its almost normal course; but they were sons and daughters of the Empire, and what touched them touched us.

Mr Asquith detailed the dominions’ and India’s gifts and men, describing them as a magnificent record, in which an Empire might feel the highest pride. The Australians and New Zealanders had proved worthy of their Canadian comrades. India had sent 28 regiments of cavalry and 124 regiments of infantry for service outside India. All this showed that the Empire had but one purpose and heart. There was no part of the Empire but what would suffer annihilation rather than become the subject of any other sovereignty. Why, asked the Prime Minister, did the colonies rally to the standard? It was to oppose the machinations of a man who had violated all the rights of mankind. Mr Asquith concluded: “We have with us noble comrades in arms,’’ and quoted Wordsworth’s words: “We also have great allies who are none the less potent because to the eye or sense they are invisible, and among them is man’s unconquerable mind.” Mr Bonar Law seconded the resolution. He said that when a venomous reptile got loose the only thing was to derstroy it. This was not an easy task, therefore they required the putting forth of their full strength to the last ounce. The dominions were the first to come forward in support of the Empire, and they would not be the last to enter the enemy’s capital. They now had the hope that as one result of the war there would be an Empire Parliament, in which every part of the Empire would be represented. Speaking at the Guildhall, Sir George Peid said that hitherto the memories of the Guildhall related to British warriors and statesmen; to-day every member of the family of races and nations’ was represented there. Sir George recalled that a fifth of the human race was sending volunteers for the defence of the Empire. Young Australasians hated outrage and loved freedom, and had the fighting instincts of the northern race. They were aroused by the news of the rape of Belgium. This awakened the young lion, with the result that Australasians leaped into the yEgean Sea and faced the Turco-Ger-man storm of shot and shell, and won their dauntless way until the flag was mounted victorious on the summit. Sir G. Reid said that Australian statesmen were also entitled to a meed of praise for training the men and providing the warships before the storm burst, thus enabling Australia to haul down the German flag in the Southern Seas. MR MASSEY’S MESSAGE. “PROUD TO DO OUR PART.’’ WELLINGTON, May 20. The following is the text of the Prime Minister’s message concerning the Guildhall patriotic meeting in London: —“New Zealand is proud and pleased to do her share in the momentous crisis through which the Empire is passing. We are proud of our brave sons who took part in the great battle at Gallipoli, and though many of them have left their bones on foreign soil, they died the best of all deaths —they gave their lives for the Empire and their country. Wq have mcia

New Zealanders coming, many thousands more of the same stamp and of the same stock, eager to take the place of those who have fallen, to assist as soldiers of the King in securing victory for Great Britain and her Allies. Though New Zealand is but a small country, all we are and all we have is at the Empire’s call. As we join in its dangers and struggles, so shall we share in its victory and triumph when, in His own good time, God brings this great conflict to an end, and when full punishment falls, and all the fiendish crimes and gross outrages perpetrated against humanity in this war have been justly visited upon German militarism. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that not only in this fight for our national honour, but for all time, New Zealand is inseparably linked with the loved Homeland.—(Signed) W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.” The High Commissioner to-day cabled that the message was received with great enthusiasm and cheers. The newspapers publish Mr Massey’s message, heading It: “New Zealand’s Fine Message.’’ AIDING THE ENEMY. MELBOURNE, May 20. A new regulation under the War Precautions Act provides for the infliction of the death penalty on civilians or the military found guilty of offences intended to aid the enemy. Another regulation provides for the closing of licensed premises to members of the naval and military forces, if necessary. INTERNMENTS IN AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, May 20 The Minister of Defence (Senator Pearce) states' that the Federal authorities have interned more alien subjects than Britain in proportion to population. Senator Pearce has asked people hearing expressions of disloyalty or anything suspicious to report it to the military or the police, who will then investigate. The employees of Newport Railway Workshops have asked the Victorian Railway Commissioners to dismiss enemy subjects under the age of 55 from the Government service. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLES. LONDON, May 19 (11.15 a.m.). Near Jaroslav the Germans, heedless of countless losses inflicted on them by the Russians’ very severe artillery fire, are endeavouring to establish themselves on the right bank of the San. At this point in the course of the day the Russians brought down several enemy aeroplanes directing the lire of numerous enemy batteries'. Between Przemysl and the marshes of the River Dniester masses of the enemy attacked and reached the Russian entanglements, but were scattered by the Russian fire. At the cost of enormous sacrifices the enemy captured the trenches of two battalions.

The attacks of the enemy jn the regions of Drohobycz, Stryj, Bolikoff, Dolina, Delatyn, Kolomea, and Vigornis are abortive. The enemy’s losses in general are estimated at 10,000 men. o- -