The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-11-11
BRITISH Defeated
IN NAVAL BATTLE
German Warships Attack -Four British
Cruisers. Sink Two; One Crippled,
Another Missing
TURKISH FORTS SHELLED
On The D%ardaneIIes BY British And
French Warships - Germans
Retreat From User

The German navy scored another
decided victory over the British when
Ave German warships met and defeat
ed four British cruisers off the coast
Of Chile. Two of the British cruisers
were sunk, n vas badly damaged
and another is missing. This makes
eleven fighting vessels the British
have lost since the war began. In the
North sea the German submarines
succeeded in sinking seven British
cruisers at various times.
Intent upon losing no time in CIV
ing Turkey a taste Of war a combined
fleet of British and French warships
hurled shells upon the Turkish forts
in the Dardanelles. The exact amount
of damage done is not known. Servia
has declared war against Turkey. The
fortified town Of Akabah, In Arabia,
on an arm of the Red sea, was shelled
by a British cruiser and later occu-
pleQ ny bTlLlSl WdTlueS.
At the eleventh hour an attempt was
made by Turkey to offer apologies to
Russia for the bombardment of the
two Russian ports and thereby avert
war with the allied nations. This
apology came in reply to the note sent
Turkey by the allies demanding re-
prisal for the bo%mbardment Of the
Russian towns and the dismissal Of
all German officers now with the Turk
ish army and navy.
The Turks steadfastly refuse to dis
miss the German officers in their army
and navy and for this reason it Is be-
lieved that Turkey will become engag-
ed in the European a Efforts have
been made by the conservative party
Of Turkey to avert war and it is said
that it was through their efforts that
the note Of apology was sent to Russia.
The young Turks, however, insist upon
war and r already making prepare
lions for the occupation of Egypt.
Much significance Is attached to the
action on the part of Turkey as it Is
believed that if Turkey declares "a
it will eventually draw other nations,
now at peace, into the conflict. Greece,
it is thought, will be sure to take issue
with the allies and wage a relentless
war against their old enemy-Turkey.
Italy, Roumania and Bulgaria may also
send their armies into the field. OF
these three, Italy and Roumania are
expected to join the allies.
After a rest Of several days the
great masses Of troops Of the allied
and German armies assembled along
the User river have resumed fighting.
The Germans, it is said, have been re-
inforced and will make another des-
perate attempt to capture the French
seaports. Another British cruiser has
been sent to the bottom Of the sea by
a German submarine. This time the
attack was made in the Straits Of Do
yer. England Is greatly stirred over
the incident as the presence Of Ger
man submarines in the straits will
greatly endanger tn movement Of the
ships between England and France.
A retaliation on the Germans for
their activities in dropping bombs up
on Paris and other French towns were
visited upon the Germans by the
French. A bevy of French airmen
flew over the German positions near
Dunkirk, dropping bombs upon the
German army headquarters, forcing
the officers to fee to the woods.
Bombs were then dropped into the
trees in the woods. It is not known
whether any German officers were
killed.
One Of the saddest spectacles Of the
war is the plight Of the Belgian ma
ton. The little army Of Belgium has
been driven entirely from its native
heath and is now fighting in the ranks
Of the allies in France. Holland and
England is o~vercrowded with starv-
ing, homeless Belgians who have fled
from their devastated country. All
possible aid is being rendered these
unfortunate people by England and
Holland. King Albert Of Belgium has
sent an appeal to the people of the
United States asking for food and
clothing for his people.