War News.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 21, 15 March 1918, Page 3

War News.

RUSSIAN SITUATION.

SINKING OF THE WAIRUNA

FLIGHT FROM PETROGRAD,

THE WESTERN •FRONT.

MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE.

THE BALTIC FLEET.

FALSE SUBMARINE ALARM.

PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

GERMAN RAIDER’S EXPLOITS,

ALLIES AND SIBERIA. TOKIO, March 13,

In the House of Representatives, asked whether a request had been received from the Allies to send to Siberia, the Foreign Minister replied in the negative, but said an exchange of views was proceeding, and disclosures would be untimely . The leader of the Opposition favoured military action in Russia, but said the greatest precaution was necessary. The Premier said that no decision had yet been reached regarding the despatch of troops. The Government was dealing with the momentous situation with the utmost care.

LONDON, March 13. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Petrograd correspondent states that the people have nearly all gone to Moscow. Tim population‘are flocking from the capital. Queues of thousands are waiting for permits to leave. Overcrowded trains are departing all day long. Others arc using sledges and many arc trudging through the snow. Everything is quiet in the city, which is becoming a desert. Trams are running with difficulty. Owing to the coal shortage factories are closing. Cabs are disappearing. Most of the owners have sold their horses for meat. Under-fed horses are dying in the streets daily. The theatres are almost empty. Motor lorries have been commandeered for the evacuation.

There is no panic and no excitement. Widespread gloom has taken their place. Meanwhile Petrograd knows little of the outside world. Even Russian news is hard to get.

PETROGRAD, March 12. In consequence of the departure of the commissaries to Moscow, a military committee has been formed. Trotzky is president. An anathema against the Bolsheyiki was read in all churches.

ABANDONED AT HELSINGFORS. PETROGRAD, March 12. The Soviets received a tragic and significant description of the abandoned fleet at Hclingfors. The crews melted away, only one being left on each ship. The Dreadnoughts are going to Kronstadt, and others are left to the, care of Finland, which is practically in German hands. The Aurora and Diana were dismantled. Sailors looted the moveables. The Bolsheviki have decided to adopt the title of the Russian Communistic Party and extend their policy on an international basis.

HOW THE MATUNGA WAS CAPTURED.

LONDON, March 13,

Mrs Mackenzie, who was a stewardess on the Matunga, has supplied a graphic story of her experiences. She says:— * * The Matunga was about eighteen | hours off Eabaul on August 6th when I the Wolff came in sight. She had picked up the Matunga’s wireless on the previous night announcing her arrival. Evidently she had been informed that we were taking 500 tons of coal. The Wolff desperately needed coal, and had awaited us for five days. “Immediately the Wolff appeared she sent up a seaplane, which circled over the Matunga to investigate whether she was armed. It then came closer, hoisted the German ensign, and signalled us to stop. The chief officer apparently mistook the signal and went on, whereupon the Wolff fired across our bow at 500 yards range. “A prize crow from the Wolff, with a bombing officer, immediately followed. They were all fully armed, and carried a large number of bombs. Boats from the Wolff took off the Matunga’s captain, officers, military officers, soldiers, and three male civilians. We then sailed to Dutch New Guinea, where we discharged the coal. The Wolff shipped the coal and all the provisions, and transferred the stewards, sailors and others who had been left on the Matunga on board the Wolff. She proceeded seaward for ten miles on August 27th, when the Matunga was sunk by means of time bombs. Every precaution was taken to prevent her floating, and the wreck of the steamer disappeared in half an hour. “The subsequent course of the Wolff is only surmise, but I presume she went to the Indian Ocean." Once off Colombo and later near Singapore and Borneo, the Wolff sowed mines nightly. We heard the rattle of the sounding lines and then the mines being carefully lowered.”

Details follow of the capture of the Hitachi Maru and other vessels as already cabled. Mrs Mackenzie’s narrative proceeds:

“The Wolff was now making for the Trinidad Islands. She picked up a wireless message stating that a Chilian warship had arrived there. Thereupon she altered her course to the opposite direction, and after coaling from the Igotz Mendi, she headed for Germany. “In mid-Atlantic two armed ships, apparently American transports, suddenly hove out of the mist and passed close to the Wolff and the Igotz Mendi,

causing great consternation on board, but they proceeded without signalling. We experienced stormy weather during the latter part of the voyage.” z Mrs Mackenzie was ill for three weeks, and does not know what happened till the Igotz Mendi stranded, but she understood that she slipped down the Norwegian coast without meeting British warships.

MEMBERS OF CREW REACH LONDON. LONDON. March 13. Rees and Donovan, members of the Wairuna’s crew, have reached London. They state that the Wairuna was captured off the Kermadecs, whore the raider was close inshore refitting. A German band was playing on board the Wolff, and one of the musicians sighted the approaching steamer. A seaplane flew over the Wairuna, and dropped a paper ordering the ship to stop. At the same time tue ship fired a shot across her bows A prize crew went on board and took possession.

The raider worked' nt the Wairuna for sixteen days, and- removed 1200 tons of coal, provisions, and 42 sheep. At this time the Wolff was at starvation point in the matter of food and coal.

The Germans twitted the Wairuna’s crew with not scuttling the vessel when capture was inevitable. When the dismantling was completed bombs were placed in the Wairuna and the vessel was sunk.

The Wolff nearly waylaid the Niagara on two occasions, but cruisers’ wireless warned the Wolff of the imminence of danger.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie provided for Rees’ and Donovan’s wants, and entertained them.

' ARTILLERY DUEL. LONDON, March 13. A French communique says: — There is an intermittent artillery duel in the Argonno and the Vosges, but it is violent in Champagne, especially in the region of the heights and the Woevre.

The Americans successfully raided south of Richceourt.

Six enemy aeroplanes were brought down, and another was badly damaged.

PARIS, March 13. Mr Baker, United States Secretary for War, arrived on a cruiser which was part of the convoy of 10,000 troops.

A false submarine alarm resulted in soma firing.

A FURTHER ADVANCE. LONDON, March 13. Official.—We further advanced astride the Jcrusalem-Nablus road. We inflicted considerable casualties and captured several machine guns.