EXPLOITS OF THE RAIDER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5349, 4 February 1916, Page 5

EXPLOITS OF THE RAIDER.

EIGHT VESSELS “BAGGED."

MYSTERY OF THE AIOEWE,

London, Last Night. As the mystery of the Appam is slowly dissipating the humour of the incident is dawning on Britain. Solid satisfaction is felt at the safety of the passengers and crew for whom some of their relatives had already gone into mourning. The Appam’s passengers landed in the United States. It is announced that the Appam had forty thousand in bullion aboard.

Tlie mystery of the Moewe’s origin is as deep as that surrounding her present whereabouts. The story that the Moewe came from Kiel canal flying a neutral flag is regarded as probably German bluff, as is the statement, that she was carrying a battery of lulge guns, including a ten-iueher. The Moewe was apparently of Bremen (12-51 tons). Berg was commander of this vessel before the war. The secretaay of the Elder Dempster line states that it was rumoured a fortnight ago that a Geer man ship interned et the Canaries liad escaped. Other mercantile mariners scorn tlie suggestion that the Moewe left Germany and escaped the vigilance of the British navy. They think it much more likely that the Germans armed the ship in an obscure American port. New York reports that Berg told Hamilton, Collector of Customs, that tlie Moewe sank the Farringford (five thousand tons) laden with copper on January 10th ; also that he captured and put a prize crew on the Corbridge, carrying six thousand tons of coal, whereof six hundred was transferred to tlie Moewe to fill her bunkers. He says also that the "Moewe encountered the Dromonby, with five thousand tons of coal, which offered no resistance and was sunk with another vessel laden with five thousand tons of wheat, and a trader with six thousand tons of sugar. The Moewe also sank, on the loth, the Adrienne, with five thousand tons of wheat.

The Moewe aproaelied the Appam on the sixteenth, sixty miles north of Madiera. Flying the British flag she exchanged salutes, and when near enough to cross the Appam’s bows she hoisted the German flag. The Moewe. according to Berg, engaged the Clan MeTavish and sank her after an exciting fight, whereupon the Appam. which was miles away, returned to the seene' and rescued four of the crew of the Britisher, who were struggling in the water. Berg says he then ordered the head qf the Appam to he turned towards America. Using an unfrequented route he flew the British flag till the three-mile limit reached. Berg states that as a r or. cantile captain he visited Norfolk (Virginia) several times as a subordinate offoeer of the Moewe.

APPAM USED AS A DECOY

THE MOEWE’S ARMAMENT

New York, Last Night

After the Appam’s capture the Moewe sank the Clan MeTavph, which gave battle. A portion of the Clan McTavish’s meat was appropriated. The crew was placed on the Appam. Lieut. Berg states that he sank six other vessels, the Ariadne, a trader; the Dromonby, Corbridge, Farringford and Arthur, and transfer 1 red the crews to the Appam. When the Moewe came up with the Appam she fired a single shot across her l*ows. The Appam did not resist and was taken due west across the Atlantic. Approaching the fortress of Monroe the Appam,, in reply to a wireless enquiry, stated that she was a German cruiser and carried a single three-inch gun. Whether the gun was aboard originally or was mounted by the Germans is unknown. The Embassy does not know Lieut. Berg, and suppose that he belongs to the auxiliary service.

It is stated here that the Moewe was a survey ship from Kiel, She cruised in the North Sea under a Swedish flag, flew the British flag in the Atlantic, and hoisted the German flag when approaching the Appom, She then .dropped her dummy sides, displaying her armament. After the Appams was captured she Was armed, and captured two British vessels on route for America, which v’ere disposed of. It is expected that the submarine crew aboard the Appam will elect to be interned instead of risking capture on the return voyage. If the authorities decided that the Appam is a merchant ship slie will be returned to the British at the end of the war. If she is considered an auxiliary cruiser she will ;it the end of the war be returned to Germany.

