1914-10-26 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 1914,

THE WAR.

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.}

THE STRUGGLE IN FRANCE

AND BELGIUM.

[THROUGH REUTERS AGENCY.]

BRITISH DESTROYER SINKS GERMAN SUBMARINE.

LONDON, October Sith. 4.33 D.m.

It is officially announced that the destroyer Budger ramined and sank a German submarine off the Dutch coast. The Bédger's bow was some-

what damaged.

REVIEW OF RECENT FIGHTING.

ENEMY ENDEAVOURING TO MAKE A FRESH EFFORT.

VIOLENT ATTACKS REPULSED.!

BY THE HEADQUARTERS' EYE-WITNESS.

LONDON, October 23rd.

4.50 p.m.

A Paris communiqué states that the very strong German foregs

which were signalled yesterday havo attacked with the greatest violence the

whole region between the North Sea and La Bassco Canal.

The Allies' position on the whole was maintained and if they had to

give ground in some places, they gained it in others.

The enemy appears to be endeavouring, along the greater part of.

the front, particularly between the North Sea and the River Oise, to make a fresh effort, using new corps of raw troops some of whom are very young, and others elderly, with officers and non-commissioned officers drawn from

any available source,

The enemy has also shown particular activity in the Arras district

and the Boume.

We have progressed north and south of the Somme and notably in

the region of Rosicres-en-Benterre.

We have gained partial successes at Verdon and Pont-a-Mousson.

There has been no change on the rest of the Front.

LONDON, October 24th:

12.55 a.m.

An othcial Paris communiqué issued ni 11 o'clock in the evening stated that the situation on the Left Wing was generally unchanged.

The action has continued with great violence, particularly around Arras, La Bassee, and Armentieres. The Allies lost ground at some points around La Bassee, but gained ground east of Armentieres. untadsgon NOT

batteries.

Today's Paris-communiqué says 1 -~~

4.40 p.m.

Ou the Left the battle continues. The enemy made progress north of Dixmude and around La Bassce.

We advanced very appreciably east of Nieuport, in the region of Langemarck, and, in the country between Armenfiercs and Lille,

There has been hero inevitable fluctuations in the fighting line, which, on the whole, is being held.

On the rest of the frant several day and aight altacks by the Germans have been repulsed.

We made slight progress at several points, and in Woevre our advance continued in the direction of the forest of Montmare and Le

Pretre Forest,

Another communiquè says:-

6.30 p.m.

Contrary to German official statements, we have retained a largo part of the ground conquered south of Thiancourt.

refused.

The Germans asked for an armistice to bury their dead, but we

1.10 alin.

Resuming the offensive, we made fresh progress,

LONDOS, October 25th.

A'communiqué issued in Paris at midnight says: From the sea to the south of Arras-violent attacks by the Germans, have been everywhere repulsed.

"Wo captured in Argonne the village of Melicourt, commanding the roads from Varennes to the valley of the Aisine.

There is nothing to report slsewhere,

BRITISH NAVAL OPERATIONS OFF BELGIAN COAST.

GERMAN LINES ENFILADED.

LONDON, October 24th. 6.30 p.m.

The Admiralty announces that throughout yesterday, monitors and other British warships co-operated with the Belgian Army. All the German attacks at Nieuport have been repulsed. The Naval fire, which enfiladed We also the German lines, caused heavy losses, as prisoners testify, bombarded the German batteries at Ostend.

Bear Admiral Hood now has a fine flotilla of suitable vessels which are not of great value to the Fleet. The warships were persistently attacked

We

by a submarine, torpedoes missing the Wildfire and the Myrmidon

again drove off the submarine.

Naval aeroplanes and halloons directed the fire of the warships. We suffered no losses.

́LONDON, October 24th,

11.30. a.m.

The Headquarters Eve-witness, continuing his narrative to the 17th just.. says that despite the trying nature of the fighting and the rain the troops are very fit, and in fact are steadily advancing.

The epony giving way proved a most welcome and inspiring change after son weeks

of monotony in the trenches.

German prisoners report that their advanced troops ave short of food and exhausted by continual outpost work, whereas the British can afford to give their troops more rest and plenty of good foot. Many of the Clermans have only ha Ftwo months' service,

Nevertheless, the enemy in the front is fighting well and skilfully,

and showing consideráble powers of enduranée.

As the campaign procede the tendency of the Germans to rely

on their splendid war material, with which they are so amply provided, rather than on the employment of funsses of men, has been more and more marked...

