ON THE HIGH SEAS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144668, 30 April 1915, Page 3

ON THE HIGH SEAS

FRENCH CRUISER TORPEDOED. BY AUSTRIAN SUBMARINE. ROME, April 25. Austrians torpedoed the Leon Gambet, a oil sianta Maria Di Lucia. The Leon Gambetta, was steaming at seven knots and was going to Ma ta. A submarine suddenly appeared, and in a second a torpedo explooed, Hooding the engnic-room, wrecking the dynamos, and leaving the ship in darkness. The. wireless operator was paralysed and unable to signal for hell). The captain heathd for the riiore. in tlie hope of beaching the vessel. Iwo iioats were, lowered, but they (unsized, drowning all the occupants. The Italian patrolling flotilla, which was cruising near by, rushed up to the rescue, regardless of the chance of the submarine 'mistaking them for French in the darkness. They found some of the bluejackets clinging to the wreckage, while others were on lafts constructed from bars and planks, Rear-Admiral Senes went down with his ship. Except the watch, tho crew were in Ihoir sleeping quarters. Tho survivors were picked tip without clothing. Survivors state that during tho attack on the l.otm Gambetta a German destroyer protected the submarine, which came from Cattaro. The destroyer also fired at tho Leon Gambetta. ’ PARIS, April 28. The Leou Gambetta was cruising in the Straits of Otranto when Submarine o fired two torpedoes at night time. The vessel sank in ten minutes. Tho officers perished at their posts. Italian ships rescued I.'itj of the crow Fortyeight bodies have been recovered. Most of tho survivors were injured, [The Leon Gambetta is a cruiser of 12.351 tons, built in 100-1. Sbc carries four 7.(lin. and sixteen tl.lln. guns, and has a speed of 22 knots.]

A NEW GERMAN SUBMARINE LONDON. April 29. Tho skipper of ifio Danisli steamer Nidaros reports that he was stopped by a submarine in tlio Ntrth Sea. It was the lines! lie had ever seen, being thirteen hundred tons, built turret shape and armed with a three-pounder and a number of smaller guns.