SEA 'MONSTERS IN ACTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2818, 8 July 1916, Page 9

SEA 'MONSTERS IN ACTION

SIR JOHN JELLICGE'S DISPATCH HOW THE BIG SHIPS FOUGHT ENEMY'S LOSSES TERRIBLE HAVOC OF THE GUNS

(By Tele'graph--Pieß3 Association-Copyright Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.

London, Ju]y 6. Admiral .. Jellicoe's dispatch (the first part of.v which was published in The Dominion yesterday) proceeds: "On receipt of information that the enemy had been sighted, we started at full speed, keeping a south-easterly course for two hours, and severely testing the steaming .qualities- of the older battleships. Great credit is due to the engine-room departments of the whole fleet for maintaining a speed in excess of that of the trial speeds of some of the older vessels. .Beatty. Reinforced. "Admiral Hood, with the third battlecruiscr squadron, was in advance of the tattle fleet, and was ordered to reinforce Admiral Beatty. He first heard.gcnfire at . 5.30 p.m., and_the squadron took station ahead of the Lion at 6.20 p.m." Admiral Beatty then takes up the liar, rative: "Admiral Hood carried out the •manoeuvre magnificently, bringing his squadron:into:aotion ahead of me in a most inspiring manner, wormy of our great naval ancestors. "The third battle-cruiser stiusdron meanwhile was within 8(100 yards of the enemy's leading ship.: Pouring iu a hot lire, they caused the vfenuan ships to turn. Visibility had uow bejn reduced to four miles, and enemy' 6 ships , were temporarily lost. Though visibility was indifferent, it was undoubtedly itore favouralle to us than to the enemy. Their ships showed up clearly at intervals, enabling us to punish them very severely and to establish a definite superiority. "Reports' and' observation pro>-e that the battle-cruisers and battleships suffered considerably. The head of r;.e German lino crumpled up, leaving the tattle, ships as targets for . the majority of our battle-cruisers. Before leaving u> RearAdmiral Sii\ Evan-Thomas's r.-asiiiificent battleships wrought great execution. . "The third light cruiser squadron, including the Falmouth and - Yarmouth, tired torpedoes, one finding a mark. The cruisers then attacked the heavy ships with gunfire with impunity to themselves, demonstrating- that the'.fighting efficiency of the eiiemv'had been s<-:iously. impaired. The Indomitable reports that a ship of the Derfflinger class fell out of the enemy lino at this time." Mist Obstructs the Fight. Here ends the second extract fnin Admiral Beatty's report, and Admiral Jtlli. coe continues; "i'lashes from the enemy's guns were visible at 5.55 p.m., although no ships were distinguishable in ihe mist, and it was impossible to determine the position of the cnemj-'s battle fltet.- 'Iho 'difference-of the estimated positions in the'lron Duke's arid the Lion's reckonings added to,the uncertainty of the general situation.

"The cruisers.' under Eoar-Adpiirals Heath and Arbuthnot were now in action. The enemy light cruisers, -which sank the Defence and the Warrior, wero observed passing, down between the. Brit ish and German battle-fleets under vei-y heavy fire. The Defence' disappeared, and-the Warrior passed to the rear disabled. It is probable that Admiral Arbuthiiot, desiring'to complete the destruction of the enemy light cruisers, wa» not aware of the approach of enemy's heavy ships in the mist until ,he found himself in close proximity to ! the main Ueet, ond"before, he could withdraw nis ships he wns caught.by heavy fire and disabled. It is not known when the Black Prince sank, but a wireless message was received from the ship between 8 and 9 o'clock.