There are now indications, however, that their supply of war material is not inexhaustible. There have been various evidences that

they have been obliged to have recourse to old models of rifles and guns.

THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE.

PURSUIT OF RETREATING GERMANS BEYOND THE VISTULA.'

SEVERE BATTLE IN PROGRESS SOUTH OF THE PILITZA.

LONDON, October 24th. 12.50 a.m.

with no resistance from the Gormans, who continue to th

A further official message from Petrograd states that in the trenches under Ivangorod the Russians captured a large quantity of munitions which had been abandoned by the German Reserve Guard Corps in their precipitate retreat.

The Austrian armies continue to fight desperately on the Vistula above Soltz and on the Bau, and particularly south of Przemysl.

LONDON, October 25th.

2,95 a.m.

A Petrograd communiqué says that the Russians beyond the Vistula are on the heels of the enemy's retreating armies.

The Germans northward of the River Pilitza, offering a poor resistance, were driven back as far as Skernovitza:

Southward of the River Pilitza a severe battle is proceeding with

the Austrians and Germans along a front of 23 miles.

The Austrians are still endeavouring to hold the Vistula above the River Tianka, but the Russians are crassing.

FRENCH WARSHIPS BOMBARD CAMEROON PORTS.

LONDON, October 24th. 11a.m

A telegram from Bordeaux says that French warships bombarded the ports of Compo and Kribili in the Cameroons (West Africa) from October 11th to the 14th, after twice deanding surrender without getting a reply.

FRENCH STEAMER ASHORE.

LONDON, October 24th.

The French steamer Marie Henriette is ashore off Cape Bardeur (east of Cherbourg) with wounded aboard. The S.0.8. signala were received at the Isle of Wight.

Another French ship is standing by..

NEWFOUNDLAND

CONTINGENT ARRIVES.

LONDON, October 23rd.

6.45 p.n.

The Official Press Bureau authorises Reuter to announce that a Newfoundland contingent has arrived in Great Britain.

:་

ANOTHER COLONIAL WAR GIFT.

LONDON, October 24th.

6.30 p.m.

The Official Press Bureau publishes a war gift of £5,001 by Sierra Leone, and the Colonial Secretary's (Mr. Harcourt's) letter of thanks.

น

[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]

GERMAN CRUISER'S RAIDS ON SHIPPING

THIRTEEN BRITISH STEAMERS SUNK.

LONDON, October 23rd.

2 p.m.

A message from Las. Palmas states that the steamer Crefeld has arrived with the crews of the following thirteen steamers which have been sunk by the German cruiser Karlsruhe, mostly in the Atlantie and totalling

60,000 tons :-

Highland Hope, Cervantes, Maple Branch, Strath Roy, Lyn Rowan, Cornisle City, Bio Iguassa, Niesto, Maria de Larrinaga, Parn, Indrani,

Pruth and Condor.

[The Knderthe is a protected cruiser of 4.900 tons displacement. Her amin armament consists of twelve four-inch guns, and she has two submerged torpedo tubes. She is quite a new vessel, having been laid down in 1911. Her speed is it given in the reference boils. Her indicated horse-power is, 26,000.]

The following are the particulars of certain of the vessels so far as can be ascertained :---

Condor :-Vessel of 1,058 net ton., property of New York and Pacife

Steamship Co., Ltd. Built at Sunderland in 1893.

Cornish City:---Apparently the property of the British and North

Atlantic Steam Navigation Company,

-Highland Hope:--Vessel of 9,820 net ton, property of Nelson Line,,

Liverpool Built at Port Glasgow in 1902.

Indrani-Vessel of 3,226 not ton, property of Indra Line, Lt, Liverpool. Built at Barrow in 1891. A vessel similarly named, of 2,389 not ton., is owned by A. P. Donaldson, Glasgow. Maria de Larrinaga:-Vessel of 2,578 net ton.. property of Maris do Larrinaga Steamship Co., Ltd., Liverpool. Built at Whiteinch in 1895. Prith-Vessel of 2.867 net ton., property of Mercantile Steamship

Co., Ltd, London. Built at West Hartlepool in 1905.

NINE GERMAN CRUISERS AT

LARGE.

SEVENTY OF THE ALLIES' SHIPS SEARCHING FOR THEM,

Lornox, October 23rd.

7.30 p.m.

The Admiralty announces to-night that nine German cruisers are. on the high seas, and that seventy warships of the Allies are searching for them, including a number of fast British cruisers. The discovery and destruction of the enemy cruisers is a matter of time, patience and luck, owing to the vastness of the oceans and the innumerable archipelagoes.

