DETAILS OF RAID.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 733, 30 December 1914, Page 5

DETAILS OF RAID.

BRITISH SHIPS UNHURT,

Received Tuesday, 9.20 p.m. Londoiv-Tuesday.

The British ships approached .Heligoland in dark, clear weather, promising a successful raid, but a fog descended when near the coast. Nevertheless, it was decided the raid should proceed. Undoubtedly some damage was done, including fortifications and earthworks. It iS" doubtful if any ships we*e hit. The Arethusa'.s and Undaunted's six-?nch "guns made good practice against the Zeppelins, many Shrapnel bursting aboard the cars. It seems certain some hit's were made, but they were not sufficient to impair navigation. The German airmen's aim was fairly good, but apparently the nearest was 20 yards wide. One destroyer had a hot time and many narrow escapes. The Zeppelins had no terrors for the British gunners, who fought steadily and heartily as if fighting sea ships.

DESTROYERS' GOOD SEAMANSHIP.

A ZEPPELIN INJURED

Received Tuesday, 10.10 p.m. London, Tuesday

Every British ship engaged at Cuxhafen returned to its base without loss of lifa or material. One report statss that the Arethusa's and Undauntcd's high angl3 fire damaged one Zeppelin badly. Submarines constantly attempted to reach the British cruisers, but were baffled by the masterly seamanship of the destroyers, which manoeuvred at high spaed round the larger and successfully repelled every attemtp to torpedo.

GERMANS NO LONGER SAFE,

BEHIND THEIR FORT.?

London, Monday

The newspapsrs describe the air and sea fight at Cuxhafen as one of the most thrilling incidents of the war, and comment on the success of the' British arms in such close proximity to tbe Kiel Canal. They contrast the three hours' challenge with the German cut-and-run raids on English watering places, and consider this the most daring and effective reply to tJe abortive attacks on Dover and S't>ernes3.

The Times in a leader says that the attack was unique. That some damage was done was more than probable, but the moral effect wai of larger importance. Instead of Zeppelin raids upon our fleet, the tables had been turned, and German squadrons would no longer think themselves secure in the harbours and behind their fortifications.

The visit of the naval biplane to the airship shed at Brussels was another brilliant performance. Britain's young air service was rapidly adding new glory to her arms.

BRITAIN'S NEW POLICY,

FORCE GERMAN FLEET OUT. Amsterdam, Monday. Advices from Berlin state that the Cuxhafen raid is causing the greatest excitement in Germany. The damage is believed to be great, though it is officially minimised. The general opinion is that Britain is beginning a new policy of aerial attack with a view to a decisive nav»l engagement. There is much criticism at the failure of the German minefields to keep the British cruisers out of the Heligoland Bight.,. ,