19 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 3

There has been some liveliness lately in the North Sea.

The German-Admiralty have stated that on Thursday week German torpedo-boats met "several British cruisers " on the Dogger ;Bank. The cruisers " at once fled." The torpedo- boats, pursuing them, sank " the new cruiser ` Arabis ' " and hit another cruiser with a torpedo. The torpedo-boats are also stated to have rescued the commander of the ' Arabia,' twa other officers, and twenty-seven men, although the surgeon

Grand Admiral von Tirpitz's successive promises ; and as for the Government, they are becoming alarmed at the dangers for Germany of a dilatory war. We should not be surprised, therefore, to find the German ships attempting sorties from the canal—movements which would suit our book very well •