Hitherto our vessels had a most serious and important convoy duty.. Now, however, the searchers will be continually augmented, but meanwhile

merchantmen must observe the Admiralty instructions which have been most

tour thousand British ship, anly twenty-seven have Consequently, there was no occasion for anxiety nor

anguineas..

interfered with.

excuse for complaint. The peon inspires confidence and satisfaction, especially as the German overseas has ceased.

STORIES OF THE NAVAL FIGHT.

THE END OF THE MAINZ."

A vivid story of the sinking of the German cruiser Mains during the fight off Heligoland is told by a member of the crew of H.M.S. Southampton in a letter to his parents..

We started (he says) the first thing in the morning, when we had a brush with two destroyers. It was misty and they were practically invisible, but I believe they were bit twice before disappearing in the mist...

After that we turned and steamed out of it, but were recalled by an urgent wire less message from one of our ships which was in difficulties. Of course the ship was immediately turned, and we proceeded at full speed to the scene of operations.

The enemy turned out to be a three funnelled cruiser, somewhat larger than us. We immediately opened fire at a range

The enemy - of 10,000 to 13,000 yards. replied and steamed away from us, but eventually we ran parallel.

FIVE SHELLS EVERY TEN SECONDS.

Things began to look lively, as we were putting shells into her at the rate of five every ten seconds, and 6-inch lyddite at that. The shells have a terrible effect, and fumes from them kill anyone within a range of 60 yards, while they set on fire everything near them.

Ance

said account of the destruction

of the guardsman He writes:-

old by a Southwick coast-

We had orders & H.3LS. Lurcher.

we steamed on the loating past the ship.

the German cruizer Blainners. As sight. The boilers had been lodies to the upper deck, and one mide funnels had gone. We rescued a was sinking fast. It was a very di operation, We had just shoved aster she listed over to port, and we saw who were left sliding down the ship's into the water. Then she dipped, and an the German sailors cheered her down. All over her decks were dead and dying. We steamed full speed to the cruiser squadron The and turned over. 160 prisoners. others were unable to move. We brought them to Harwich. Fourteen died on the I am way, and we buried them at sea. afraid I cannot tell you fall details. The German sailors were a very good lot. Most of them could talk English."

H.M.S."LION'S " FINE SHOOTING.

An account of the fine shooting of the gunners on board the Lion is given by a young Wimbledon navy man who is serving on board the flagship of the first destroyer squadron. He writes:

We had a very decent splash last-week- of Heligoland, as doubtless you have Presently she was seen to be on fire, and read. Our ship was not hit at all, though Home shots were pretty near. It was a a few minutes afterwarde a beautifully-

fine sight to see the Lion demolish one placed shell pat "paid" to two of her cruiser. We could see her (the cruiser's) funnels. All amidships was now a raging shots falling short, but still the Lion did fire, and the end cane when her mainmast not fire. For fully ten minutes the We immediately cruiser belted away without getting a hit. went by the board. ceased fire and altered our course, going Then the Lan, who was leading the line.. close to her.

hoisted Open fire," turned slowly and My- what a sight she was The Are majestically round and fired her broad- amidships had made two of the funnels side-onee. It was quite sufficient: Up i red-hot and flames and smoke were pour-went a cloud of smoke and steam from the.. ing out of her. Her port side was like a target, and when it cleared her aft funnel sievo. Every gun was smashed and bent, was at a rakish angle, and a huge rent some locking round corners, some on their appeared the length of her side.

she was salroes After a few more sides in fact, her whole upper deck was

Shortly rapidly sinking by the stern. chaos.

The fore-bridge was a tangled mass of afterwards she half-hauled down her ironwork, while the wire stays from the ensign, and as we were steaming up to foremast were swinging in the air. What stand by and rescue her survivors, slic hoisted it again and opened fire. It was she was like inside, heaven alone knows.

We passed within a couple of hundred a dirty trick, but they got their deserts. Once again the Lion turned, and this time yards of her, and the only living beingsfired but five shots from her huge turretera on the upper deck were one man on the Amidst a shower of splinters and quarter-deck and what looked like a couple she disappeared. We steamed o of officers standing under what had been spot, but although there was

wreckage, not a single livin to be seen. This incid about forty-five minute whole battle was raging

the fore-bridge. Many of them had jump

ed overboard, and, of course, were resmied.

but these only totalled seven officers and 19 men out of a crew of 400 or 500.

"