NORTH SEA FIGHT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 740, 27 January 1915, Page 5

NORTH SEA FIGHT.

GERMAN RAIDERS CAUGHT.

BATTLE CRUISER SUNK. London, Sunday. Admiral Beatty's squadron, while cruising in the North Sea, sighted four German battle cruisers, accompanied by a number of destroyers, making for the English coast. When the Germans caught sight of the British ships they fled. Admiral Beatty's. squadron pursued the flying enemy, and a running fight ensued. The armoured cruiser Blucher, a Vessel of 15,550 tons, was sunk. Two of the enemy's battle cruisers were seriously damaged by the fire from the British ships.

TWO CRUISERS CRIPPLED.

ELEVEN BRITISH WOUNDED. London, Sunday. The fight in the North Sea began at 9.30 between the Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal, New Zealand, and Indomitable, and the Derfflinger, Seydlitz, Moltke, and Blucher. Thoßlucker capsized and sank at one o'clock. The remainder of the German squadron, including the two that were crippled, reached the security of their own mine area. The British casualties were eleven men wounded aboard the Lion. One hundred and twenty-three of the crevv of the Blucher were rescued.

LIGHT CRUISERS ENGAGED.

FIRING OPP HOLLAND. London, Sunday. Commodore Tyrwhitt's torpedo flotilla participated in the fight. The German squadron included several light cruisers. The enemy dashed homeward at a high speed when the British ships Were sighted. Some firing was heard off the coast of Friesland, in the north of Holland, indicating a fight north of the Ameland and Schiermonnikog Islands. The Admiralty has not received any reports of light cruiser and destroyer fighting, though some apparently has occurred.

The Blucher was launched in 1908 and 2ompleted in 1909, coming just after tha Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. She was, however, a great improvement upon those vessels in every way, her tonnage being 15,550 against their 11,420. The Blacher's 32,000 horse power gave her a speed of between 24 and 25 knots. Her armament consisted of twelve 8.2 inch guns, the weapons carried by the Scharnhorst, eight 5.9 inch guns £nd sixteen 3.4 inch guns. Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, who is the youngest Admiral in the fleet — he was born in 1871 —is in command of tha First Battle-cruiser Squadron, which includes the Lion, Princess Royal, Queen Mary—each of 26,350 to 27,000 tons, 29 knots, eight 13.5 inch guns and 16 4 inch guns; the New Zealand, and the . Invincible—--17,25j0 to 18,800 tons, 27 knots, eight 12 inch guns, and sixteen 4 inch guns.

DETAILS OP ENGAGEMENT,

LION'S GREAT PERFORMANCE. Received this day, 8.45 a.m. London, Tuesday. Sailors returned to Grimsby state a British destroyer sighted the enemy at Dogger Bank. The fastest of the British small vessels exchanged shots with a. German light cruiser, while the baStle-cruisers endeavoured to bring the large ships into action. A running fight continued for a hundred miles, when the Blucher caught fire; another German battle-cruiser was also afire, while the whole of another's above deck gear was shot away. The British had been ceaselessly watching Yarmouth since the Germans escaped from Scarborough.^ Sailors returned to Leith state the chase began when the Germans turned tail. The Lion led, not firing for a considerable time, At last the sighter secured the range; a thunderous followed announcing the discharge of her thirteen inchers. The Lion took on sll the fighting at a speed exceeding expectations.