GERMANY'S NAVAL DEFEAT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 129, 25 February 1919, Page 5

GERMANY'S NAVAL DEFEAT

FURTHER LIGHT ON THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND TERRIFIC BATTERING BY THE BRITISH By Telegraph—Preas Association—Copyright London, February 22. A detailed account of the Battle of Jutland* compiled from the British official records, finally disposes of the German assertions regarding the number of German ehips which escaped tho British gunfire. The -report states that twelve battleships, five battle-cruisers, and ten light oruisers were hit, while tho battleship Ostfrieeland struck a mine. Five -destroyers are known to have been sunk. The battle-cruiser Lutzow sustained at least 40 direot hits, and was torpedoed twice and abandoned, and finally sunk by two German, terpedoes. The casualties <u tho Lutzow .wero between. 400 and 600. The account vividly describes the terrible battering of tho battleship Konig and the battle-cruiser Seydlita. The former was struck fifteen times. The four forward compartments were flooded as tho result of direct hits, and lite ship settled by the head and listed to port, and the starboard compartments had to be flooded to right her. The crew of the forward torpedo tube were imprisoned, and were only extricated on June 5, when tlio Konig was dry docked :n Hamburg, being kept alive by feeding them through a voice pipe. The Seydhtz was hit by twenty-three shells and one torpedo, and was beached in a sinking condition, and was subsequently refloated and docked. | Of twenty-two German battleships engaged only ten, including tho flagship, escaped damage. A fow were .soon rfc paired, the others were laid up for months. AH the five battle-cruisers ongaged suffered heavily.- A complete record of the forces engaged is as follows British.—'Twenty-four Dreadnoughts, with ten attached cruisers; eight battlecruisers, twelve light cruisers, eight vessels of the first and second oruiser squadrons, six vessels of the light cruiser squadron; seventy-eight destroyers. German.—Twenty-two battleships, sixteen cruisers, seventy-seven destroyers. It is , clearly established that of tho vessels actually in action the preponderance of force lay with the enemy.— Renter. LORD JELLICQE'S CRITICS ADMIRAL FREMANTLE SEVERELY CONDEMNATORY. (Rec. February 25, 1.15 p.m.) London, February 20. Admiral Fremantle, in a letter to the Press, joins in the criticism of Lord Jellicoe in not closing in on the enemy at the Battle of Jutland, when he met him two hundred miles from his base, with an overwhelming superiority. He adds: "Nelson would rot have wasted time in forming line of battle. He would never have lost sight of the enemy. Admiral Jellicoe lost his chance. His book is full of excuses. The plain truth is that Lord Jellicoe, though a good officer, is not a man of action. His own defence condemns him. The annihilation of the German fleet in 1816 would probably have ended the war.--Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A WORTHLESS FLEET SURRENDERED SHIPS SHOULD BE SUNK. London, February 22. It is -understood that the British Admiralty is of opinion that the surrendered German warships are utterly worthless, and that breaking them up will involve an unjustifiable expense. They should be sunk in mid-ocean. It is probable the conference will accept this view.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRONG OPPOSITION IN FRANCE. (Rec. February 3-1, 11.50 p.m.) \ Paris, February 23. "Le Journal" strongly protests against the proposal to sink the German fleet, in view of the scarcity of metals and machinery,, especially in France. The paper 6ays that the French Minister of Marine is absolutely opposed to tho idea. France will insist on receiving a considerable part of the fleet—Renter. THE U-BOATOUTRAGES SEVEN HUNS ESPECIALLY "WANTED." London, February 22. The "Daily Chronicle" understands that ample evidence, is available that various German submarine commanders acted in contravention 'of orders. There is a real fear that these criminals may esoape to neutral countries, and must be extradited. The commission which is inquiring into the question has enough evidence to warrant the sternest measures. The authorities are particularly anxious to secure seven men who were responsible for many outrages.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.