SUBMARINE WARFARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3200, 14 July 1915, Page 23

SUBMARINE WARFARE.

CASE OF THE ANGLO-CALI-FORNIAN. LONDON, July 11. In addition to the men killed by shell fire aboard the steamer Anglo-Californian (which was chased to near Queenstown), over 20 were drowned. A member of the crew states that the submarine signalled to them : “Get into the boats; you

can’t get away.” When this was not done the submarine signalled : “If you don’t want your lifeboats, we will shoot them away.” And that was what the cowards did. Some of the crew were swimming for two and a-half hours before being picked up. THE MEDUSA. ROME, July 11. About June 17 an Austrian submarine torpedoed, and sank the Italian submarine Medusa in the Adriatic. During the operations for the recovery of the Medusa the divers discovered another submarine, evidently an Austrian, lying near by. AMERICA AND GERMANY. AN ARROGANT ANNOUNCEMENT. AMSTERDAM, July 11. The German newspapers emphasise the statement that the reply to the Amei’ican Note signifies the rejection of foreign attempts to prescribe German methods of defence against a war of starvation, and also that Germany’s obligation to humanity is in the first place towards her dwn citizens. MORE AMERICAN INDIGNATION. NEW YORK, July 11. The foremost ' leaders of American thought declare that the German Note is insulting, and urge a vigorous reckoning with Germany. The whole American press is exceedingly angry at one of the arguments in the German reply. PARIS, July 11. The newspapers regard Germany’s reply to America as a monument of cynical hypocrisy. FISHING TRAWLER CRIPPLED. LONDON, July 12. A submarine shelled the trawler Fleetwood whilst, the latter was fishing in the North Sea on Sunday. The second shell exploded in the stern, wrecking the trawler’s lifeboat, and the crew, who we-e helpless, continued under shellfire. A deck hand was killed, and the engineer and captain’s sons were seriously wounded. The submarine came' closer, and the commander, shaking his fist, was apparently preparing to torpedo the trawler ,when the fishermen held up their bleeding shipmates. The Germans then desisted, and departed. The Fleetwmod, in. a crippled condition, reached Grimsby. THE REGISTRATION BILL. WHY IRELAND WAS EXCLUDED, v - LONDON, July 11. In the House of Commons, in the National Registration Bill, a provision was inserted to ensure the secrecy of the register compilers, any violation thereof incurring a penalty of three months’ imprisonment (? or a fine of) £2O. There was an interesting discussion on Ireland’s position. Mr Swift Mac Neill (N.) and Sir J. B. Lonsdale (U.) objected to the piecemeal application of the Bill in not inviting Irishmen to work for the nation. Sir J. B. Lonsdale stated that Ulstermen were anxious for the opportunity to offer their services. Mr Augustine Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) replied that it was necessary to differentiate in the case of Ireland, because .of her peculiar social conditions. The registrable number of males there was 1,325,000, most of whom were engaged in agriculture, and any interference with them would seriously affect the national food supplies. Sir E. Carson stated that all Irishmen desiring to register would be afforded an opportunity. The third reading of the Bill was carried. Mr Walter Long (President of the Local Government Board) has asked the local authorities to be in readiness to prepare a national register by the second week in August. ACTIVE PREPARATIONS. LONDON, July 11. Mr Lloyd George (Minister of Munitions), in "the House of Commons, said a definite scheme had been adopted, in conjunction with the War Office, for allowing skilled men to be released from their military duties to work in .munition factories. The munition workers’ bureaux have been closed after enrolling 90,000 workers. The labour exchanges will carry out the further enrolment of workers. J, R. Hobbs, the Surrey cricketer, has joined the staff of a munition factory. The professionals at Lord’s and other grounds are making nosebags for army horses. ACTION BY GERMANY. BERNE, July 11. The German Government, perceiving the magnitude of the Allies’ munition efforts, is convening working men’s guilds in order to secure the return of the already mobilised skilled workers to the factories, and for recruiting for the army among workmen not qualified to make munitions. The Germans are apprenticing to the munition factories young women, foreigners, and soldiers mutilated in the war.