A WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1929, Page 7

A WAR STORY

TllE WAESI'JTE AT JUTLAND. At 6.15 in the evening of AI ay *3l, 1910y(the battle of Jutland) the British battle fleet began its deployment, "hen the Warspite, in the 6th battle squadron, received an order to turn so as to fall in at the rear of the British battle fleet. Tire turn was to be made to port (left), away from the German fleet, which was coming up to starboard (right). As the Warspite began her turn something wont wrong with her helm. The Germans claim that she was hit by a heavy shell from the German dreadnought Kaiscrin at a range of about 12,500 yards and her steering gear damaged. The British accounts simply sav that the helm jammed so as to turn her very sharply to starboard and towards the Germans when she was steaming at a high speed. . BAIN OF FIRE. Hie great ship swung round. There was nothing to be done hut to complete the turn and face the tremendous risks it involved. In succession, as site approaphed the German line, the German battleships Friedrich der Grosse, Konig, Helgoland, Ostfrieslnnd, Thuringen, Nassau and Oldenburg onened on her with their powerful artillery at ranges of from 10,000 to 15,000 yards. The Warspite’s executive officer says of this grave moment in the battle:—

“We got heavily hit, and everybody thought we had gone. The Germans thought so too, and ceased firing, luckily for us, but they no doubt could not see us for splashes,

I spray and smoke. There was a heavy 1 pall of smoke everywhere. Terrific j rumbling of heavy firing, and the whole horizon lit by orange flashes everywhere; everything blurred and beastly.”

The same authority notes that in the Warspite the "‘men everywhere wore simply snlendfd and all very cherry. I confess (he adds) that I found it mighty unpleasant and unnerving.” B"t "rest as the danger which tin Wairsmto incurred was,’ her turn brought resell to the shattered armoured cruiser Warrior, which, in the company of tfie Defence, Sir Robert. Arhnthnot’s flagship, had a few minutes earlier come under a terrific fire from the German battle cruise,.,; „„,J lvittlcshins. They had suddenly loomed un out of the mist and smoko, and had shot the Defence to pieces.

now w * lot mu hot away. The Warrior, badly on fire in two places, with at least 14 hits from biir shells, must have been sunk but for Dm sodden intervention. As it was. the approach of the Warspite diverted from her the. attention of the Gorman mm tiers and eimVod her to make '-ood her escape to the west. The Warspite’s turn continued till, alter making two complete circles, she was at last brought under control, and was shortly after ordered to proceed to Rosvth. She had been hit 13 times with heavy shell hut was able to steam 16 knots, and her strong armour had '•aved her from grave loss of life. After all the battering she. had received, in o crew of about iPDO the killed were 14 and the wounded 16. The sick-bay was hit and was left in a dreadful state owing to a great fire which broke out there. Next day the Warspite safely renchBosyth after she had been unsuccessfully attacked bv three . German submarines, Usl, TJS2, TJ63, on of which she endeavoured to ram. One of the German boats fired a torpedo though this effected no bit. The repairs to the Warspite were not completed till July 20, so that she was out of action for nearly two months.