THE NAVAL BATTLE IN THE NORTH SEA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 5

THE NAVAL BATTLE IN THE NORTH SEA

DENIAL OF BRITISH REPORTS GERMANS REITERATE THEIR ABSURD CLAIMS OP • VICTORY ' By Telegraph-Press Association—Copyright Tne German. official report of the-Jutland Battle an:l semi-official reports. These, it says, have been systematically circulated in order to isnj the greatness eJ the British defeat. The 1 renort adds — at . 1D 13 -t" h t ri ßr f itisll fl - SSe l t "'f th 6 ? e f rm n n Flcet . quitted tlle field ' which the British Fleet remained masters. Actually, our torpedo-boats made nnnv oflWHv! attacks on the evening of the battle and forced tho Bdtish MainXVto ton round, and it was never again sighted fcy our forces, and never afctpmnf^H come into touch with us. Despite a rein forcement of twelvo vessels frnm south, the British Main Fleet did not attempt to continue the battle "The British assertion that they vainly tried to overtake the Germans i* ™ tradicted by Admiral Jellicoe's statement that the Grand Fleet returned to Scapa' Flow (in the Orkneys) on June 1. Our numerous torpedo flotillas were R Ut , • f %, a ? ,B i ht ?« ack . SOuthwar( i of . the battlefield, but failed to hnd the British Mam Fleet, despite a keen search. AVe also rescued survivors from various sui%ken vessels. "The participation of the British Main Fleet in the battle is proved by tha admission that the Marlborough was disabled, and also by the fact that our submarines sighted a vessel of the Iron Duke class, heavily damaged. We did not use either of these names. "Submarines and mines were equally dangerous to our fleet, and to the enemy's German airships were exclusively used for. reconnaissance purposes ' "The naval victory was gained by leadership, effective gunnery, and torpedo work. Hitherto we have not contradicted many of the British allegations as to the German losses, also the allegation'tliat we lost the Poniinern ivif tim iann vessel, but a modern Dreadnought. We actually, lost;-"Battle-cruiser Lutzow, 28,00 ft tons; "Pre-Dreadnought battleship Pommern, 13,000 tons : 'Light cruiser AViesbaden, +500 tons (?) ; "Light" cruiser Elbing, -1500 tons (?); "Light cruiser Frauenlob, 2G20 tons; "Light cruiser Rostock, 4820 tons; "And five torpedo boats. "The' German losses are hereby closed." The statement repeats the ullo?ation denied by the British Admiralty that tho British lost the AVarspite, Princess Royal, and Birmingham, and also that the Marlborough sank before she reached port. Tho statement concludes:—"The Battle of Skager Back remains a German victory, even on the British admissions, since they lost 117,750 tannage, compared with our 60,720.** LOSS OF THE AVIESBADEN NOW WITHHELD BY THE ENEMY. The High Commissioner reports London, June 8 6.30 p.m. "Tho Admiralty announce that the German official account of the Jutland engagement admits this morning loss of the Lutzow, the Rostock, and the Elbing, besides tho Pommern mid the Fraucnlob announced in the Gorman tifficiil communique of June 1. "But tho loss of the AViesbaden is now withheld.'' f! By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Eec. June 9, 8.20 p.m.) ~ , , London, June 8. Tho Admiralty has issued a correction which states that the full text of tho communique shows that tho Germans admit tho loss of tho AVeisbaden. GERMAN ADMISSION REGARDED AS FIRST OF A SERIES. . London, June 8. The newspapers attach the utmost significance to the admission that t-:e Lutzow was sunk, and to tbe faiiiuiis explanation that tho German Admiralty rcfruincd from announcing it "for uiilitar y reasons." It is believed that tho admission is only tho first of a series which must make a deep impression on neutrals, particularly after the Kaiser's braggadocio in stating that a fear will creep into Britain's bones." The British Admiralty, commenting on the admission that the Lutzow, Rostock, and Elbing were lost, point out that the Germans are now hiding the loss of tho AViesbaden which was admitted on June 1.

