ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1916, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

A PREPOSTEROUS STORY. ALLEGED BRITISH BRUTALITY. TO CAPTURED GERMAN LIEUTENANT. Received Nov. 8, 12.5 a.m. London. Nov, 7. The Gorman Government.';; wireless news sen-ice to neutrals alleges that the U4l purposes to search for vhe stopped steamer which was flying the American flag at the Skillies on "September 21, 1913. Tlie steamer appeared to be stopping, ostensibly to lower ,\ boat, and the submarine approached to within a distance of 300 yards, when the steamer suddenly opened concealed ports and fired two cannon, also rifles. Tne American flag was flying the whole time. The submarine was' mortally hit, and the lieutenant, who was severely wounded, also the petty officer crawled out of the hatch before the submarine foundered. They were the sole survivors, Both swam and entered an empty boat that was adrift. The steamer" i hen went at full speed with the intention of not saving the men, but of ramming Hie boat. Shortly before the boat was rammed, the two men sprang into the sea and clung to some wreckage for half-an-hour when the steamer returned, picking them up, but instead of giving medical care to the lieutenant, who suffered from a double fracture of the jaw and was shot in the left temple, besides having lost an eye as the result of the shelling of the submarine, was confined with his comrade in a deck compartment of one by two metres. The door was fastened by iron bait, and they remained there until Falmouth was reached on the 25th, where thev received their first medical aid. They were sent to Plymouth Hospital in October, imprisoned at York Castle on November fi, transferred to Dyfljynalled in December. Later, a medical officer there proposed to transfer them to Switzerland, the lieutenant's other eye. being endangered, and a committee of doctors, also the chief examining body, agreed to the. transfer, which the general medical officer vetoed. The lieutenant then vainly endeavoured to send a report to Berlin, via the American Embassy, but the English Government, unable to get rid of the lieutenant by death from wounds, attempted to prevent him obtaining publicity during the war. BRITISH ADMIRALTY. MORE INITIATIVE AND FORCE REQUIRE,' Eeceived Nov. 7. S p.m.London, l\ov. 7. There is considerable criticism by a section of the newspapers over the recent action of the Admiralty, particularly since the German destroyers' raid. It is also known that tl',3 Admiralty is at loggerheads with the Air Board. The. old competition for machines is going on. Sever:' resignations are threatened. Critics question whether Mr. Balfour and Sir Henry Jackson (First Sea Lord) a-.c a good combiii-itio.i. They suggest a, more active body of naval advisers, or a chief with more initiative and force. GERMAN WARSHIPS AX ZEEBRUGGE. Received Nov. 7, 0.35 p.m. Amsterdam, Nov. 0. Twenty German warships are based at ZeLb'rugge and the Bruges Canal. The sailors are in mourning for their comrades on the two destroyers which failed to return from the Channel raid. BOUNTY FOR SUBMARINE CREW. Received Nov 7, 7.30 p.m. 1 London, Nov. 0. The Prize Court has awarded Commander Goodheart and crew of the sub- , marine E8 a bounty of £3OOO for sink- ] ing the cruiser Prinz Adalbert in the Baltic. GERMAN DREADNOUGHT TORPEDOED. ; ■ Wellington, Nov. 7. The Higli Commissioner reports under date London, November 6:— The Admiralty reports that in the Niorth Sea, one of our submarines reports firing torpedoes at a German Dreadnought on the Danish coast yesterday. The vessel was hit, but the il.ima.ire done is unknown. U2O BLOWN UP. Received Nov. 7', 0.10 a.m. Copenhagen, Nov it A German submarine was stranded on tlie west coast of Jutland. The crew blew her up after unsuccessful efforts o? torpedo boats to tow her off, A Berlin oliici.il message admits that it was U2O. VESSELS SUNK. ' London, Nov. G. Tlie sinking of tlie Clan Lcsti and the Harrison liner -Statesman is reported. London. Nov, 0. A small American steamer, the Lanao, has been submarined, Thirty of the crew have landed.