MERCHANTMEN SUNK BY BROADSIDES.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14545, 25 October 1917, Page 5

MERCHANTMEN SUNK BY BROADSIDES.

A SHOCKING BUTCHERY.

VAIN APPEALS FOR MERCY.

"The Times.")

(Received Oct. 24, 9.5 p.m.)

London, Oct. 23

According to a message from Christiania, officers and men rescued from the Mary Rose state that after, sinking the destroyers the Germans fired broadsides at the sweeping ■ away treir upper structures and killing the passengers and crews.

The captain of one of th© merchant vessels says that after a broadside his crew were ordered to take to boats, wHch German sholla destroyed,' killing nine men. The rest returned to the steamer, when a number of shells struck her simultaneously, breaking the vessel and killing all except the captain, wlo dived, and was picked up later.

Similar scenes were visible everywhere. The lifeboats signalled and cried to the Germans, while- two women waved white garments from the upper deck of a sinking slip, but all the appeals were in vain.