MORE LIGHT ON THE SEA-FIGHT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2794, 12 June 1916, Page 5

MORE LIGHT ON THE SEA-FIGHT

WHAT NAVAL OFFICERS SAY THE ENEMY'S LOSS IN SUBMARINES By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. June 10, 3.20 p.m.) „ London, June "J. officers on. furlough are amazed at tho Germans' claim to a naval victory. They describe the attacks: by the enemy's destroyers as feeblo in the extreme. It seemed, as if they did not dare to persist in - their attacks. Their firing was accurate at first, but directly the ships were hit it became wild. One officer states that tho Germans lost two vessels of tho Kaiser class, two tattle-cruisers, four cruisers, and twenty destroyers. Five of the German big ships were on fire. The second salvo from a British vessel at eight thousand yards disposed of all the turrets on the Lutzow (battle-cruiser) except one. The Lutzow then burst into flames from aft to tie foremast, FIVE GERMAN SUBMARINES FAIL TO RETURN (Rec. June 10, 3.20 p.m.) • Copenhagen, June 9. Messages from Kiel state that live of fsie German submarines have not re. turned from the Battle of the Skager Hack, and are regarded as lost. OVER THE, SCENE OF THE BATTLE •'"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) Copenhagen, Juno 9. The steamer Vanda reports that sho passed on Saturday a wreck of a gigantic warship in the North Sea, of unknown nationality. The Vanda steamed for three hours through life-belted sailors. The lotters "II A P" were visible on one lifeWit, , THE NEWS IN JAPAN v •'"Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.), London, June a'. The "TimesV correspondent at Tokio says' the extraordinary hattle news Te. ceived on Saturday greatly depressed the foreign communities, but further reports restored confidence. The battle is now seen in its trtie perspective. The Naval Department in publishing communiques from its own official reports confirming tho British statement. KING'S REPLY TO FRENCH FELICITATIONS ! Paris, June 9. ' King George warmly, thanks M. Poincare For his high tribute to the naval victory, notwithstanding the enemy's effort to conceal the truth. Tho King adds: "I am happy to find France ana our Allies appreciated the glorious results my brave sailors obtained." THE NEW ZEALAND IN ACTION London, Juno 9. Accounts of the New Zealand's part in the naval battle show that she battered and helped to sink a big Gorman ship. Sho herself was only hit once. The shell struck a turret, and displaced a piece of armour plate a, yard square and seven inches thick. This fell on the deck, and the ship's company intends to present it to a New Zealand museum. The New Zealand had' tho good fortune to escape the first terrific onslaught, in which the British suffered the heaviest damage. The Queen Mary was the first to go, and she closed up like a claspknife. The Invincible and Indefatigable next succumbed. , The, New Zealand was now in the hottest corner, where the converging German salvoes intensified the danger; and the Now Zealand was firing as fast as the men could serve the guns. Tho Lion, Tiger, and Princess Royal, with the assistance of destroyers, were engaging tho entire German fleet. At this stage a .spirited oncounter took place with the German battle-cruiscr whose loss is now admitted (Lutzow?) . ' The New Zealand entered tho action Ave minutes after it commenced, and remained an active and formidable unit throughout. She was superbly handled at top speed, and licr almost miraculous escape was duo to her constant movement, and her not offering a standing mark to the German gunners. THE NIGHT PURSUIT BY THE DESTROYERS London, Juno 9.' A member of the Sparrowliawk's crew gives vivid details of the destroyers' night pursuit of tho enemy. The Sparrcwhawk and other destroyers were busy in the day time encircling Admiral Jellicoo's battleships, and praying fur dusk to give them a chanco to get among tho enemy. The moment it was dark enough the destroyers slipped and raced away, using every pound of steam, tho Tipperary lead. Every man knew what was expected of him. The Sparrowhawk's crow started up a popular song, tho next ship took up the refrain, and ere long all the -ships' crews were singing as the vessels raced along, until the flotilla commander reluctantly ordered the singing to stop and tho men to keep quiet. Presently tho German hulls'were visible through the gloom. Almost at tho same instant the Germans began to fire. The Tipperary was first hit and soon sank after she had launched two torpedoes at a German cruiser. Tho Sparvowhawk was now leading. Several shells hit her, but she fired two torpedoes, which apparently got home. Suddenly a. German cruiser rammed the Sparrowhawk and sliced off her bow, but

she remained afloat firing'her guns. Next . her stern was blown off, but thp remainder of tho vessel still floated, A British' warship rescued the crew, and then blew up the derelict. A SEA AFFAIR OFF ZEEBRUGGE (Rec. June ,10, 8.20 p.m.) ■ " London, June 9. Official.—A British patrol, consisting of monitors and destroyers, engaged German destroyers eff Zeebrugge. The latter returned to port when the monitors fired. Wo sustained no casualties or damage, '