"The enemy light cruisers were now attacking the destroyers Shark, Acasta, and Christopher, with the result that the Shark was sunk. With the Grand Fleet. "By 6.15 p.m., I sighted Admiral Beatty's ships and the German battle-cruisers and gauged the position. • of the enemy battle fleet, but it was. all important to ensure that our own ships were not being . mistaken; . for enemy vessels. The fleets became engaged during, the deployment, Admiral Beatty forming the battlecruisers ahead of tho. battle fleet divisions. ■ "The battle fleet was led by the Coni-inander-m-Ghief (Sir John Jcllicoe), ViceAdmirals Sir Cecil Burner," Sir Thomas Jerram;. and Six. F. C. D. Sturdee, and Rear-Admirals Alexander L. Duff, Arthur C. Leveson, and Ernest F. A. Gaunt. "The first battle squadron opened firo at 6.17 p.m.'upon battleships of the Kaiser class, and tho other battle squadrons at 6.30 p.rni upon battleships of the Ifohig class. Meanwhile Admiral Evan-Thomas, realising the direction of the.' deployment, formed astern of tho British line under heavy fire from tho enemy's battle fleet. "An accident caused the Warspite's helm to become jammed temporarily, and took , the ship in the direction of tho enemy's line. Captain Phillpotts's clever handling extricated the ship from an awkward, situation. At this time, owing to the. mist and smoke, it was only possible to see four or five ships in the enemy's va-ii at once, and eight to twelve ships of the rear-squadion. "The action between the battle-fleets, lasted until 5.20 p.m., at ranges from 9000 to 12,000' yards. The. British ships, altering-their course, endeavoured to close with. the enemy, who constantly turned away and opened at a range under cover of destroyer attacks and smokescreens. As the effect of the British fire was felt, alterations in course brought tho British to a quarterly bearing from .the enemy battle line, but placed us between the enemy and his bases. The Iron Duke passed the wreck of the Invincible at G. 55 p.m., when the Badger waa standing by. "During somewhat . brief, periods the Germans were visible in tho mist. Tho battleships-and battle-cruisers kept up,a heavy nntl effective fire, causing me much satisfaction. The enemy's vessels were seen to be constantly hit, and soma were observed to haul out from the lino. At least ono was seen to sink. The enemy's fire was ineffective and our damage was ■ insignificant."

Battle Cruisers Join Up. Sir .Toll 11 Jellicoe ends here, and 'Admiral Beatty again takes up the narrative. "I received your signal that the course of the -fleet would be soutiwanl at 7 o'clock. We soon regained touch with the enemy at 15,000 yards, sighting two battle-cruisers and two battleships of the Konig class. Visibility improved considerably as the sun descended below tho clouds. "Again the enomy showed signs of punishment, one ship being on fire. Another appeared to drop right astern. The destroyers at the head of the line emitted volumes of grey smoke, covering the capital ships as with a pall, under the cover of which they turned away. We lost sight of them at 7.45, and I ordered the light cruisers to sweep westward. "We again located the battle-cruisers and battleships, and became heavily engaged at 10,000 yards. The Lion hit the leading ship repeatedly, _ which turnM away eight: points emitting very high flames and with a .heavy list to port. Tha Princess Royal 6et on fire a three-fun-nelled battleship. The reports from the New Zealand and. Indomitable show thnt a third ship, wliich they both engaged, hauled out of tho lini. heeling over and on fire, "Tho mist aeain enveloped tha enemy,

