The Spectator

From 'News of the Week', The Spectator, 3 April 1915: Whether it is the lull before the storm or only an accident we do not know, but in any can there is a most curious absence of news both from the western and the eastern theatres of the war. In the western sea area we read of a certain amount of Zeppelin activity, but not of a very important kind. Of fresh news from the land there is very little except from the Argonne, where as neual the fighting sways backwards and forwards, but with a slight inclination in favour of the French. In the eastern theatre the reports from the centre show that the Russians are holding their own still in the Carpathians, and that their offenaive continues to gather strength and volume.

From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 27 March 1915: On Friday the Admiralty announced that they bad good reason to believe that the German submarine 'U29' bad been sunk with all hands. The vessel was commanded by Captain Weddigen, who sank three British cruisers at the be- ginning of the war, and who on March 12th, when off the Scilly Islands, destroyed three trading ships. Captain Weddigen, for the courtesy he displayed to his victims, earned the name of the "Polite Pirate." He not only expressed his regret at having to sink merchant ships, but entertained the crews and towed their boats some distance towards the land. He was brave and skilful, and as humane as his orders would allow him to be.