St. John's Daily Star, 1917-04-26

              The St. John's Daily Star New found land VOLUME 111. ($3.00 per Annum) THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1917. (Price: One Cent.) No. 95. GREATEST LITTLE NAVAL FIGHT OF WAR IS BIG TRIUMPH FOR BRITISH SAILORS Two British Destroyers Engage And Defeat Enemy Sinke Four Hun Ships And Chase The 2 Survivors SIGNS OF DISCONTENT GROW MORE MARKED THROUGHOUT CENTRAL EMPIRES 2 BRITISH DESTROYERS POUND 6 ENEMY SHIPS; SEND FOUR TO BOTTOM Smartest Bit of Fighting Recorded in British Naval Annals ■IPS FOUGHT AT CLOSE QUARTERS AND BOARDERS WERE IN EVIDENCE fds of Thrilling Heroism Performed By Some JL Of British Sailors LONDON, April, 25.—Two British destroyers on patrol duty in the Eng* !:;h Channel, off Dover, on the night o April 20lh. came upon a flotilla of six German destroyers. Then ensued an crcounter wf.ich will live long in ihe history of naval engagements. The Ger man destroyers were torpedoed and' rar.micd. Every gun aboard the combatants was working, sweeping the decks and tearing gaps in the sides of the opposing craft. There was a locking together of British and German destroyers, and men fought furiously in hand-to-hand encounters. German seamen of a rammed destroy cv climbed aboard one of the British and a midshipman fought them ith his automatic revolver. They lied or driven again into the sea ish jackies who came to the mid ■•shipman's aid. It is an exciting story of boarding, encounters with bayonets and cutlasses recalling the days when wooden warshipswarships came together and men fought The British destroyers Broke and Swift, on the night patrol, were steami ing in a westerly direction. It was intensely dark, but calm. The Swift sighied the enemy at 600 yards, and the Germans instantly opened fife.. There I were six German destroyers*, according ; to German prisoners. The Swift replied and tried to ram J the leading enemy destroyer. She missed ramming, but shot through the Germ an line unscathed, and turning neatly torpedoed another boat in the enemy line. Again the Swift dashed at the leader, which again eluded her and fled with the Swift in pursuit. In the meanwhile the Broke had launched a torpedo at the second boat in the line, which hit the mark. She ! ihen opened fire with every possible gun jon the remaining German Tjoats which were stoking furiously for full sieam. The Broke's commander swung a' round to port and rammed a third boat fair and square abreast of the after funnel. Locked together thus the two boats fought a desperate hand-to-hand conflict. The Broke swept the enemy's deck at point blank range with every gun from the main armament to pompom maxim, rifle and pistol. Two other German destroyers attack ed and poured a devastating fire on the Broke, whose foremast gun crews were reduced from eighteen to six men. Mid shipman Donald Gyles, although wounded in the eye, kept all the foremast guns in action, he himself assisting the crews to load . While he was thus employed a number of Germans swarmed over the destroyer Broke's forecastle out of the ram mcd destroyer to fin<jj themselves amid the blinding flashes of the forecastle guns. Swept afrin the shouting mob the midshipman amid the dead and wound ed of his own gun crew and half blind ed by blood, met the onset single hand ed with an automatic revolver. He was grappled by a German who tried to wrest the revolver from him. Cutlasses and bayonets being among the-Bfitish equipment in anticipation of such an event, the German was promptly bayon etted by seaman Ingleson. The remainder of the invaders, except two who feigned death, were driv en over the side, the two being taken prisoners. Two minutes after ramming the Broke wrenched herself free from her sinking adversary and turned to ram the last of the three remaining Germ an boats. She failed in this object, but in swinging around suelast seen, but a shell struck the engine. Hotly engaged with these two fleeing destroyars the Broke attempted to follow the Swift in the direclion she was last seen, but a shhell struck the Broke's fediler room, disabling her main enginne. The enemy on this, disappeared in the dark afld the Broke altering her course headed in'the direction of the destroyer which a few minutes later was seen heavily afire and whose crew on sighting the British destroyer sent up shouts for mercy. The Broke steered slowly toward the German regardless of danger from a possible explosion of her magazines and the German seamen t&-doubled their shouts of "save, save," and then unexpectedly opened fire. The Broke, being out of control, was unable to manoeuvre or extricate herself, but silenced the treachery with four rounds and then to ensure her own safety torpedoed the German amidships Meanwhile the Swift continued her pursuit, but the slight injuries she received earlier in the action prevented her from attaining full speed, so she abandonedabandoned the chase and sought fresh quarry Sighting the outline of a stationary destroyer, from which shouts Were heard the Swift approached wanly with her guns trained, to find dpi it was the destroyer which had already been rammed by the Broke, the Germans bellowing, "We su lender." Fearing the Swift waited, I and presently the destroyer heeled over and sank stern first, the crew jumping into the water. As no other enemy was visible, and the action, which had lasted five minutes appeared to be over, thejSwift