THE BALTIC SEA FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2506, 6 July 1915, Page 5

THE BALTIC SEA FIGHT

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ACTION (Rec. July 5, 9.20 p.m.) Fetrograd, July 5, 9.20 p.m. The Russian cruisers Rurik, Makaroff, Bayan, Bogatyr, and Oleg were returning from . operations in tho Southern Baltic when' they encountered at 8 o'clock in the. morning, between 'the island of Gothland and tlio Courland coast, a German squadron, consisting of tho Augsburg, Albatross, and three destroyers. Tho fog at that timo was so denso that tho opposing ships at times wero swallowed up in the darkness, hence tho gun-layers found it. difficult to maintain an accurate fire.

Tho Russians manoeuvred in order to intercept thq retreat of the German destroyers, .meanwhile attacking with gunfire, arid • torpedoes, none of which found their . mark. Tho German destroyers were forced to retire from the crushing salvoes of the Russian, guns. Tho half..,an hour after the beginning pf tho action, found the Russian firo too hot, and abandoned the Albatross-and made off with all speed, the fog enabling her to escape. Tho German destroyers re-attacked, pouring- off a "thick volume of black smoke in an endeavour to screen the Albatross,' which Was evidently doomed. By nine o'clock clouds of steam arose and tho Albatross took a. list to starboard. She then hauled down her flag and mado for tho coast, and as she was rapidly entering neutral waters the Russians ceased fird, The' Albatross rah ashore. ' ' . .

■ The Russians then continued northwards until ten o'clock, when they sightod several ships, including the Roon, Augsburg, four destroyers, and several submarines. The Russians immediately joined battle, andi half an hour later the German ships began to re'froat, their submarines unsuccessfully attacking the Russians. > : , The Rurik, which brought up the rear, now engaged cruisers of the Roon and Bremen classes, the latter having just arrived. The Augsberg,. which was damaged in the previous action, kept at a respectful distance. Tho Rurik, working' her gun's brilliantly, silenced the Roon's 4.Bin. guns one after another, until only one replied, while fiamos wero bursting from the Roon's decks.

Fearing complete destruction, the German cruisers disappeared in the fog. Towards the end of-the action a. German submarine again attacked the Rurik, which beat off her assailant.. ' The Russian casualties numbered only fourteen wounded, none being lulled. After the engagement the battle squadron joined tho cruisors and a flotilla of destroyers protected the larger craft from tho Gorman submarines, whose presence our patrol boats had detected. One submarine attempted to torpedo tho Rurik, but was driven off hy the destroyer Vniniatelyn, which, however, was herself damaged. ' , SHRIEK FROM THE CERMAN. PRESS. ALBATROSS'S OFFICERS AND MEN •INTERNED. (Rec. July. 5, 10.15 p.m.) Pelrograd, July 5. , Reports from Berlin state that the German newspapers insist that there lias bpen a breach of Swedish-neutrality in connection - with the Baltic Sea fight, and adviso .a strong Swedish protest, hoping that Sweden will eventually embark on an e anti-Allins policy. Copenhagen, July 5. Seven officers and '187 moll on tho Albatross have been interned at Roma; three officers and 29 men' were wounded, while several were buried. The Germans' total dead is not k 110 nil. . HEROISM IN DEATH. CREW OF A TORPEDOZD RUSSIAN TRANSPORT. Potrograd, July 4 When tho Russian transport Yonessei w sunk by « German submarino in the Gulf of Riga, early last month—32 lives only being saved—the crow behaved with'.great calmness. Capvain Froklioroff, with a midshipman, remained 011 tho bridge to the end, encouraging tho'men, wlio' sang tile Na-, tional Anthem and cheercd as i'ie vessel sank.