NATION THRILLED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 186, 26 April 1918, Page 5

NATION THRILLED

THE NAVAL EXPLOIT OFF THE BELGIAN COAST SURVIVORS' STORIES GERMANS COMPLETELY SURPRISED London, April 24. Vicc-Admival Reyes's dramatic exploit has thrilled tho nation. It recalls tho pluckiest of the okl-timo fiutiiug-out expeditions. Tho guniire was heard on iho British coast during the greater part of tho night. There was intenso excitement at Dover nnd Deal when the ships returned, and the survivors told their tale. They were etrange-lookiiui objects. Many were black "as niggers; others, halfnaked owing to the loss of their kits, limping along, their limbs having been roughly bandaged during the hurried escape after the expedition had been completed. Survivors slato FiTat they completely surprised (he Germans. The expedition reached Zeebruggo harbour nlinost unobserved, though iho first cruiser to enter rammed a German destroyer, which was attempting to slip out at high ppeed. Tho destroyer was cut aniidshipn, and sank like a stone. Meanwhile, tho shore batteries caught a glimpse of the Vindictive, and sent up starshclla, making tho night appear as broad daylight, Every battery concentrated its firo on Iho attacker.?. The shells were of all calibres, including 17inch. The Vindictive got inside the mole, nnd she waa_chiefly damaged above the waterline, owing to the protection from tho mole. Enemy Bolts En Masse. When the British marines and sailors landed, the Germans, with almost oue voice, shoutod: "It's the Americans! It's the Yankees!" The Germans bolted en tuasso from the nearest batteries, leaving the guns to tho British. Some of tho British boats boarded tho German destroyers anchored in tho harbour. Thwe. were also surprised. Some of the Germans hurried up the gangways wearing their nightgowns'. Before they could reach the decks they were tapped on tho heads with stout sticks which tho men' carried in addition to the rifles. The German guns on the decks were sfii\ covered by tarpaulins. The sailors and marines on tho moles quickly destroyed the guns, while the fiame-tnrowera attacked the sheds and munition 3tores. Meanwhile the laden cruisers reached the harbour, and were eunk. Then the Vindictive picked up the lauding parties and tried to leave tho harbour. The escorting ships scarcely believed it was possible for a vessel so damaged to keep ailoat. The stokers wore so energetic that the Vindictive tame back throwing 10ft. flames from tier funnels, and perhaps in the fastest time 6he ever accomplished. The German'land batteries fired thousands of shells, in the hope'of hitting the escorting ships, which did not reply, in order not to reveal thoir whereabouts. Some of the 6iirvivors beiievo the raid also resulted in the blowing up of tho lock-fate at the cntranco to the Bruges Canal.

The artificial fog screen used wns invented by Wing-Commander Frank Brock, a son of the well-known fireworks maker, who was killed during the raid on Zeobrugge. ZEEBRUGGE LOCK GATES DEMOLISHED London, April 24. Somo of. the seamen engaged in the raid state that two destroyers blow up the Zeebrnggo lock-gates. Thoy saw the water in Bruges Canal running out, and the ships at the docks were straining at Hieir hawsers. Experts think tho Bribes Canal has been effectively blocked. The entrance is 508 ft. wide, and two ships of 300 ft. eacli were sunk Broadsido on. The sen. wat«r_ will quickly turn the cement into a solid concrete vM\, taking skilled underwater workers with special plants many weeks to remove. Tho naval correspondent Ojf "Tho Times" expects lessened shipping losses, as Ostend and Bruges are temporarily eoaled up. British airmen will photograph tho damage, and delay and obstruct repairs by bombing raids.—"The Times." LEFT TO FIGHT IT OUT