switched on her searchlights and lowered boats to rescue the shimmers. Those who remained orthe crew of the Swift and Broke after exchanging details of the action cheered each other until they were hoarse. The British casualties are set dowix as comparatively slight, and the spirit of the wounded is illustrated by the con duct of the Broke's helmsman, Seaman William Rowles, who though hit four times by shell fragments, remained at the wheel throughout the action, and finally only betrayed the fact that he was wounded by reporting to, his Captain, "I'm going off, now, Sir," and fainted. A number of the wounded only presented them in sick bay the following day, one stoker givig the surgeon the in genious excuse, "I was too busy, Sir, clearing up the rubbish on the stokers' mess deck." The destroyer Broke was under com mand of Commander Edward R. C. R. Evans, who was second in command o& Scott's Antarctic expedition. MAP shows the loction of Dover, off which was fought a naval battle between two British and six German Destroyers. By good seamanship, dauntless courage ,and wonderful gunnery, the British sank.four of the enemy ships and chased the remaining two towards the Belgian coast. AMERICAN STEAMER MONGOLIA ACCOUNTS FOR A GERMAN SUB. Hit and Destroyed Attacking Pirate Craft In British Waters London, April 25—Captain Rice of the American steamer Mongolia, which has arrived at a British port, told the Associated Press to-day that the Mongolia had fired the first gun in the war for the United States and sunk a German submarine. He said the sub was about to attack the liner in British waters on April 19th, and he declared there was absolutely no doubt that the U-boat was hit, and there was every reason to believe it was destroyed. The steamer Mongolia registers 13,--638 tons, is owned by the International Mercantile Marine Company, and left an American port for England on April 7th, on her second trip since Feby. Ist. A man named Evans, of Bay .Roberts, insane, was brought in by last night's train for the lunatic asylum. Another male patient for "the asylum will come in from Broad Cove Saturday.WANT U.S. AID NOT ALLIANCE Balfour Tells Americans Entente Powers desire Their Assistance, Not To Embroil Them In European Politics COMMISSIONERS SPEND BUSY TIME WASHINGTON, April 25-A complete understanding of the American attitudo in the war—unreserved co-operation in the fight of democracy against German military menace without entangling political alliance— was expressed by Minister Balfour, head of the British War Commission in a state-* ment to a newspaper. "I am sure," said Balfour, "that there are some doubting critics who seem to think the object of the mission of the British and the French is to inveigle the United States out of its traditional policy and entangle it in formal alliance, secret or public with European Powers. "I cannot imagine any rumor with less foundation, nor can I imagine any policy so utterly unnecessary. "Our confidence in the assistance we ■are going to get from this community is not based upon such considerations as those which arise out of formal treaties." The Foreign Minister's statement was officially stated to haVe been made as a result of the conference during the past few days with President Wilson and Secretary Lansing. This was an eventful day for the British Commissioners, marked by a hearty welcome to France's War Commission and the delivery to Ambassador Spring-Rice of America's first loan to the Allies of two hundred million dollars. While the British visitors devoted most of the day to honoring the French Commission, they found time to complete details of organisation for joint conferences: Balfour lunched to-day with the Italian Ambassador, and was entertained at dinner at the British Embassy where a reception was attended by a diplomatic corps and American officials. Balfour appeared hearty and vigorous in spite of his sixty-nine years. RECKLESSLY WASTE THEIR BEST TROOPS Germans Show Desperate Anxiety to Check British Advance and Sustain Big Casualties {ONDON, April, 25.—Telegraphing from the British army head carters in France today Reuters correspondent says the Scarpe Valley continues to be the center of the fierce fighting now progressing all along our front from Lens to St. Quentin, and we have gained substantial successes. Yesterday we attacked with considerable force beyond Monchy and cleared various troublesome points of the enemy. No fighting proved more costly.t'o'the Germans in proportion numbers in action than have the battles of the past three days The reckless mann-r in which they have flung their troops against our positions since Monday suggests they are desperately anxious . to check our advance between Lens and Vimy Ridge, the advance that is directly frontal upon Douai. The morale of the Germans.is becoming distinctly worse notwithstanding that they fight doggedly. The best that a Sergeant, a prisoner of the First Guards, could say for his division was that the men were not quite so demoralised as were the men of another corps which he mentioned. GERMANS LOSE HEAVILY IN THE ARRAS FIGHTING Check British Temporarily By Resorting to Cost* ly Massed Attack Tactics MUTTERINGS OF DISCONTENT HEARD FROM PEOPLES OF CENTRAL EMPIRES JONDON, April, 26.