H.M. LION'S GUNNERY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 255, 11 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

H.M. LION'S GUNNERY.

FINE SHOOTING IN THE HELIGOLAND UATTLE.

Some further interesting sidelights the Heligoland naval engagement are turnished in the following extracts from a letter (dated October '2) from the thief stoker oil Ins Majesty's ship Sandfly:— "We were fairly in the Heligoland bout, although you would only see the n-inu'i of about five boat-, mentioned and they happened to be the most unfortunate by having casual tie, aboard. Our boat and the Jackal were with the four battle cruisers 011 tho meriting of August warding oft submarine attacks on them. We were close to the Main/, when she sunk. It was about the fines fa gunnery 1 ever witnessed when the Lion put Jier 13.5 guns on the German. At the time I should say we were about two ni'les from tli© German, when she opened tiro on us. Slio niiseed the lot of us, although boine of her shots came close enough. " Every one of the Lion's rounds hit her, and she was just like a wall of tire, sinc« every shell hurst on her decks. When we got close to her (after about 45 minutes' firag) she hud lost two of her funnels, and had commenced to Jieel over. All her guns were silenced, and as the survivors of the crew were up the masts we ran towards her with the intention of picking them up. As we got within fil'tv yards she tired a shell Iroin a small gun alt. in the direction of the Jackal. The Lion's officers saw the affair and trained the guns of the foremost, barbette on the Mainz. Two more rounds from the 13.5 guii6 finished her, ami in half an hour she was out of Kght."