Lieut. Berg states that the Clan McTavish made a gallant fight. Fifteen persons were killed. The Appam’s captain (Harrison) tells a story resembling fiction: “I was travelling at a fair speed <n a bright day and sighted what seemed to be an ordinary tramp. She dosed in, but we did not fear danger. Suddenly the tramp fired across our boWjs. T hove to. and the tramps forecastle head fell away, revealing a battery of huge guns. We surrendered, and a prize crew boarded under cover of the raider’s guns. They disarmed the crew and locked them in the cabins. They liberated twenty German prisoners, who assisted the prize crew. Manv prisoners from vessels previously sunk were transferred to the Appam.”

A German stationary wireless received a message, but was ordered not to send any, lest they might, reveal the whereabouts of the Appa.ni. The passengers end crew were exercised a few at a time. No complaint as to had treatment has been received.

CLAN McTAVISH CARGO

Sydney, Last Night. Besides her New Zealand cargo tlie Ciian MeTavish took large consignments of general cargo from various Australian ports, including 8126 bales of wool. The ship was valued at £140,000 and her cargo at £350,000.

AIR RAID ON ENGLAND

EXAGGERATED BY BERLIN.

! London, Last Night. The War Office says that the official report from Berlin in reference to the air raid on England Last Monday was utterly inaccurate, and is further proof that the raiders are Quite unable to ascertain position necessary to shape their course with any degree of certainty. The total casualties are now reported to be 59 killed and 101 injured. A church arid a chapel were damaged. The railway in two places was also slightly damaged. Two factories which are of no military importance were badly damaged. The total number of bombs discovered exceeds 300.

The “Daily Mail” urges the Government to acquire twenty-live thousand aeroplanes and raid Cologne. Dusseldorf. Berlin, Essen and Kiel. The enemy would think twice before making barbarous attacks if they knew that every bomb dropped in London district, two would follow in a German city. Amsterdam. Last Night. The Germans are exulting over the raids, declaring that they are a jmishment to France and England a cel a reprisal for the Raralong case. The “Cologne Gazette” gloats o\ er the raitls, declaring that the Zeppelin are Germany’s monopoly. * England is forced to admit that she las no defence against them. We experience a certain grim satisfaction, notwithstanding that our troops are not before Paris and London in the ft et that our arm reaches far enough to bring home to the so-called civilis si nations the tricks they played on us ” A Zeppelin evidently lost in a fog was discovered tit Ameland flying low. Tlie coastguards fired sixty Hurts. Some hit the Zeppelin, which disappeared. BOMBARDMENT IN THE WEST. London, Last Night. A French official message states: North-west of Rery-au-Bue the German troops were caught by our lire. The bombardment is general, but to our advantage. MENACE IN ASIA MINOR. London. Last Nigbt. The “Daily Mail” spy concludes; “It is a great consolation that we are opening our eyes in Britain to the strange Eastern emigration of Germans with the certainty that unless the Allies obtain a smashing victory, the occupation of Asia-Minor will threaten England’s hold on India and Egypt, and Russia's security in the Caucasus. It will open to Germany a vast granary, completely destroy the effect of the British blockade, and will alter the whole history of the world.” SUCCESSES IN AFRICA. J/ondon. Last Night. The War Office states that Sir Horace Smith-Dorrieu reports that a branch line from Yoi on the Uganda railway has rear’bed Sevegeti. which the British captured on January 24. The enemy’s activities have sensibly diminished. The commanders in West Africa report successful minor AngloFrench operations at Elabo, Eboaoowa. Mafue, Nkflan and Ngat. Tlie enemy had large numbers killed and captured. Many fully armed natives are deserting to the Allies. The Cameroons coast line has been cleared of the enemv.

It is reported that seven hundred Germans are encamped on the Spanish frontier.

SUICIDE OF PRINCE YUSSOF.

FAVOURED THE ALLIES

Constantinople), Last N’igjb(fc. Prince Yussuf, the Sultan’s heir, opened veins in his left arm. He was bn ried at Stamboul with the customary ceremonies. The principal doctors of Constantinople signed a statement that suicide whs the cause of death. Yussuf held the iron crocs but it is believed that, he favoured poHc f , with the Allies. He educated his daugthers in the English style.