-The fourth day of the terrific struggle on the British front in France has opened with both sides striving vainly for a decisi ion. The Germans have resorted to the terribly costly tactics of massed attacks and if t,hey have succeeded temporarily in checking the British advance it has been done, according to a spectator of the titanic conflict, by a staggering toll of human life. It would seem as if the revolutionary mutlerings, which were ommbusly , swelling through Europe prior to the in ception cf the great battle, were drown ed in the thunders cf the battlefield, but indications are not lacking that mo mentous events are I!.out to occur be, hii:c? the fighting lines The summary adjournment of the Reichstag when, its sittings had bai-elv cpened, is given ad, ded significance by hints in *he German press that the strike agitation in Germany may burst rnrth with renewed violence on May Day, the great Internationalist Socialists' holiday. A nation-wide demonstration in Sweden is also planned for that day and may have lis counterpart in Spain . No news of any importance has come from Austria in several day5, a fact which has given fresh vigor to the ever-recurrent rep6r'c of intentions or efforts on the part of the Dual Monarchy to seek a separate peace. No confirmation of the reports is available from any reliable source ,but there is more definite tidings of the state of affairs in Turkey, the third member of Germany's imperial Triumpirate. Returning travellers tell appalling stories of the devastation wrought by disease and starvation in the Ottoman Empire. They also repeat the oft-told story that the Turkish people are sick at heart over the war and its entailed miseries, but are kepf in subjection by the iron hand of Enver Bey and his German colleagues. Apart from France, there are few developments of importance in the war thea'ies. The British continue to drive foivard in Mesopotamia, but there is a cuiious silence in regard to the Russian armies in that region. An attack on a 'fairly large scale has beeh made, by the Alliesjjji the Sal onika front but there is nothing as yet to indicate whether a general offensive is planned in this region. Renewed German attacks on thd British positions near Gavrelle were completely repulsed last night, accord ing to official anouceraents, TROWING discontent with the German Chancellor's policy is being voiced in Germany, especially by the Socialists. These mutterings of dissatisfaction are being heard throughout the Central Empires and it is freely predicted that May Day, the International Holiday of the Socialists, will be marked by great disturbances in these countries.. YON BETHMANN-HOLL"WEGG NEW YORK PLANS RECORD RECEPTION Will Give.Historic Welcome to Allies' Commissioners, Now In U. S. For Series of Conferences fJEW YORK, April 25—New York City's welcome to the British and French Commission which are expected to come here when they have completed their work, will be made the most important event in the history of the city since the coming of Lafayette, it was announced tonight by Mayor Mitchell. Broadway. Fifth Avenue and Riverside drive will become a blaze of color by day and light by night. Plans also are being made for decorating and light ing the city's great skyscrapers and public buildings. In addition to this, all the churches, clubs, hotels, theatres and places of business have been invited to provide a display of American, British and French colors worthy of the occasion. Portraits of French and British .war heroes, Joffre, Kitchener, Roberts, Haig and Nivelle will be draped with flags and shown from thousands of windows. Dunkirk Shelled Paris, April 25—Dunkirk was bombed by German destroyeis early this morning. British and French patrol ships engaged the Germans, one French torpedo boat being sunk according to an official statement to-night. SMITES THE TURK "HIP AND THIGH" General Maude Continues To Smash Moslem Forces and Adds Greatly To His Captures [ONDON, April 25.—General Maude's . report concerning actions in the vicinity of Iszabilat, and on the right bank of the Tigris, says: The full list of our captures for two days, including those already reported, is twenty officers and 667 men, one gun of 5.9 calibre, 14 Krupp guns, two machine-guns, 1,240 rifles, a quantity of hand-grenades, two hundred rounds of gun ammunition, 540,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, four limbers, 240 trucks, one crane with spare wheels and other stores and sixteen engines. During Tuesday, after a night march, we made a surprise attack on one division of the 13th Turkish Army Corps on the west bank of the Shatt-el-Alhem. The enemy, djiven from his position, fell back on Turkish division, of the 13th corps, some ten miles. In this action 131 prisoners were taken, including four officers and many transport mules, ponies and,camels. m Ifc H H T* Tfc London, April 25—The official statement this evening by ihe war office says British forcel, in Macedonia advanced five hundred yards* along a mile front between Doiran lake and Doldziel nearSaloniki. See these D & A Little Beauty Waists which are displayed to-day in our Corset Department ttle Beauty <«^ The "Little Beauty" Waists are clung to by every mother who has bought them for her children. Well cut and well made; the buttons are good and well put on with tapes, pin tubes are on every one for hose supporters, and the prices are wonderfully low, ranging from 45 Cents,* according to size and style. - We have a full range and solicit your inspection, j BOWRING BROTHERS, LTD. i ADVERTISE IN \