BRITANNIC'S FATE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 7

BRITANNIC'S FATE.

A DELIBERATE OUTRAGE. U-BOATS LIE IN WAIT. Australian and .Y. 7. Cable Association. LONDON, November 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Athens states that details of the outrage prove that the Britannic was the victim of another example of Germany's unmitigated barbarism. Two Hun submarines lay in wait on the narrow seas for the express purpose of sending her to the bottom. The submarines attacked her on both sides simultaneously, and each launched a torpedo. One missed, but the other struck her fatally. It was a deliberate crime, and was all the worse because the submarine commanders must have noticed that the Britannic was going north, this fact implying that she was carrying only her usual crew and complement of nurses, doctors, and medical service men. But that did not count with the cowardly foe. The Britannic was going to Mudros to take aboard sick and wounded. She was fitted to carry 3000 cases. A survivor says that perfect order prevailed on board. The nurses, like the ollicers and men of the medical corps, lined up on deck, and there was not the slightest suspicion of a panic. A stewardess tells a terrible story of the launching of the first two boats near the stern of the ship. The vessel heeled over, and the screw came out of the water. Because of its whirling round two loaded boats were sucked toward it and cut up like matchwood, many being killed outright, while others were horribly wounded. NO WOUNDED ABOARD. ONLY- CREW AND STAFF. nigh Commissioner's Cable. LONDON, November 23 (12.45 p.m.) The Admiralty reports that the Britannic carried only her crew and the hospital staff. ELEMENT OF DOUBT. GOVERNMENT NOT CERTAIN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 24, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, November 23. Mr Asquith stated in the House of Commons that it is not yet definitely certain whether the Britannic was torpedoed.