The North Sea Fight.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1915, Page 5

The North Sea Fight.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT. HOT TIME FOR THE LION AND TIGER. OTHER VESSELS UNDAMAGED.

Unitid Pbeb« AbsociatioK. London, January 28. Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty's report states: The destroyers at 7.30 a.m. sighted four battle-cruisers, six light cruisers, and some destroyers, fourteen miles east by south-east of his position. I directed the battlecruisers to steer a south-east course, secure the lee positions, and cut off the enemy, but it developed into a stern chase. Our speed of 28 and 29 knots gradually overhauled the enemy. At 18,000 yards we opened a slow, deliberate fire, and began to hit at 17,000 yards, the enemy returning the fire. The Lion and Tiger, having drawn ahead, bore the enemy's concentrated fire for some time, the Lion suffering most. German destroyers then attacked, but were driven off. A shot damaged one of the Lion's feed-tanks at 11 o'clock, stopping the' port engine. The Lion's course was altered to avoid submarines, and the Admiral's flag transferred to the Princess Royal. The disablement of the Lion deprived us of a greater victory.

The presence of the enemy's sub-maj-ines subsequently necessitated the breaking off of the engagement.

"The Blucher was sunk, and two other battle cruisers were heavily afire, and seriously damaged. Prisoners report that we sunk the Kolberg. Subsequently the Lion's starboard engines developed trouble, and she was towed to port. The damage to the Lion and Tiger was not serious, and none of the other ships was hit. The behaviour of the officers and men was only what 1 expected. Great credit must be given to the engineroom staffs for the fine steaming."

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. RAMMED THE BLUCHER. London, January 28. According to the Daily Mail, H.M.S. New Zealand rammed tlie Blucher, crushed her deck, and demolished her guns, while the Tiger's 13£-inch guns, swept the fore turret with its gun crews over the side. According to a prisoner, the German airmen mistook the Blucher for a Britisher, and bombed the crew struggling in the water. GERMANY'S NAVAL LOSS. THE LESSENED DANCER FROM INVASION. United Press 'Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, January 28. "The German threats of invasion," remarks the Times, ''have steadily become less feasible. The transports necessary for such an expedition require protecting cruisers, find Germany, which was never well off for cruisers* cannot now supply the transports with the requisite protec-

tion until the damaged ships are repaired. The result of Sunday's battle, therefore, lessens the possibility of either further raids or.invasion." DEPLETED STATE OF GERMAN BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON. Unitid Preu Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, January 28. It is pointed out that serious danage was suffered by two German battle cruisers which were engaged in the light, and that this leaves only two ships 'of this class fit for immediate use ;indeed, if the Von der Tann were absent from the enemy's raiding squadron as reported, it would account for her collision with another German ship previous to the last raid, so that Germany has now only one battle cruiser. THE VON DER TANN. (Received 12.30 p.m.) London, January 28. The Admiralty states that the Von der Tann report is unfounded.

(An independent cable service^ message, dated January, 11th, from Vancouver, said the Buenos Aires newspaper La Prensa, published a report that a British cruiser engaged and sank the German battleship Von der Tann, carrying a crew of 900 men. Another report gave a widely distant location, and adds: "The Government has received a wireless that the British cruiser is afloat, and is believed to be undamaged." NEWCASTLE AS THE OBJECTIVE. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, January 28. Sailors who participated in the fight assume that Newcastle was the German objective.