At Heligoland.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 11, 31 August 1914, Page 3

At Heligoland.

Our Valuable Navy,

THE CONDITION OF THE DAM AGED VESSELS.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.]

Loudon, August 28,

The Admiralty states that in the naval engagement at Heligoland, the German vessels sunk were the Maintz and a cruiser of the Koln class. Another cruiser disappeared in the mist, heavily afire and in a sinking condition. The cruiser Amethyst and the destroyer Laertes were damaged. No other vessel was injured seriously. (The Amethyst is a light turbine cruiser of 3000 tons, speed 21.75 knots, with 12 4in guns,* 8 three-poun-ders and two machine guns. The destroyer Laertes lias a speed of 32.33 knots and carries three 4in guns, with four 21in. torpedo tubes. The whole of the Heligoland Bight is practically one big German naval base).

DESTROYER FLOTILLAS ARRIVE AT HARWICH.

ATTENDING TO THE WOUNDED.

London, August 29,

The destroyer flotillas have arrived at Harwich. An immense crowd on the pier cheered the Jack tars. Of 15 destroyers, only one presents signs of having participated in a battle, and even this one arrived under her own steam, without a list. The Lurcher was the first to arrive, in the early morning, conevying 30 German wounded. Viscount Tredegar’s Red Cross yacht, the Fearless, carried over 20 Germans, badly wounded. Twelve died on the way, and were buried at" sea. Another destroyer brought 20 German wounded. Several tugboats hoisted the Red Cross flag, and assisted in the removal of the wounded. Boys from the naval barracks, clad in white overalls, carried the wounded on stretchers to the hospital, handling them tenderly. At is stated that towards the end of the battle some pinnaces followed, picking up Germans who were struggling in the water, and produced a great impression. German prisoners state that the British guns shot with terrific force and accuracy. Most of the men on the decks perished.

The cruiser Liverpool is returning with nine German officers and 81 men, many of whom were wounded. There is reason to hope that these are not all the German survivors, but that others were saved.

The Admiralty states that all the German cruisers engaged, in the fight were disposed of. German submarines attacked the battle-cruiser squadron. The Germans also used floating mines, biit the British were not damaged by these.

Two hundred Heligoland prisoners have arrived at Sheerness. Several British and Gormans were badly injured on the head. One German, by signs, tried to thank his rescuers. Two Germans died at Harbvidh, and were removed with the British dead to await burial. - The Jack tars tell thrilling- stories* , They describe the fighting as sharp and terrible, A non-commissidned officer on, the Fearless, which - was in the thick of the battle,, said -the operations lasted for .eight flours. ; ‘‘There, was a thick haze throughout-. We came upon the Germans unawares. When wo openee fire there wahl’t a single searchlight on us. All seemed as though asleep. The lighting was very hot. We must have done a lot of damage.” Loudon, August 80.

Thirty German wounded from 'Heli golaud Bight, besides Britishers, have been sent to hospital at Chatham. Ihi majority of German survivors have engine-room ratings. Ninety* of the Mainz’s prisoners landed at Leith include eight officers, among whom was a son of Admiral Tirpitz, and 16 wounded, GERMANS ADMIT DEFEAT. London, August 29. The German official version of the Heligoland fight confirms the British statement. The victory aroused great enthusiasm at Antwerp.

THE NEW ZEALAND PARTICI-

PATES IN THE FIGHT.

London, August 29. The battleship New Zealand participated in the. sea fight.

Ottawa, August 29

Canadian papers are full of warm praise for the battleship Now Zealand’s participation in the North Sea battle. Conservative appers, while observing a truce on all contentious questions in Canada during the war, point out how dearly every Canadian would like to be able to place to the country’s record the fact that Canadian ships had participated in such a heroic deed as Admiral Beatty’s raid near Heligoland.