DESTROYER ACTION OFF DUNKIRK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 7

DESTROYER ACTION OFF DUNKIRK

EIGHTEEN ENEMY RAIDERS ATTACKED ONE TORPEDOED AT OSTEND BY MYSTERIOUS HIGH-SPEED VESSEL „,. . London, March 20. llio narratives of eye-witnesses of 1 10 destroyer action off Dunkirk on Ihursday state that the British destroyers Botha and Morris and the £reiicli destroyers Melil Magon and Boucher were patrolling the Channel. At dawn they heard firing to the northward, where the enemy was carrying on a futile bombardment of the deserted Drench watering places. The Allies' vessels, the Botha lending, went at full speed towards the flashes, firing star sheik, which caused the raiders to dis appear. The Allies then searched to the northwest, stdl firing star shells, and presently sighted the shadowv outline of the enemy division, sneaking off in the darkness and mist. They immediately fared heavily, and a running fight ensued. The Morris, emerging from the enemy s smoke screen, cut off and torpedoed a large destroyer, which sank. The Botha's main steam pipe was severed by a shell. She fired both her torpedoes at the leading boats, and, puttirg over the helm, rammed and cut in half a fourth enemy boat. The Botha swung round and tried to ram the next astern, which dodged, but was pounded to pieces by the French destroyers. ■

The Morris meanwhile liad relinquished tho pursuit in the smoke and mist, and took tho Botha in tow.

The French destroyers picked up the survivors. Thoso stated that tho raiders numbered eighteen. They were unhesitatingly attacked and mauled by five British and French, destroyers. The remaining fifteen, on their way home to Ostend, were bombed and scattered by seaplanes, which afterwards fought a squadron of enemy seaplanes. The troubles of the raiders were not ended at Ostend, for a sinister and unseen thing, travelling at incredible speed, rushed in a cloud of spray across the face of the water, apparently from nowhere. A torpedo struck the stem of a German destroyer, and in a cloud of spray the attacker vanished unscathed through a hail of bullets.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn .-Renter.