On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 20, 28 April 1916, Page 5

On the Sea

SUFFOLK NAVAL BATTLE. SHELLS AS SOUVENIRS, THE ENEMYG VERSION. lUnitmld P«w» ij-^iihiiio* London, April 26. Lowestoft reports that the enemy ships were not seen, and must have fired at long range. They appeared to dash along the coast north and south, firing as rapidly as possible in the short' tinie at their disposal. At Yarmouth people flocked into the streets, regardless of danger, and even scrambled for souvenirs of shells during the bombardment. Amsterdam reports that a German communique says ; After bombarding with good success, Yarmouth and Lowestoft, our warships shelled the enemy's airmen, small rwnisers and destroyers, causing a big' fire on one cruiser and sinking a destroyer and two patrol boats. The latter included the King Stephen, which refused to rescue the crew of Zeppelin Ll 9. We captured the King Stephen's crew. Our ships returned undamaged. We sank a British auxiliary off Zeebrugge and captured the crew.

AH IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE THE DAMAGE AT LOWESTOFT. EYE-WITNESSES' THRILLING REPORTS. REAL BRITISH PLUCK. INJURED WARSHIPS STACGtR. SHELLS CHURN SEA INTO FOAM. ENEMY AT LAST TURNS TAIL. (Received 8.5 a.in:) London, April 27. Several houses were destroyed at Lowestoft. An untenanted shell was crushed, and a large empty residence had its interior carved out, and two other houses were reduced to piles of rubble. The skipper of a fishing smack, just after dawn, noticed four biggish ships and a lot of smaller craft steaming southward parallel with the coast, but lie took them for Britishers." J ' "' Eye-witnesses state that the vessels opened lire about six miles off, and soon a hail of shells was whooping over the town. The dimensions of the missiles picked tip after landing were six to twelve-inch. . Some missed the town altogether, and were picked up as far inland as Cultonbroads and Carlton Colville. The markmanship wa.s poor. One broadside of four guns did the most damage. The bombardment ended with dramatic suddenness. A British light squadron was seen approaching from the south at wonderful speed. Though outmatched in point of size, and outnumbered, they tackled the Germans tenaciously. The reverberating cannonade was more terIrific than the bombardment.

One of our destroyers was hit, smoke and flames being visible, but s-e continued blazing away with her guns. The fight was .conducted in bright sunshine. Cascades of water were thrown up by shells, and it was an impressive spectacle. The German shells fell around the British, who reserved theiiHre until well within range. Time, and time again they hit the German monsters. Once a volume of flame leapt from the funnel of one of the big warships. Another suddenly staggered, but righted itself, although steam and smoke came from unusual places. The sea was churned by the shells, and looked like a lake of foam. Suddenly a seaplane appeared from the north-at a terrific rate and conveyed -v message to the Germans, who turned tail and went off at high speed. One of the giants appeared to be in trouble.

SUBMARINE E 22 SUNK IN THE NORTH SEA. TWO OF THE CREW SAVED. [Ukitwj Prrm &ModiATin*r] (Received 10.45 a.m.) London, April 27. The Press Bureau states: A German wireless announces that the E 22 was sunk in the North Sea. Two of the crew were saved.