THE BIRKENHEAD RECALLED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 5

THE BIRKENHEAD RECALLED

MINES IN THE CHANNEL. LOSS OF THE ANCLIA. ' HOSPITAL SHIP SUNK. Wellington, Nov. 18. The High Commissiioner reports, under date London, November 17, 7.15 p.m.:—The hospital ship Anglia struck a mine in the Channel to-day and sank. She had on board 13 officers and 372 men of other ranks. About 300 were saved toy a patrol vessel. A ship proceeding to the rescue was also sunk by another mine. London, Nov. 17. The British hospital ship Anglia struck a mine. Eighty-five lives were lost. (The Anglia is a vessel of 1862 tons, owned by the London and North-Western Railway Company.) •

FOULS MINE AT MIDDAY. A.DRAMATIC RESCUE. Received Nov. 18, 10.25 p.m. London, Nov. 18. The Anglia fouled a floating mine at midday. She listed heavily and floated for thirty minutes. Several warships thai raced to her 'assistance found the Anglia badly down by the head, and one vessel passed tinder her stern and took off forty men, of whom two afterwards died. ANOTHER BIRKENHEAD. AWAITING THE END. '.leceived Nov. 19, 12.25 a.m. London, Nov. 18. The tragic loss of the Anglia, in sight 'of land, adds a bright page to the brave story of the British race. lake the heroes of the Birkenhead, the wounded and hale with splendid courage calmly awaited their end. The crew of the London collier Lusitania witnessed the explosion and saw the soldiers emerging from below, assembling on deck, and awaiting their turn to enter the boats as though they were at the quay.

NURSE HEROINES. There was no crowding. The slightly wounded men gave preference to the more serious cases, including two handled cot cases, and the nurses, of whom only-three are known to have been saved. They worked splendidly, devoting theinaelses to assisting the wounded. RACE FOR THE SHORE. The Anglia, though mortally wounded, 'surged forward in a vain effort to reach 'the shore, all the time sounding her siren. Her rescuers kept pace with her, and worked with the utmost difficulty, A» her decks got steeper, many men slipped off and were picked up in the water. The Anglia's crew, diving in, rescued many. THE FINAL PLUNGE. The end came with dramatic suddenness. The Anglia stood on her bows for an instant, with the wounded sol■diere, nurses, 'doctor*, and sailors clinging on, and then disappeared. The Lusitania lowered her boats, which participated in the rescues, and rfhe herself was soon afterwards mined, all on board being saved. The Anglia's masts, flying the 'Rod Cross, are still visible. MESSAGE FROM THE KIX2. Received Nov. 18, 7.55 p.m. Loudon, Nov. 17. Ki!)g George has written as follows to Mr. Half our: "I am shocked at the loss of the Anglia, which recently brought me across the Channel, and grieve at the loss of life incurred. I trust that the survivors did not unduly suffer terrible exposure. 1 tixtend my heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who perished.

AN AUSTRIAN LIE. AXOONA DID NOT HERD THE WARNING. fieceived Nov. 18, 0.35 p.m Washington, Nov. 17. The Austrian Government, in answering the American protests,'denies tliat' any shots were fired at the Aneona after she came to a stop, or that any shots were fired at lifeboats containing passengers or crew. The Aneona attempted to escape after warning, and therefore a torpedo was fired, but ample time was given passengers to escape', and the fault was entirely that of the sr»w in foiling *o httd tat warning.