TOLD BY BLUCHER'S SURVIVORS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 7

TOLD BY BLUCHER'S SURVIVORS

A TERRIFYING ORDEAL OFFICERS LOSE THEIR BEADS ! BRITISH IN A HOT FIGHT • Vivid stories by German survivors of the sunken Blucher in th« North Sea'- figlit are an arresting feature of the "war news to-day. The British gunnery was, it is admitted by the Germans, deadly in accuracy, and most terrifying and nerve-racking in its moral effects, so much so that those in authority are stated to have lost their heads. The Seydlitz and the Derfflinger, two other battle-cruisers of the raiding squadron, are said to have just managed to make port badly crippled. A characteristically British note is struck in an account which states that the Gormans on the doomed Blucher were mercifully warned by a British officer 'of the approach of the final blow, a torpedo from the Arethusa, "Torpedo coming I" he shouted through his megaphone, the remnants of the Blucher's crow jumped for the sea, and hundreds of planks were thrown to them. On land there has been considerable activity. Monday's fight -at Givenchy, near La Bassee, is described as having been the bigV gesfc conflict in which tho British have been, recently engaged. The German attack resolved itself into a desperate attempt to break the Allies' line, and so fierce was the onset that the momentum of the ■ attack carried the Germans into tho temporary possession of certain points, but only for a while, for when the action terminated the Allies had regained all points, and established fresh ground. The German losses were severe. The crew of the German Zeppelin which dropped bombs on the undefended Russian Black Sea port of Libau are'not, it is stated, to be accorded the usual honours .of war, but are to be treated as ordinary criminals, and tried by court-martini on a charge of murder, in that they bombarded an undefended town and killed civilians. German BATTLE-qRUiSER fleet CRIPPLED FUTURE ACTIVITIES CURTAILED THREATS OF INVASION LESS FEASIBLE ByMegraiA—Press ABSooiation-Oopyrigirt i London, January 28. Sailors who participated in Admiral Beatty's fight assume that Nowcastle was the Germans' objective. _ It is pointed out that the serious damage suffered by the two berman battle-cruisers engaged in the fight leaves only two ships of this, class fit for immediate use. Indeed, if tho Von der Tann is absent trom the enemy s raiding squadron, as reported, on account of a collision with another German ship previous to the last raid, Germany has only one battle-cruiser. , ■ "The German threats of invasion," remarks the limes, instantly become less feasible. The transports necessary for such, an expedition require protecting cruisers, and Germany, never well off ur cruisers, cannot-, now supplv the transports with the requisite protection until the damaged ships are repaired. The result of Sunday's battle, therefore, lessens the possibility of either further raids or invasion." BRITISH SHELLS TERRIFYING] SEAMANSHIP MARVELLOUS ■ (Rec. January 29, 8.30 p.m.) . London, .January 29. The Arethusa finished the Blucher with a couple of torpedoes. One of the Blucher's officers confessed that "the Fatherland might beat England on land, perhaps, but on sea never.'.'• Another remarked: "Your-shells were terrifying, and your seamanship A member of the Arethusa's crew states that the Blucher's men were came to the last. "They lined the rails,,and when one of our officers megaphoned- 'Torpedo coming,' they instantly dived overboard. Wo threw over hundreds of planks, to. which tho Germans clung until they were picked up." FRIGHTFUL INFERNO ON THE DOOMED BLUOHER. (Rcc. January 29, 11.20 p.m.) 1 - London, January 29. Narratives of Blucher' survivors show that the British broadsides made the ship reel The guns wore torn from their settings, and whole gun-crews were hurled to destruction. Men were swept off the deck like flies. Everywhere blood trickled end flowed. Shells burst in the interior of the vessel in a halo ° Those in authority lost their heads and their nerves, and were unable to stand the strain. SEYDLITZ .AND DERFFLINGER TOTTER HOME. (Rcc. January 29, 11.20 p.m.) . London, January 29. / i It is reported that the Seydlitz and Derfflinger got home little more than afloat The former was on fire and the Derfflinger had every gun out of action, . besides being damaged astern by a torpedo. — • VON DER TANN RUMOUR DENIED. • London, January 28. The Admiralty states that the report that tho German battle-cruiser Von der Tann had been damaged in" a collision with another German ship, is without foundation. ■ BRITISH STOICISM PUZZLES FOREIGNERS. ' ' _ London, January 28. A Canadian correspondent notes the calmness with which London receives victories, there being no signs of public rejoicings. - Of thirty flag-poles in the vicinity of Piccadilly, only five displayed flags. This seeming indifference runs parallel with the country's strenuous preparations and increasing work, and has puzzled evorv foreign observer. NEW ZEALAND'S GIFT BATTLE-CRUISER *' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S LETTER TO MR. CHURCHILL. London, January 28. The warship New Zealand is receiving a full share of the plaudits for her part in the North Sea engagement. Special prominence is given to a statement by the Now Zealand High Commissioner (Hon. T. Mackenzie), who in wntuig to Mr. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty), says:-"lhe gift ot New Zealand's ship was a most far-seeing act of statesmanship. Events are showmg every day that the vomip; States of the Empire are getting.past the period of infancy, and are feeliii" the power of youth in their sinews, ihey are nobly taking then' share in mamtainin" tho integrity of tho Empire, and what has already occurred in the way of support from tho Dominions is only the beginning of things. Canada will undoubtedly soon follow in the naval lead already given. When tho war is over other conditions will rcquiro management, and m proportion of whit each Dominion is doing will bo its voico in the Councils of the Empire, where the first and foremost planks will be efficient defence." A WORD FOR THE NAVY OF OUR BRAVE ALLIES. London, January 28. Kn officer says: "The public does not give the French Navy half the credit ~., ' tn u French hold tho command of tho Mediterranean, and not we. Their shins are often fifty and-fifty-six days at sea," perhaps thrice aiicborim> .: M• U" climat- in «!• Adriatic l<t J«Bt M \M* M ft** «•$ tl*-J»«H* P«*.'» ~"TiW' uul ifaHuw "*»"