THE BARALONG CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3231, 16 February 1916, Page 18

THE BARALONG CASE.

FULL STORY COMES OUT. FATE OF SUBMARINE CREW. LONDON, February 8. Tho Daily Telegraph publishes the full story of the Baraloug. The Nicosian carried a cargo of mules, and carried a crew comprising the captain, mate, and half a dozen men, besides 10- or 12 American cattlemen of the type described in Kipling's " Mulholland's Contracts." They were certainly of a breed who would not take lightly or sitting down a cold-blooded attempt at murder. When the Nicosian's watch reported that a German submarine was practically alongside a torpedo was immediately fired, and it struck the cattle-laden steamer, but her bulkheads held out, and she sank only about a foot, with a heavy list to port. The engines were then stopped, and two boats lowered, but the American cattlemen refused to follow the captain and the crew into the boats. At this moment the Baralong appeared on the scene, and the Nicosian's crew rowed themselves towards her. The commander of the submarine, finding that the Nicosia had been winged, determined to keep his last torpedo for the clumsy-looking newcomer, and sent a bombing party off to finish the Nicosian. Her crew had no sooner climbed up the sides of the latter than a couple of shells ended the, submarine. Her commander thereupon determined to board the Nicosian and demand her surrenger But a thrilling tragedy ensued. The American cattlemen, realising the purpose of the bombing party, awaited the approach of the boat, and, armed with furnace bars 3ft long and as thick as a man's wrist, made a rush at the Germans when the latteT clambered on to the deck. The cattlemen also made a rush at the submarine's crew, and used firearms against them. It was but the work of a minute, and the affray was soon ended. The Germans had been caught in the act of laying bombs on an inhabited ship, and they met with no mercy from the infuriated Americans. One or two of the submarine's men were killed instantaneously. A grim chase followed, which greatly puzzled those aboard the Baralong. The German commander, who was now alongside, was trapped, while the Gr-rman crew sought safety in the cabins and the lavatories. But the doors of the e were smashed in, and two men, who had taken refuge in the tunnel of the propeller shaft, met their death in the struggle that ensued. . A similar fate befel the German officer who was in command of the second boat. The same fate overtook the remainder of the crew who gained a footing on the Nicosian. The commander of the German submarine sprang away from his captors and rushed to the Nicosian's bridge, hoping that those on board the Baralong would see and save him. But the entire British navy would not have availed at that

moment against the rage of these cattlemen. Two of the firebars were tied to his feet, and he was thrown overboard. Then the avengers stayed their Irands, and received a businesslike visit from an | officer of the Baralong, who for the first time gleaned the actual facts of the gruesome story. PRESIDENT WILSON'S ALLEGED SURRENDER. LONDON, February 8. The Times, in a leading article, refuses to believe that President Wilson has made the great surrender, accepting German blood money and assurances not to repeat the offence. "In view of his clear reiterated statement of princirjlas in previous Notes, branding the sinking of liners as illegal and inhuman, we decline," it says, " to think him or any President of America capable of abandoning the claim j for the required disavowal until it is actu- ; ally done." DOMINIONS' RECRUITING POSTERS LONDON, February 8. Considerable public interest is being manifested in the exhibition of .Australian, New Zealand, and other dominion posters at the Mansion House as part of a vigorous recruiting campaign which Alderman Sir Charles Wakefield recently inaugurated. The Lord Mayor also entertained many Australian and New Zealand wounded men at tea. The Daily Telegraph remarks : " The pictures breathe the virile fighting spirit of our heroic kinsmen overseas." •INVASION OF CANADA. LONDON, February 8. The New York Herald says that tha Canadian Government has received secret service reports indicating an intended German invasion. Two hundred thousand Mauser rifles have bsen distributed on the frontier. Numbers of German officers have arrived in order to lead the invasion. SAN FRANCISCO, February 8. The German Consul (General Bopp) has been indicted for participation in a conspiracy plot to originate a military expedition against Canada and also to blow up munition plants. GENERAL NEWS. LONDON, February 3. Italian Parliamentarians favour a joint allied Parliament, and propose that 35 Italian Senators and Deputies should meet English and French Parliamentarians. . Reuter's Agency reports that German Consular officials in Holland refuse to accept payment of fees in German paper money. They demand German gold or Dutch currency at pre-war exchange rates. The probability that the importation of kinema films will be forbidden has created consternation in tre industry. Speakers at a meeting of the trade stated that if it \ were forbidden the majority of the picj ture theatres would have to clo-:e down. Reuter's Agency announces that King George was prepared to open Parliament,, but yielded to medical advice not to undertake public duties in his present i state of convalescence. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam corre- ! spondent states that at Lens thousands lof pounds of English money is yearly finding its way into Germany through a Dutch firm selling coupons for foreign bonds at London, and making false de- ' clarations that they come from a Dutch holder, and that the proceeds do not benefit the enemy directly or indirectly. ROME, February 8. D'Annunzio's war prayers have been placed on the Index Expurgatorius. It has aroused enthusiasm amongst educated Italians, but the Sacred Congregation denounces them as blasphemous parodies upon impired Scripture. BERNE, Februarv 9. The Kaiser has written the words for a new National Anthem and commanded Strauss to compose the music. Tha Germans are gratified, resenting the existing tune as being identical with the British. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. SYDNEY, February 9. Gunner Dunn, who recovered his speech in such a remarkable manner, is a son of the late Rev. T. W. Dunn, formerly of Auckland. PERTH, February 9. The miners' resolution against working i along with enemy subjects has been enI forced in two mines, which have closed. Others are reducing their hands. MELBOURNE, February 9. The Imperial Government is negotiating for the acquisition of the balance of the wheat crop, probably two and a-half million tons. The war loan has reached £21,581,820.