GERMAN SPLENDID NAVAL SUCCESS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11653, 23 August 1916, Page 5

GERMAN SPLENDID NAVAL SUCCESS.

ABSOLUTELY AVOIDED BATTLE.

STEER FURIOUSLY FOR HOME.

“HIGH. CANAL” FLEET SAFE.

Australian—New Zealand Cable Association. Received London, Aug. 32.

The Daily Telegraph’s Rotterdam correspondent states that the German High Sea Fleet won another great victory, perhaps even greater than off Jutland, because it was completely successful in avoiding an encounter with the British forces but cannot claim another victory because scores of Dutch skippers saw what happened. These trained sailors witnessed all the movements of the German squadrons. Their reports prove conclusively that there was only one fact of importance, namely* that on the first news of the British Fleet’s appearance the Germans turned tail and went full speed for home. The sKippers say they sighted the German Grand Fleet of at least sixty vessels of all descriptions at nine in the morning, guided carefully by three Zeppelins. They saw the same fleet at six in the evening with their attendant airships steaming furiously eastward. What happened in the meantime is clear from reports of other Dutch captains. They saw at least Birtish squadron at five in the after-* noon, much farther south than the Germans, and at six o’clock the position of the British was then heading north, towards ;the enemy. The Dutch also saw three Zeppelins coming from the north which, after they spotted the British, immediately returned towards the Germans. Half an hour later the High Oanal Fleet was madly retreating basewards, No more was seen of the German warships in the North Hca but the Dutch saw British squadrons scouring the seas many hours later.