WARNING TO NEUTRALS NOT Ta -ACGEPT , GERMAN-COM-MUNIQUES. Amsterdam, June 8. A German official.message explains that the battle-cruiser Lutzow and the light cruiser Rostock sank eii routb to harbour. The loss was not admitted previously for military reasons. The "Telegraaf" declares that this admission should be a warning to neutrals to accept German communiques cautiously. ' London, June 8. The Germans admit the loss of the Lutzow and Rostock. . ESTIMATES OF THE GERMAN LOSSES BY A FRENCH PAPER: Paris, June 8. The "Journal" estimates that the Germans at the Battlo of Jutland lost 10 per cent, of their total tonnage, and the British 4 per cent. As regards the damage to vessels afloat, the British loss was 7 per cent, and tho Germans 13. THE SEDYLITZ A BATTERED WRECK. " (Rec. June 0, $.20 p.m.) ' i 'Amsterdam, June S. A traveller from Germany states that Hamburg harbour is filled with severely damaged war vessels. Among others ho 6aw the Seydlitz, her after-part torn, away, and everything on deck completely battered down. Ho learned that the majority of the crew was killed. GERMAN FABRICATIONS DUE TO FINANCIAL, NOT MILITARY REASONS. . (Rec. June 9, 9. p.m.) , Amsterdam, June 8. The "Telegraaf" believes that financial and not military reasons were behind the German suppression of the truth of the naval battle. They minimised the losses in order to obtain the new war credit. LARGE BRITISH SQUADRONS PATROLLING THE NORTH SEA' NO GERMAN .VESSELS TO BE SEEN "OFF THE COAST OF JUTLAND. ' (R«c. Juno 9, 9 p.m.) Copenhagen, June 8.. Merchantmen report seeing large British squadrons in the North Sea, including several participants in last week's battle.. No Germans were seen off tho Jutland coast, but Zeppelins were daily patrolling.

■ JUTLAND BATTLE GUNLAYER'S STORY VIVID ACCOUNT OF OPENING SCENES ' ' ' \ ■■ __L_" - ; : A REMARKABLE CHANGE . By Telcarajih—Press Association—CoEyricht London, June 8. A gun-layer on the Tiger; interviewed, stated:—After the Lion, opened fire at 18,000 yards the shooting of neither squadron was good at the outset. Soon the British .battle-cruisers comnionccd in earnI est, and the speed' of each salvo iras remarkable. The' Germans then began to get the range, and one shot out away part of the, Indefatigable's fire-control. Everyone about. 4; o'clock realised that the Germans,'besides having a preponderance of guns, had more than double tho number of vessels, 'l'hey commenced a concentrated fire; every : gun was first turned .on the Lion, but hardly a shell hit. Two asphyxiating .gas projectiles fell behind the bridge. , The two squadrons approached each other for twenty mintues, then the enemy suddenly bore away, seemingly: breaking off the action. We turned also, manoeuvring for 'fifteen minutes, when tho German squadron again approached, their guns concentrating on the Queen Mary. They had been vainly seeking the range, when, strangely enough, every shell seemed'to strike the 1 .Queen Mary at once like a whirlwind. She rolled slowly to starboard, t a huge .hole. in. her side,, and disappeared^beneath the Water, which ciished ,-in:.,'and overturned her within- a minute and a half. Only her keel was visible, then that disappeared. We were engaged by two battleships at 15,000 yards, besides which half a dozen submarines were popping up everywhere. Two submarines were sunk within ten minutes of tho loss of the Queen Mary. A battleship rammed the first and the New. Zealand's quick-firers blew the second to pieces. There was a remarkable change when the Valiant, Barham, and Warspite camo' up. They concentrated their fire on the end vessel of the German line. Within two minutes this vessel, which was a three-funnelled battle-cruiser, disappeared, only dense smoke and steam indicating the spot. She had put a lucky shot through the Barham. We saw another huge German ' vessel lying helpless, with disabled engines. She continued to fire salvoes with deadly effect till tho Barham and Valiant, at 4000 yards, literally crumpled her up. The gun-turrets aft disappeared in, sixty seconds, the masts followed, then , slowly, horribly, and methodically the great ton shells of the British vessels hit her in the same place and at the same time with wonderful, precision. They dug holes until she blew up. Subsequently fifteen destroyers in arch formation attacked lis. Our seoondary armament sank' three, one after another was crippled, and it was curious-to see one which ITa'd lost all her funnels, guns, torpedo-tubes, mast,, and bridge still travelling at fifteen knots, her. decks a:imi6s of flame. llTe' Tiger did not escape lightly. Her superstructure was riddled and her decks ploughed, up, but {Tie fatalities were few. SOME OF THE KILLED. (Kec. June 9, 9.20 p.m.) London, June 9. Commander Willougliby, • formerly flag officer to Admirals Pearson and Fawkes, on the Australian station, was killed #n the Indefatigable. Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Davidson, of the Naval Reserve, a New Zealander, died of disease contracted in the Cameroons. . A' total of 1751 was lost on the Indefatigable and Black Prince. MEMORABLE SCENE RETURN OP SHIPS TO PORT (Eec. June-9, 9.20 p.m.) London, June 9. The "Sootsmau" says the return of the ships from tho greatest naval battle presented a memorable scene. In the forefront came the mighty battleship which the Germans claim to be lying '.at the bottom of the set, with great rents in her funnels, but that she came four hundred miles on her owa steam'is some ground' tor the German feeling, that if not destroyed, she ought to have been. . She had withstood the 'fire of the 'Kaiser's mostpowerful ships, and sent two of her adversaries to the bottom. This fine vessel of the Elizabeth class has been well named. She lives in spite of the worst that naval warfare devised. , The wonderful procession of returning ships which followed her into harbour had a heartening effect on the people who had been' previously told nothing but what foreboded disaster. The battle-cruisers told another tale. Their decks were crowned with gallant men, 'who fought against great odds and won. Another vessel displayed a great dent amidships; and the funnels of another had been peppered with shell fragments. This ship is the pride of a great colony, and one of the best-known 6hips in the harbours of the world. Of all the stories told none are so thrilling as that of the destroyers' wild chas:o upon the whole German battle fleet, which drew rousing cheers from the Fleet. To seo tho flotilla line-up and head full speed lor the' Germans in a do-or-die rush made one thank God that ono was a Britisher. It was a great sacrifice.' ■ Every man knew it was death or glory when' they went racing into the veritablo hell. They got in great work, and wo saw them pounded and smashed;" but they hurled home tho attack. The Germans know how well thoy did' it in tho wild dash unexcelled on the waters'of tho world; ' • Cheors went up for the Grand Fleet