who was - last - seen steering' westward. All the battle-cruisers at 8.40 _ felt "a heavy shock as if struck by .a mine or torpedo. As an examination of the boi> toms showed no sign, the occurrence .1 assume indicated the blowing up of ,a big vessel. "I now believed the* enemy was northwestward, , and - that we vwere ..well between him and his base.' lii vieW'of the gathering darkness and the.fact.that the strategical position made it certain that we would locate the enemy "at' daylight under most favourable, conditions, I did not consider it'desirable; or proper to close with the enemy's battle fleet during the darkness." - V'-'!', ' Battleships in Action. 'AJmlfal Xellicoe continues "The Germans app.earetTto rely very much on torpedo attacks, which were favoured by low visibility aud the fact that we were chasing the fleet. A large number of torpedoes were apparently fired, but only one took effect; and that was upon the Marlborough; but even the,Marlborough was able to ..continiie Hn-actionr" 'lie enemy's efforts to keep- out"• of effective gun range were'aided'by the weather conditions, which were ideal for the purpose.. -,' "Admiral. Burner's first battle squadron came into action with the enemy's third battle squadron at 6.17 p.m., at a range of 11,000 yards, and administered severe punishment to the battleships and battle-cruisers. The Marlborough's fire was particularly rapid, and'effective. $ba Marlborough first fired seven salvos at a ship of the Kaiser class, and then en-.: gaged, a cruiser and. a -battleship-.until the torpedo, hit her.. .The Marlborough listed considerably to starboard, but was able to reopen fire on the cruiser. Sho then fired fourteen'" rapid salvos at another ship of the Kaiser class, hitting her frequently until, the Kaiser- vessel tnnied out .of the line. - . " '• "Tne Harlborougli. - 'set a . fine example to the squadron. ' ' ■ "The fourth battle squadron, in which" wa3 the Iron Duke, with Admiral Stuidee, leading one division, ■ engaged a squadron of the'Koeiiig .and".Kaiser claSa and some battle-cruis'era. -The. Iron DuVn opened fire at 6.30 p.m'. upon a ship of tile Koenig class at 12,05? yards. , Tha • Koemg was- qnickly- straddled,, - hitting commencing with the second salvo. The firo of the. other ships of the. squadron was principally directed on the battlecruisers and cruisers as they appeared out. of the mist; "Several hits.were observed. "Admiral Jerram's second battle squadron was in action with vessels of the Kaiser or Koenig class from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. , i Chance for the Small Fry. "Meanwhile our light cruisers and destroyers were attacking the enemy battleships with torpedoes. An explosion, on a ship of the Kaiser class was observed at 8.40. .During these .attacks four enemy destroyers were sank. The enemy was entirely out of sight at 9 o'clock. A threat of destroyer attacks and darkness made it necessary to dispose _of the fleet for the night, whilst" providing for ranewel of the action at daylight. I ac-. eordingly manoeuvred to remain between, the enemy bases, placing our flotillas in position to protect the fleet from the destroyers, while our destroyers were , fav-, ourably situated to attack the cnemyls heavy "ships. • , "The British heavy ships were not attacked: during the night, but the 4tb, Uth, arid-12th Flotillas delivered a serie3 of most gallant and successful attacks,; causing, the enemy.Josses. . .. ■•. y"Duririg the'■ attacks' the ..4th. Flotilla, .suffered severe losses, including Captain C. J. Wintour, its gallant leader. Ho brought'his flotilla- to" a"high'."pitoh o£ .perfection, arid took heavy "toll of the enemy vessels. Tho Spitfire and Ardent torpedoed enemy vessels. "Captaiu Stirling's' 12th Flotilla executed an"admirable attack.upon six large vessels, including those of the ;* Kaiser class. ' Tho third ship of the : enemy line was blown up,; and the Maenad twenty, minutes ; later torpedoed the fourth, ship. ' : "Captain Hawkley's 11th' Flotilla sank a destroyer 'at point-blank range. A heavy explosion was also observed on a battleship,of the Kaiser class during tho niglit; - - • ' "The destroyers. surpassed our very I highest expectations." ; j;'

