ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

COEBEN AND BRESLAU. THE BOOK 01? THE HOUR. J TALE OF THEIR FLIGHT, j. Received Feb. 14, 10.30 p.m. London, Feb. 13. A semi-official history of the Goeben and Breslau is now the book of the hour in Germany. The author is Emil Ludwig, who had access to the log. In a telegraphed summary he states that the officers of the Gloucester arranged ,to dine aboard the Breslau on July 31, hut the Gloucester disappeared that night. Four days later the Breslau was chasjng the Gloucester through the Mediterranean, the Breslau having received a wireJess message stating that political relations were broken off between the Tripliee and the Triple Entente. Thereupon she rushed, at 28 miles an hour, towards Brindisi. The Breslau and Goeben readied Messina on August 2, but were informed that Italy had prohibited their coaling at her ports. Admiral Souchon regarded this as a terrible blow, as the bunkers were empty. He telegraphed to Rome, "We demand coal," and ihen scraped together what coal was available from the German steamers in port. The Goebcu and Breslau put to sea on the morning of the 3rd August, and then received a wireless message that France had declared war. STOKE LIKE THE DEVIL.

The admiral ordered the men to stoke like the devil, and no one slept that night. They received a wireless order at midnight to go full speed to Constantinople. The Goeben bombarded Phillipville and then made for the open sea. During the morning she sighted the Invincible and Inflexible, and Admiral Souchon said: "We must use the few hours remaining before we are at war with England." The doctors and nurses all joined in the stoking. At 11 o'clock on the following night they were informed that Britain had declared war.

The admiral, on August 6, gave orders ■that the Breslau and Goeben must break through and reach the Dardanelles. "We want," he said, "to create an impression that we are going to the Adriatic. The Kaiser has a wireless message, 'I expect you to succeed in breaking through.'"

JAMMING THE WIRELESS. The book describes how tMi v Goeben saw the Gloucester and listenea to the latter's wireless signals. The Goeben was making towards the Adriatic, and at 10 in the evening the Breslau suddenly changed her course and headed for Cape Matapan. She was watching a British cruiser, which saw the manoeuvre, but Admiral Souchon gave the order to "Jam the wireless; jam like hell!" The Goeben operators then confused the. wireless for hours, and there was wave upon deadening wave. During these hours the Germans were travelling rapidly east, while the British warship, like the dreamer who tries to call out, never once succeeded in signalling what she wanted to convey. When the Admiral reached Constantinople he received a message: "The Kaiser sends acknowledgments."

BRITISH STEAMER SUNK. ALL SAVED. Received Feb. 14, 5.5 p.m. ■Malta, Feb. 13. The British steamer, Springwell, bound for India, was torpedoed without warning. The officers and crew, numbering seventy-three, were picked up and landed here. GERMANY'S NEW GAME. AMUSING COMMENT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Feb. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 1". Herr Percuse, in the Tagcblatt, thinks that the new policy removes many submarine snares. The Lokal Anzeiger says that it will hit England directly, wearing away her vital nerves.

REPORTED LOST. A FRENCH CRUISER. London, Feb. 13. There has been no news of the 4000ton French cruiser Admiral Chanwr since February 8. She was on the coast of Syria. Tlie. Germans claim that a submarine snnk a French February 8. I SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN DEMANDED. Amsterdam, Feb. 13. A semi-official report from Berlin stat.es that a new memorandum on the submarine war has been publishecfralso Herr von Bethmann-Holhveg's declaration expressing the feeling of the entire nation that he could not allow Germany to be humiliated or robbed of the submarine weapon.

The Budget Committee of the Diet publishes the following resolution, adopteil on February 9: "The committee would consider it injurious if the Government's attitude towards America should restrict; the freedom to revive, at an opportune moment, an unlimited, and thereby fully effective, submarine war against England." A TJXER CHASED* New York, Feb. 13. The White Star liner Cretic has arrived. She reports that she was chased by an enemy ship near Gibraltar. Some suggest that it was the iloewe. ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF GERMAX VESSEL. P>io de Janeiro, Feb. 13. The Germnn steamer Asuncion attempted to slip out of Belem Harbor (at the of the Para River, Brazil) ou the. pretext of changing her anchorage. The guardships opened fire and the Asuncion returned to her anchorage.