THE NORTH SEA RAID

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 7

THE NORTH SEA RAID

ADMIRALTY MEASURES DEFENDED

FIRST CONVOYED SHIPS LOST BY SURFACE ATTACK (Eec. November 3, 1 a.m.) London, November J. • Sir Eric Geddes continued: "As regards the criticism of the Admiralty, on two recent occasions I believe the criticism was based upon and caused by incom : pleto information. Taking, first, tho Scandinavian convoy on October 16. The destroyers Strongbow and Mary Hose, with three small armed vessels, only one of which was fitted with wireless, escorted 1 a convoy of twelve shipJ, bound to tho Shetlands from Norway. During the night one of the smaller armed vessels, which was fitted with wireless, dropped back 'to 6creen one ship of the convoy which had stopped owing to shifting of tho cargo. The convoy was then accompanied by the Strongbow' and the Mary Rose, both of which were fitted with wireless, as well as by two other small craft, which did not have wireless.

"About six o'clock on the morning of October 17, when day was breaking, the Strongbow sighted two ships to the. southward, which were closing fast on the convoy, the visibility being about two miles. Tho Strongbow challenged, and received an unsatisfactory answer,', and immediately the men were ordered to action stations. The enemy's first shot wrecked the wireless room and did other damage, and despite tho great gallantry, with which the captain, officers, and crew fought, the Strongbow was sunk. The Mary Rose was immediately attacked; by the two German sliips, and she was blown up by a shot in tho maga&inc.' Tho enemy vessels, which were of a very fast cruiser class, then attacked the convoy, sinking nine. "Owing to the fast escort vessel which' was fitted with wireless, being detached to screen the ship whose cargo had shifted, and owing to the ilarv Rose being sunk immediately, and tho Stpmg-bow-'s wireless beiug put out of action at the first shot, no message reached the A'dmiral commanding at the Orkneys, the Commander-in-Chief of Iho' Grand fleet, or the Admiralty, that the convoy had. been attacked until the surviving, ships arrived at Berwick. Tho Admiralty did not receive the information until seven, o'clock in' the evening."

Sir Eric Geddes asked the House to recollect that (he area of the North Sea was.lM.oofl square miles, besides a coast subject to attack of 5116 miles, whereasthe area of vision of a light cruiser squadron might be under five 6quare iniles. .....'

Tho Scandinavian convoy system was started in April, 1917. More than 4300' vessels had been convoyed, and this was the firsj. occasion on which a single ship was lost by surface attack in the Scandinavian convoy. This convoy was mentioned particularly, but our other convoys were continually passing up and down nnd across iho North Sea, and our losses with these' convoys had been proportionately less. Tho enemy cruisers made the passage at nfght-tniie, and, owing to tho circumstances mentioned, were unmolested in the daytime, and slipped back again at night-lime. After the fullest consultation no was satisfied that" file best dispositions had been made by the Com-mander-in-Chief, having regard to other duties and operations. Sir Eric Geddes paid a tribute to the gallantry and devotion of ,tho officers and men and of the sliips escorting the. convoy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Keuter. .;