ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

THE BRITISH BLOCKADE. DEMAND FOR DRASTIC ACTION'. IRON ORE FOR GERMANY. THE AC'TIOX OF NEUTRALS. London, Feb. 1-4. A larcfo mooting was held at the Cannon Street Hotel to protest against tlie inclfeetive blockade of Germany. The. greatest enthusiasm was .shown when speakers advocated that the Navy should prevent any article reaching Germany. The condemnation of the Governments policy was greeted with cries of "Throw them out!" and ''Give us new leaders!" Groans were given for Mr. Asquith and Sir E. Orov,

The meeting carried with cheers a motion viewing with ahum the enormous quantities of commodities reaching Germany tlirough the North Sea, and urging the Government to make J;ill use of sea power in forcing an absolutely effective blockade. *

Lord Devonport, who presided, said the nation was determined that nothing should prevent our progress. Was the lVit:,sh Fleet in command of the seas? Are we utilising to the full tlmt power we ought to be and depriving Germany of the essentials of trade and livelihood, without which no nation could sustain resistance? Mr. .Asquith had declared that all commodities had been prevented entering Germany. The Order-in-C'ouneil gave all the power necessary, but the power was not used, and neutrals were having the time of their lives' at our expense. Sir Edward Grey over-estimat-ed the importance of not interfering with the rights of neutrals. During seventeen months of war one and a half million tons of iron ore in three hundred shiphad been allowed to enter Rotterdam. The ore mainly came from Sweden and Norway. It was taken in barges on the Rhine and eventually to Essen, where it was used for making bombs. (Cries of "Shame!")

Loi'd Devonport quoted records showing that 557 ships, with over two million tons of iron ore. bad gone to German ports within the last eight, months, and asked, "Will ilio Government draw the attention of neutrals to this lireaeli of neutrality? We are fighting their war as weil as our own. Where would Holland and Denmark be if left to the tender mercies of German militarism? If the Navy is allowed to act, the mailed list will soon be smashed/'

Sir Gibson Bowles attacked the pftliey of Mr. Asquith, Sir E. Grey, and I.ovd Haldane, who knew ten years ago the possibilities of war, but took no action. He believed that three-quarters of the neutral ships brought in by tbe Navy were set free. Mr. Shirley Benn, M.P., said neutrals would respect us more if we made the blockade more effective.

[ THE SAUCY ARETHUSA. SENT TO THE BOTTOM. London, Feb. 14. Official: The Aretlnisa was mined o.f the East Coast, and it is feared she is a total wreck. Ten lives were lost. (The Arethusa was a light cruiser of 3750 tons displacement, completed in 1914, with a speed of 30 knots. Iter armament consisted of two Gin. and six 4in. guns. She went straight from the shipyards to take part in the Heligoland raid on August 27. During this fight she was hit many times and was considerably damaged; only one Gin. gun remained in action, all other guns and torpedo tubes having been temporarily disabled.) THE PRIDE OF THE FLEET. HER COMMANDER. Received Feb. 15, 8 p.m. London, Feb. 14. The Arethusa was familiar to the public, as she was frequently the "show sbip" when correspondents visited the Fleet. Captain Domville, who commanded the Arethusa, was a son of the famous Admiral. He was married last week and bad just completed his honeymoon, THE LOST FRENCH CRUISER. A SURVIVOR PICKED UP. - Received Feb. 15, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 14. The loss of the cruiser Admiral Charner is officially confirmed. A raft was found off'the coast of Syria, bearing the bodies of fifteen of the crew. One was alive, and lie states that the ship was torpedoed at 7 o'clock in the morning of February S. She sank in a few minutes, the crew being unable to launch the boats. THE SOLE SURVIVOR. Received Feb. 15, 11.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 15. There, is apparently one the only survivor from the Admiral Charter, out of a crew of 370. NORWEGIAN VESSEL SUNK. London, Feb. 14. The Norwegian ship Alabama lias been torpedoed or mined. The crew has been picked up, DUTCH SMUGGLER ABANDONED. Amsterdam, Feb. 14. The Dutch motor-boat Speculant, laden with rubber, waste, margarine and linseed oil, ostensibly bound from Amsterdam to Groningen. was suspected of smuggling and was followed by a patrol boat. She dodged about the Ziiyder Zee and was liually deserted when she was on fire, INTERNED GERMAN VESSELS ESCAPE. New York, Feb. 14. Two German steamers, the Turpin and Bahrenfeld, escaped from Punta Arenas and Tluenos Ayres respectively. All interned vessels received secret orders to dash for liberty wlien possibly