racing into action which the battlecruisers 6olidly -upheld. There was joy in the squadron and dismay in the German lines. when Sir J. Jellicoe's tlnee CTeat liners were discerned bearing clown, The enemy didn't stay long to consider the situation. SINKING THE HINDENBURG "WE PUT SHELL AFTER SHELL INTO HER.". London, June .8. A member of the crew of the battleship Malaya states that a slieU from a 14-inch gun struck one of the guns' and' killed everj man in the battery—not an atom of _tlie five men remained. Another shell struck a "turret'and, disabled.the ammunition hoist; but the work ,was carried on by hand. A shell entered the canteen, killing four. The Malaya made splendid use of her speed, which enabled her to settle the' Hindehburg. ■ "We put sliell after shell into her, and saw her turn over and sink. One of our officers was decapitated by a shell splinter. A quantity of cordite ignited, and a sailor threw himself on the heap and rolled on it until the flames were extinguished." BORE A CHARMED LIFE BATTLE CRUISER NEW ZEALAND ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, June 8. Before the British Imperial Council of Commerce and Trade Conference Sir A. Spicer read a letter from his son, a flaglieutenant on the ,N?w Zealand , battlecruiser, saying s "This, ship bore a'charmed life. She suffered least, though she was right in it tho whole time." ' H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND HER EXPLOITS IN THE BATTLE •• London, June 8. The newspapers are giving prominence to the accounts of H.M.S. New Zealand's exploit at Jutland. • •A fine painting of the New Zealand is on exhibition at the High Commissioner's Office, and is attracting miich public attention in the Strand. THANKS FOR GIFT SHIPS MALAYA AND NEW ZEALAND Y'Times" and Sydney "Sim" Services.) (Eec. June 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 8. The Press Bureau, states that the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Bonar Law), at the Admiralty's Tequest, thanks New Zealand and the Malay States for placing such valuable units in the fighting line. [TChe battleship Malaya, 27,500 tons, 8 15in. guns a sister ship to the Queen Elizabeth', was presented to Great Britain by the Federated. Malay States;] THE DESTROYER" FORTUNE ALL HER BOATS SHOT AWAY . London, June 8. A survivor from the destroyer Fortune says:—"The German battleships let rip ■it us with tHeir 11-inch guns. All our boats were shot yvay, and we took to the rafts. Of twenty-three on one raft, only, seven survived the terrors of the | night." FRENCH TRIBUTE . MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT London, June 8. ' President Poincare las 6ent a message to the King as follows:—"Now that full l and authentic information has been received as to the importance and result of. tlie EatEle, Your Majesty's brave sailors' appear in a brilliant light. The Admir- ' alty's regard for truth makes the British success evident. I convey the deep admiration of France for the victorious fighters." •• ' MORE CONGRATULATIONS FROM JAPAN AND RUSSIA • London, June 8. The Japanese Minister of Marine sends the following message:—"l learnt with deep gratification of the brilliant and stubborn-fought battle and the splendid results achieved. I heartily congratulato my British comrades on having the entire commafid of the seas, forcing the euemy after inflicting great losses to its own ports and 'frustrating their plans." The Russian Navy has telegraphed its warmest congratulations' on the brilliant success to the British Fleet.-