Another Brilliant Naval Expiolt.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 11 May 1918, Page 3

Another Brilliant Naval Expiolt.

U-Boat Must Use Home Bases. Received 8.40 a.m. this day. London, May 10. Ostend harbour has been block - ed. The cruiser Vindictive was sunk at the mouth. One mofxurlaunch was lof-t. Later: The Admiralty reports that the operation designed to close the ports of Oiirendi and Zeebrugge was successfully completed on the night of the 9th, when the obsolete cruiser Vindictive was sunk between the pi ei-K and across the entrance of Ostend harbour. Since the alitack on Zeebrugge on April 23, the Vindictive hias been, filled ■with concrete and fitted ou ( t as a blockship. Our light farces returned to their base with the loss of a mote launch which was damaged and was sunlk by the Vice-Admira I's order* to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. Our cnsualti.es were light. SHAKES OF DRAKE AND NELSON. Received thliis day at 11.30. Londbn, May 10. Mr Mapon, the United Press naval j expert, says the Ostend affair war a brilliant'} exploit and took the Germans completely una.wares. It forces the U-boats to use their home bases. The affair suggests ia condition of demoralisation in the German navy, while tlie -Brftii-h are fulfilling the best traditions of Drake and Nelson. HUGE DROP IN* SINKINGS. Received this dhy at 9.30 a.m. Washington, May 10. French.' figures show that the Allied foipses in shipping dniringj April were only half of those in April, 1917. ZEEBRUGGE STILL BLOCKED. Received this day at 1.1.45 a.m. London, May 10. Although there is no official! confirmation of the statement from Switzerland that "German submarines have been compelled! to. return to their German bases instead of Zeebrugge," the. High Naval Authority reports lihat Zeebrugge is still blocked. Considerable aerial activity is maintained' there, preventing the enemy's clearing operations.