BRITISH RAID ON ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 185, 25 April 1918, Page 7

BRITISH RAID ON ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND

STORMING PARTY LANDED THRILLING,STORY OF BRITISH NAVAL PLUCK By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, April 23. The Admiralty reports: "A raid was made early this morning on the Ostend and Zeebruggo destroyor and submarine bases. The forces aro returning. The scanty information 60 far available 6tates that tho raid met with a reasonable measure of suocess. The t'orco employed, except tho covering ships, consisted of auxiliary vessels and six obsolete cruisers. Five of these cruisers, filled with concrete, were used as block ships, and wero .run aground, and in accordance with orders blown up and abandoned by tho crows. Tho casualties havo not yet been reported."—Aus.-JSf.Z. Cable Assn.-Ecutcr. "AN EXTREMELY GALLANT AND HAZARDOUS ENTERPRISE"

EAGER COMPETITION FOR PLAGES IN THE EXPEDITION. 1 (Rob. April 24, 8.35 p.m.) London, Anril 23. In tbo llouso of Commons Sir Erie Geddes (First Lord of the Admiralty! gavo particulars U the attack on Zeobruggo and Ostend. Tho undertaking, in which French destroyers eo-operated, was an extremely gallant and hazardous enterprise, conducted under tho command of Vice-Admiral Roger Keyes. Tho object of the expedition was to Mock tho entrances to Zeebrugge and Ostend. Six obsolete cruisers, the Brilliant, Sirius, Intrepid, Iphigenia, Thetis, and Vindictive, participated in the attack. Tho first iivo were filled with concroto and wero to bo sunk at the channel entrances at Zeobruggo and Ostond. The Daffodil and Iris carried landing, storming, and demolition parties, which wero to destroy the head of tho Zeebrugge Mole. Tho cruiser Vindictive was fitted with landing-bows and also with specially-armed batteries, Stokes mortars, and ilamo-throwors. The men employed on the blockships, storming and demolition partiog wero selected from a large number of volunteers, and great competition prevailed. Our light naval forces from Dover and Harwich, under Commodore Tyrwhitt, covered tho operations, which were most intricate, it was necessary to adhere to a, strict time-table, ns tho undertaking involved an attack on a hostilo coast, delicate navigation without lights, added to which was the danger from unknown minefields. Tho essentials to success wero tho scientific use of smoke, cr <Øog, combined with certain wind conditions, to protect tho attackers from the enemy's batteries. Monitors wero ordered to carry out an intense bombardment of Zee'brugge for an hour. Then tho Vindictive was to run alongsido the head of tho molo, attack it with gunfire, and land her storming and demolition parties. Tho three blockships, assisted by coastal motor-boats and launches, wero ordered to make for tho entrance of the canal, run aground, and bo blown up. Two old valueless submarines wero filled with explosives and ordered to run against <ho pile-wont connecting the masonry part of the mole with tho shore, thus '.utting off the molo. Tho Operation at Ostend.' Tho operation at Ostend was simpler. Two blockships were ordered to be run ashoro and blown up at the entrance to the port. Tho difficulties hero wore increased by mist and rain, and in consequence, tho absence of effective aerial cooperation. Tho Tcsults so rar as are known wero that two of the blockships wero run ashoro at Ostend, blown up, and abandoned. It was too early yot to say definitely whether they accomplished their objective, as observation was difficult owing to tho mist. Officers in tho vicinity report that they believed that these vessels wero slightly off their course. Two out of the threo blockships at Zeebruggo attained their objectives, and wero sunk and blown up in tho entrance to tho canal. The third went aground going in, but damage, tho extent of which is not known, was Jone to tho enemy's destroyers and other craft alongsido the molo by gunfire and torpedo attacks. A motor-boat reports that sho torpedoed ono of tho enemy's destroyers which attomptod to escape to sea. One old submarine attained its objective and was blown up, destroying tho piling at tho approach to the mole. The storming parties from tho Vindictive, Iris, and Daffodil fought I with tho greatest possiblo gallantry, maintaining thoir positions alongsido tho J molo for an hour, causing much damage. Tho objectives of tho storming parties ' were tho mole, the force holding it, tho battery there, and a large seaplane base. The Vindictive, Iris, and Daffodil, after re-embarking their landing parties, with, drew successfully. This attack primarily was intended to engage tho attention I of tho garrison at. tho mole, thereby allowing tho blockships to enter tho harbour. This latter would have been impossiblo without the attack on tho mole, which was 1 successful. Casualties Heavy. He regretted that tho casualties to the personnel wore heavy in proportion to tho numbers engaged. The Vindictive had reached lier base and the Iris and Daffodil wero reported returning. Our losses so far reported included one destroyer sunk by gunfire off tho mole, two coastal motor-boats, and two launches missing. "Tho Admiralty is of opinion that the greatest possible credit is due to all concerned in this very gallant undertaking, which was carried out with 6ignal success. The co-operation between the units engaged and tho synchronisation of I all tho forces wero most remarkablo. Tho officer who developed tho smoke attack ! was killed. Most of the officers and men had boon fighting all night. Some had not yot returned. There was sufficient information to show that tho entrance to tho Bruges Canal had been properly and effectively blocked, and considerable material damage done." Mr. R. M'Kenna (a former First Lord of tho Admiralty) congratulated tho Navy on its very gallant action.—Aus.-N.is. Cable Assn.-Renter. THE KING'S CONGRATULATIONS. (Eec. April 21, 10.40 p.m.) , London. April 23. The Press Bureau states: Iho Jving has sont the following message to tho Vice-Admiral commanding at Dover: "1 heartily congratulate you and your forces on the marked success of last night's operations. Tho splendid gallantry displayed under exceptionally hazardous circumstances fills me with prido and admiration." —Aus.-N./5. Cablo Assn.-Rcutcr.