L-, -..The ,Morning After, Admiral' Jellicoe concludes:—"At dayjii'ght on June 1 the ; Battle Fleet, whicn was southward and westward of Horn' Ueef, turned northward, in . search of the 'enemy, and also for "the purpose of collecting our cruisers and destroyers. The British l'leet remained- in the proximity of tho battlefield near ' the line .of approach to ,tho German port's until 11 o'clock in the morning, despite the disadvantage of being'a" long distance from our bases and the dangers incurred by being in waters adjacent: to- the enemy coasts, from submarines and torpedoboats. The enemy,, however, made no sign, and I was reluctantly compelled)*) come to the conclusion that the High. Sea Fleet had returned-to port. The enemy must have known .bur..ppsjtion, as a . Zeppelin was sighted, at-the 'scene of the fight. We thoroughly, parched for somo survivors, picked-up a. large-amount of wreckage, but saw-'-ho enemy ships. "We Reached our bases witnont incident on -Friday; after..a..6earch..for the Warrior, which had .evidently foundered. The' Fleet took in fuel, replenished the ammunition;, and reported ready for further-action at 9.30 on the evening of Julio 2." " The Enemy Losses. Dealing with the losses and personnel, Admiral Jellicoe says- /'The low visibility and approachjof darkness, enhanced the difficulty of giving an accurate account of the damage-inflicted fir tho names of ships ;snnk, ; : but-the schedule of losses is compiled tfroni a most careful examination of the evidence of all 'officers, who testified to seeing the enemy's vessels actually sunk, and with the aid of personal' -interviews with a large number of these officers." . Admiral Beatty's report, appended to tho dispatch, adds: "It is impossible to give a definite .statement of the losses inflicted on the enemy, but they were considerably greater than we sustained. In spite of the enemy's mimerioal superiority; our control; and drill remained undisturbed throughout. Our superiority over the enemv in this respect was very marked." Their efficiency was rapidly reduced under punishment while ours was inaihtained throughout. The behaviour of the ships'_companies under the terrible conditions of a modern sea battle was magnificent. As an instance, John Travers, aged sixteen, aboard the. Chester, was mortally wounded early in the action, yet-he remained alone,. at a: most exposed' post;.'awaiting orders, with his gun's orew dead all round him.' . " .' "I am of-the opinion,"-says'.Sir John Jellicoe," "that - the _aihed«le...gives the minimum losses. '' ~ The Admiral's Tributes. "I deeply regret the loss of the Queen Mary and the ships already reported, atld the deaths of such gallant officers as Admirals. Arbuthnot and Hood, and the six ciiptains, Sowerly, Prouse. Cay, Bonliam, 'Wintour, and Ellis. They lea officers and men who were equally' gajlant, and whose death is mourned by their'comrades. They fell doing their duty nobly—a which they would have been the first to desire. "The enemy fought with the gallantry we expected." We particularly- admired the conduct of a disabled light cruiser, which ■ passed down the British lifc» shortly after the deployment, under a. heavy fire, which she returned by the only gun left. "The action and conduct of both officers and men were beyond praise. They were cool and determined, and they showed a checriness which would have carried them ' through anything. The heroism of the wounded was the admiration of ' all. T cannot adequately- express the pride with .which the spirit of the Fleet filled me. The work of tho en-gine-room-department was excellent, and fnilures in material were conspicuous by their absence.

"I would draw special ■ attention to t.ho services of Admirals Burney and Evan-Thomas. Admiral Beatty . again showed the fine qualities , of. gallant leadership, firm determination, and correct strategic insight. Ho appreciated the situations immediately. I fully sympathise with his feelings.when the"eventing mist and failing, light robbed the Fleet of the comploto victory for which lie had manoeuvred and his ships had striven so hard. Vice-Admiral Ma<s» den's work, as Chief of Staff,' was of inestimable value. •

The. official plan of the action showj Admiral Reatty's battle-cruisers going eastward at tho beginning of the hattta

anil turning south-east when it sighted Admiral von -Hipper to the librth-east. •Von''Hipper similarly turned southeast until- tho High Sen." Fleut was sighted ahead at 5 o'clock, when Admiral Beatty, Admiral von Hipper, am! Admiral von Scheer all turned and steamed almost northward until G o'clock, when t' l<! Germans iriaflo a. eSmpleto circlo and went south-wast across Admiral Beatty's earlier track. Admiral Beatty meanwhile, going outside, the German course, turned east, and continued thus for an hour until Admiral Jellicoe joined the line, when tho whole British Fleet at 7 o'clock steamed south-west parallel.with the German line, between Germany and Jutland. Tho situation of the Germans after 8 o'clock could not be traced, owing to nightfall, but Admirals Beatty arid Jellicoe went south until daylight, when they returned to the scene of 'the liiain fight." ' MINE-SWEEPER TORPEDOED Tlie'Higli." Commissioner reports: London,-July 6,"11.50 p.m. "The Admiralty announces that on Tuesday a mine-sweeper in tho North Sea was torpedoed,' being slightly damaged, but the-vessel returned to harbour."