AUSTRIAN DESTROYER RAID.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14409, 21 May 1917, Page 5

AUSTRIAN DESTROYER RAID.

ALLIED DRIFTERS ATTACKED.

ENEMY CHASED BY WARSHIPS,

BRITISH CRUISER DAMAGED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

and Reuter.)

(Received May 20, 5.5 p.m.)

London, May 19

The Admiralty reports that on Tuecday Austrian light cruisers and destroyers raided an Allied drifter line in the Adriatic and sank fourteen British drifters. They claim to lave taken prisoner 72 members of the crews.

Allied warships and destroyers chased off the raiders.

Lord Esher states that he has seen a letter written at Berlin by an officer, stating that tho Kaiser's- abdication was mentioned at a recent meeting. The Emperor's reconstruction of the Empire is openly discussed in Government . circles as an alternative to the erection of a republic.

Tie writer added that i"f the Kaiser's successor should be elected by €he people, Germanyj and even Prussia, would not choose the Crown Prince.