THRILLING STORY OF BRITISH PLUCK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 203, 16 May 1918, Page 5

THRILLING STORY OF BRITISH PLUCK

HOW THE VINDICTIVE WENT TO HER DEATH SURPRISE DASH FOR OSTEND PIER THROUGH A RIOT OF I ARTILLERY London, May U. Tho Admiralty has issued the following account ul' the Ostend operation, in. a report dated Dunkirk, Hay 11: "Tho Sirius lies in tho surf some two thousand yards east of tho entrance, to Ostond harbour, which she. failed so gallantly to block. Tho planning and execution of tho new enterprise was entrusted, to Commodore Hubert Lynes, wlio had directed the previous attempt to block the harbour with the Sirius and lie Hrilliant. On the formor occasion unforeseen and unforsceablo conditions fought against him. On this oceaeion. tlio main problem was to securo tlio effect of a surpriso attack upon the enemy, who was clearly expecting him. Tho Sirius and tho Brilliant, hud previously been baffled by tho displacement of the Stroom linnk buoy, v. hi«h marked tho channel to tho harbour entrance, but sinco then aerial reconnaissance showed Vhat tlio Germans hail removed tho tflioy altogether; there were no guiding marks of any kind. They had also cut gnps in the piers as a precaution, against a. landing. 'Furthermore, when at midnight on May i) tho ships moved from their anchorage, it; was known that some jiino German, destroyers wero patrolling the coast.

A Good Night for "The night was favourable for the enterprise, with little wind, no moon, and a. still sea. Tho sound from Dunkirk of sudden, brief gunfire announced that German aeroplanes were about. The Vindictive, seen mistily through the streaming smoke from the funnels of the destroyers, plodded silently to her goal. She receded astern as a destroyer raced on to lay tho light-buoy which was to be her guide,, and then passed thence into the hands of small craft, whoso mission it was to guide and hide her in the clouds of a sinoko screen. The a,bsoncß of a preliminary bombardment was the first surprise element. A time-table had been laid down tor every stage of the operation. Monitors, anchored far out to sea, awaited the signal to fire their great siego batteries. Tho Royal Marino Artillery in Flanders stood by to neutralise tho big German .irtillery along the coast, and tho airmen, who woro to collaborate with an aerial bombardment of tho town, waited somewhero overhead. Destroyers patrolled seawards'of the small craft. "The Vindictive, guided by the lightbuoy, arrived where a motor-boat awaited by a calcium flare ready,upon the old position of the Stroom Bank buoy. The Dash.

. "Some minutes before her arrival there the signal was given to> the guns to open fire. Two motor-boats dashed in and torpedoed the high wooden piers. Simultaneously shells came from the monitors at. sea, and tho surprise part of the attack was sprung. Jn. spite of| tlio Germans' watchfulness it scorns to have been complete. Hitherto not a shot had been fired from tho land. The- motor-launches, manned by the Naval Volunteer Keeerve, worked maguincantly, and produced the likeness of a dense sea mist on either eido of tho Vindictive's course. Then tho guns roared into action, and a tremendous uproar ensued as the German lotteries, with guns from eix inches up to 15-inch naval pieces, fought a duel with' tho Royal Marine Artillery. The Germans opened lira at tho monitors, and tho marines and monitors replied. Meanwhilo tho aeroplanes bombed niqthqdical'ly. Through tliis conflict tho Vindictive, without hurry, approached tho entrance. Then a sea fog camo on, and tho destroy-c-re had to uso lights and syrens to keep in touch with uach other, and the air attack was suspended. The Vindictive, with somo dislanco still to go, found herself in darkness. The motor-boats were supplied with flares capable- of illuminating 6qunro luilos of sea, and they escorted her to the entrance; but tho fog 'and smoko together were too donso 6\en for the flares.

The Vindictive Steams In. "Tko Vindictive cruised about to find tho entrance, and during the third attouipt tho mist lifted and she saw tho entrancp dead ahead. A inotor-boat dashed up, raced into tho opening undor heavy fire, and planted a flare on tho. water between tho piers. "Tho Vindictive steamed over it, and on. Sho was in, Tho guns found her at onco, and sho was hit every few seconds after sho entered the channel. The decks and upper works wero swept by a hail of lead, which converged upon her from machine-guns ashore. Tho after-control was demolished by a'6hell,.which. killed all its occupants, including Sub-Lieuton-ant Maclacnlan, Ike commander. Commander Godsal and his officers proceeded to tho conning-tower, and observed the eastern pier. They beached tho vessel two hundred yards from tho seaward end. Then tho Vindictive'* helm was put to starboard, and she laid her battered noso to the eastern, pier and prepared to swing her length across the channel. At that moment a ehell 6truck tho conningtower. The Vindictive lay at an angle of- Wdeg. to the pier, and seemed hard and fast. After vainly working the engines for some minutes tho order was given to abandon tho ship, and this was dono after blowing tho charges. .The ship sank about six feet, and lay .upon tho bottom of tbo channel . her work dono. Commander GodsaL presumably was killed by the sholl which struck the conningtower/ Most of tho casualties were incurred whilo tho ship was being abandoned. Tho men behaved with cheery discipline and courage."—AU6.-N.Z. Cablo Assu.-Reuter.

LYING GERMAN COMMENT. (ltec. May 15, 7 p.m.) \ i London, May 14.' A wireless Gorman official message claims that an examination of the Vindictive lias proved that the vessel contained no cement. Tho report proceoda to state that the Vindiotive was not blown up by the English, but was sunk by German fire. Tho British Admiralty comments: "These statements aro entirely false."— Aue.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Router.

AIR RAIDERS BUSY AT ZEEBRUGGE HARASSING TASK FOR THE GERMANS. (Ike. May 15, 7 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 14. Koports from the frontier stato that aerial raids aro inflicting heavy losses. Tho Germans aro repairing the damage iihat was dono at Zeobruggo by tho naval raid, but little progress has been made; Soldiers, assisted by tho male population of Zeebruggo, aro engaged in tho ■work, and aro continually compelled to re-commence their task lifter a bomb has burst.-Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.