On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 99, 1 April 1916, Page 5

On the Sea

THE RAID ON SYLT. AIRMEN'S PLUCKY VOYAGE. "SIGHT AND SMASH." NAVAL FIGHT IN A BLIZZARD. GLIMPSES THROUGH THE SNOW. DOWNING ENEMY SHIPS. CLEOPATRA'S RAM. fHwrrri Pujfsn Awwioiation. ? (Received 10 a.m.) London, March 31.

The Scotsman says: The Sylt raid was one of the most stormy days since the war. Nearing the German coast, a blizzard burst on the British squadron, the icy blasts filling the air with hail and blinding snow. It was a marvel our airmen attempted the task, but they went off in defiance of the elements, with an eagerness which was an honor to the service. The naval action began as soon as the British caught a glimpse of the enemy flotilla through the blizazrd., Germany had long sought an opportunity of finding the British Fleet, but the big ships never left the shelter of Kiel and Heligoland. The enemy flotilla fled, and the British began to chase. A concerted action was impossible,, owing to the snow storms. "Sight and smash" was the order. Sighting was possible only at close range and the smashing was deadly. The British soon disposed of the fast powerful armed trawlers and aimed salvoes at the fleeting destroyers whenever the snow cleared. One was soon blazing from end to end, and further salvoes poured into her sealed her fate. The second destroyer's plight was scarcely less terrible, and she probably foundered -at the most dramatic moment.

When the Cleopatra in the drift of the blizzard saw an enemy destroyer at close range, she rushed in headlong, ramming the; 'destroyer, simultaneously subjecting her to deadly gunnery. The cruiser's bow cut deep, and the destroyer fell away sinking fast. The blinding snow blotted out everything, and when it cleared there was no trace of the destroyer save debris and oil.

DISABLED BRITISH SEAPLANE. AFTER THE SYLT RAID. United Purhk AssocriTioK. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Copenhagen, March 31. A Danish fisherman at Nebel on Saturday sighted a seaplane riding on the sea.. He reported the incident to the military, who rowed out and found a British, seaplane, which had participated in the Sylt raid, with three occupants, who, afccV i ying their utmost to start the propeller, had failed. They surrendered.

SCHULTER, THE GERMAN SPY. EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS. [United Pkehs Association. 1 (Received 9.55 a.m.) New York, March 31. Ernest Schulter confessed he was a German spy, and he acknowledged that he tried to blow up the Metaphe, but asserted that his nerve failed him. He controlled the captain and crew with an automatic revolver, stole the ship's papers and money, and afterwards rowed ashore on a lonely beach. But the captain signalled to the coastguards, who effected his arrest. Schulter refused to give his real name, but admitted he was sent to England as a German agent to serve on the British training ship Conway to endeavour to discover naval secrets. GERMANY'S SEA POLICY UNALTERABLE. United Pkesp ] (Received 8.30 a.m.) London March 31 A Berlin wireless message states that the different parties in tho Reichstag on the Budegt Committee, agreed that in the war at sea Germany must carry out all means most instrumental for securing a successful issue of the war.