(Bee. April 25, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 24. Other survivors state that "before destroying the guns on the molo the landing party turned them against the enemy's fortifications. Ihe- Vindictive left a number of men on the mole. Some of these wero subsequently taken oft' by patrol boats and launches. Others roinained and completed the task of destroying tho military works, knowing that they would either be killed or taken prisoner. Tho British destroyer which -was reported lost received a salvo of guns in the engine-room, and dashed for the shore in a sinking condition. She was ultimately beached. Another destroyer took off the survivors, and then blew up tho stranded vessel. There <iro oonflioting stories of tho enemy's losses. Some of the survivors etnto that in addition to tho destroyer which was rammed, two destroyers wero Blink in tho harbour, one was sunk alongside the molo, and other 6inaller craft, including submarines, are reported to have been sunTc.—lus.-TTX Cable Assn. WORSE THAN THE LANDING ON CAtUPOLI J London, April 24. The nowspapers ip not merelv pay a tribute to tho initiative, resource, and daring displayed in the raid, but also to tho elaborate preparations, which included rehearsals, for weeks. The men state that they wero an hour ashore, and .were subjected to terrific machine-gun fire, which they returned with Interest. A Gallipoli veteran eald that while it lasted it was much hotter than tho Dardanelles landing. When the j men returned to thoir cruiser they found , her decks torn up by tho enemy fire, and that few of tho crew had escaped injury. ■Exports believe that the results will bo of paramount importance, not merely in sealing tho Zeobruggq hornets' nest, but probably because of its connection with a contemplated greater operation.—Houter. • GERMAN VERSION OF THE ATTACK (Itcc. April 25, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 21. A German official report referring to the raids at Zeebruggo anrl CMencl, says: "The enterprise, which was conceived on a largo scalo, and planned regardless of sacrifice was frustrated! Small oruisors, escorted by numerous' destroyers and motor boats, after a violent bombardment, pushed forward under a veil of artificial fog near Ostend and Zcebruggo to quite noar the coast, with the intention of destroying the locks and harbour works. Only forty marines got on the j tuolo. Theso fell into our hands—some j nrn nlive and some nro dead. Both parties fought on a narrow high wall with | Hip utmost iiercenoss." I The report claims that the ships Intrepid and Sirins, and two others of! similar construction were sunk close lo > Ihn const, wliilo tlrreo destroyers and a ' considerable number of tornwlo bouls i wero also sunk by arlillory fire. "Only ' j! few of tho crews could be Saved. He- | vi)ii(f thf ilnmafio to- tlip molp In- n lor- j ni'rio. the harbour ,w>rl;s nml ennst lint- ' iiM-s wore not damaged. One oF our lorlicih) bo-ih suffered sliglil dnniaw. Our rrnin! I, '"'! ''.-iM'i , slifjllt."—Aiib.-N./i. C'nhlo Assii.-Renter. (fioc. April 25, 11.55 p.m.) London, April 2J. The German official report claims, inter nlin, that Ihe Germans saul; tliri'O ili-!|lovers ami Ihrfe siiinll cruisers durisi« I'lC alt'ick on Zwbnigyp and Ostoml on April 2.'t.-Ans.-.\,Z. Cable Ai-sn.-lieu-ter.

LATER OBSERVATION (Rec. April £i, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 21. J. no Admiralty reports:—"Following upon yesterday's operations our aircraft named out observations and bomb attacks. Owing to tho clouds, our nianlunes descended to lifty feet, and obfiorved 11 clear break twenty yards wido lit the end of, the Zcobntggo mole. A sunken object was seen lying between tho piers at Ostend, blocking the greater part of the fainvny. Numerous bombs ivero dropped on objectives on ehore."— Aua.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE BLOCK-SHU'S. (Rcc. April 25, 7.15 p.m.) London, April U. Participators in the raid shite that the concrote-laden ships wore anchored at the entrance to tho harbour. They were thon swung round mid sank within twenty-three minutes of anchoring.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMANDERS REWARDED (Rec. April 25, 11.30 p.m.) London, April 21. The Press Bureau states that VicoAdmiral Keyos has been promoted Commander of llio Bath iu recognition of his services at ZocbnigJi-. Commander Carpenter, of the Vindictive, has been promoted captain.—Aus.-N.Z. Cnblo Assn.Rculcr. : AMERICAN NAVALMEN OVERJOYED " Washington, April 24. Navy men are overjoyed over the Ostend and Zeebruggo -aid, which is taken as indicating tho possibility of a naval initiative by the Allies. PRELUDE TO A LOCK-UP OF GERMAN SEA BASES. Washington, April 24. Navy officials, commenting on the botti-ing-up of Zeobrugge, believe that the Allies have begun an offensive against submarines which will include the blocking of German bases rnd increasing the minefields. They also believe that new detection devices will bo used, and that an increased use will be made of air-craft.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A SEA ENCOUNTER. (Rec. April 25. 11.55 p.m.) London, April '21. .A report from Berlin states: "Our patrol encountered small enemy ivnrships on April 20, northward of Terschelling. After a short fight tho *nciny retired at full speed. They were hit sovoral times. There were no German losses."—Aus.- ; N./i. Cable Assn.-ltouler.

EXECUTIONS IN BELGIUM. Amsterdam, April 24. Of G3 persons court-martinlled at Antwerp on charges of espionage, 24, including a nun, were sentenced to death. Seven, including a priest, were immediately executed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.