NAVAL BOMBARDMENT OFF BELGIAN COAST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2549, 25 August 1915, Page 7

NAVAL BOMBARDMENT OFF BELGIAN COAST

ZEEBRUGGE SHE!,LED BY BRITISH FLEET GERMAN DESTROYER SUNK OFF OSTEND Br Telegraph—Piese Association-Copyright , Amsterdam, August 23. The Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" states that the German batteries at' Knocke, Heyst, and Zeebrugge replied to the British bombardment, which was direot-ed against a factory between Zeebrugge and Lissewegjhe. lie German reply weakened and then ceased. The "Handelsblad" (Dutch) says that five British battleships bombarded Zeebrugge Harbour with good effect. LATEST ACCOUNTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT ? EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT ZEEBRUGGE. ' ( (Rec. August 24, 10.40 p.m.) , , -, Amsterdam, 'August 24. The British bombardment /of Zeeb ruggee.began at sis o'clock on Monday morning and lasted for three hours._ The shock of the detonations smashed many windows in the houses in Dutch Zeeland. The warships did excellent shooting against the vessels in the harbour. A destroyer crept daringly inshore and drew the fire of the Germans and the battle-cruisers plumped shells on the sand dunes where sixteen bit* guns of 'the defenders of Zeebrugfce were concealed. The British shells thoroughly searched the dunes. Tlie German garrison at Zeebrugge remained in specially prepared shelters, but the marines at Knocke assembled behind the Grand Hotel, tho officers fearing a British landing. ' A German aeroplane directed the fire of the German batteries. The Germans apparently were surprised, and the defences were hurriedly maimed but these, practically, did not interfere with the British ships, which were twelve miles out. ' ' Tho British fire was concentrated principally on Zeebrugge and the inner harbour, where the parts of now submarines were being assembled, and also on tho poison gas factory at Lissewghie. Heavy smoke clouds were seen over tho harbour and the factory. It is reported that Knocke is on fire. Tho harbour works at Zeebrugge were extensively damaged, while several guns at Heysf and Knocke were put out of action. Most- of the German shells fell short, whilo some of tho British shells exploded in the country behind Zeebruggo. \ HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. / _ , London, 'August 24, 5.30 a.m. "Tho 'Morning Post's' Amsterdam correspondent says that early on Monday a British squadron heavily bombarded the Belgian coast and the German fortifications at Knocke and Zeebrugge, The damago done is not known, Tho attack was maintained for several hiours. The. reply of tho German' batteries was ineffective.", FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNTQUK. Paris, August 23. Official.—two French torpedo-boats sank a German'destroyer off Ostond oil Sunday night, after a fight in which our torpedo-boats sustained insignificant damage to their hulls. (Bee. 'August 24, 9.20 p.m.) Paris, August. 2-1. A commimiquo states: "Tho oneiny shelled Arras, Montdidier and Bcims. W® effectively rcpillfed their nttpsta: ''Our mine as plosion dostroyed an advanced enemy trench oa tha Perthes Jroat.'-i ;

GERMAN OFFICIAL' COMMUNIQUE, J i Amsterdam, 'August 23.' ji A German communique states: "Early on Monday morning an enemy fleet of forty vessels appeared off Zeobrugge. and then disappeared in a north-westerly direotion, after being attacked by our coast artillery."- '' SHARP FIGHTING IN THE yOSGES BAILWAY COMMUNICATIONS SHELLED BY;-''AIRMEN.: The Commissioner reports:— London, August 23, 4.25 p.m. 11l the Vosges, on the crests of the Linge Kopf ajid Barren Kopf, after lively fighting and a particularly efficacious preparatory, fire, the French mastered somo trenches. "On Sunday, the French airmen bombarded the railway stations at Hen-m-Lietard, and Loos (in Flanders), and the Lille-Douai railway (in North France)." THE GERMAN. VERSION. „ Amsterdam, August 23. A barman communique states: "New fighting developed along the Linge-kopf-Sc'hratzmaenolle-Barrenkopf line. Strong French attacks on Sunday evening wore partially carried into out trendies. Counter-attacks drove out the French from the Lingekopf, "We shot down an English aeroplane south-west of Lille."