THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 54, 7 June 1916, Page 5

THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND.

I SURVIVORS' STORIES. 1 I United Bhkhp Ahrooiatto'v 1 ' London, June 5. Continuing his narrative, tile naval officer who reached Edinburgh, says:— I “The' loss of the Queen Alary was .had, but worse came fifteen minutes later, when the Indefatigable was sunk. | “Germany’s sensational success was in the first salvo, but their marksman.ship deteriorated directly wo replies, and as the engagement proceeded the igun-laying of the Gormans was inferior to that of the British. We devote twelve years to training a gunner, and the Germans give throe years. Tin; fight, proved the immeasurable superiority of our rating.

“Clouds of steam and flying masses of metal told how we were punishing tiie Germans, but the odds were oveiwelhming. The German commander sought to press his advantage, and ordered his destroyers to close with our flotilla,. They paid dearly for their venture, and we completely outpointed the enemy, wiping out several without sustaining loss. “The fighting continued at a speed of twenty-five knots. The sight was awesome, shells striking the sea and exploding as though in contact with a wall. We saw British destroyers buck le and disappear, and passed bodies of mangled men, but it was impossible to spare a moment to succour the drowning. “Four battle-cruisers, backed by some of the third line ships, were now lighting the whole German High Sea Fleet, taking their toll ship for ship, and manoeuvring for time until Admiral Jellicoe came up. Firing astern, the Germans tried to envelop us, but we avoided the trap. “At the sight of fifteen ships of the Grand Fleet, seen on the horizon, the Germans began to scamper home. Admiral Jellicoe pursued them, the Germans scattering in different directions. They sent up vast curtains of smoke, as they had no stomach for fight. Then 15in. guns were now firing, not broadside, but over the stern. Onr destroyers kept up the chase throughout the riight, doing great execution, the enemy running towards Heligoland and the Baltic. “Admiral Beatty’s ships, including the New Zealand, accompanied Admiral Jellicoe in a thorough search of the battle-ground, vainly hoping, fo>the opportunity of a further blow.” / THE NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE, i THE LINE OF BATTLE. ‘ I < M. • ‘ FURTHER PARTICULARS. London, June G. The New Zealand’s fire so punished her opponents that they were- unable to do her more than the most trifling damage. The line of battle was: Lion first, then the- Princess Royal, Queen Mary, Tiger, New Zealand, Indefatigable. These bore the brunt until the battleships arrived. The Now Zealand flew. Vice-Admiral Pakenham’s flag. Some distance behind the battle cruisers caine.'-the V Barham, A aliant, Warspite. and Malaya. The enemy’s battle cruiser squadron comprised the Hindenburg, Seydlitz, Derfflinger, Lutzow, Moltke, and possibly the Salemis. Admiral Beatty at once opened fire at twenty thousand .yards, shortening to sixteen thousand. As the fleets closed the f‘Elizabeths’’ opened fire as they came within range, and the Germans ported helip ad drew away to about twenty thousand yards. A destroyer screen appeared beyond the German battle cruisers and the whole High Seas Fleet was seen approaching on the north-eastern horizon, in three divisions.

The German battle cruisers turner! right round and took station in front of the German battleships. Admiral Beatty now had before him the whole German Fleet,,, with Admiral Jellicoe still some distance away. The opposing fleets were now moving parallel to one another in opposite dir-, ections. • But for a-masterly manoeuvre on Admiral Beatty’s part the advance ships would have been cut off from Admiral Jellicoe’s fleet. In order to avoid this, and at the same time enable Admiral Jellicoe to envelop his adversary, Admiral Beatty turned right round sixteen points, and brought his ships parallel to the German fleet, and facing in the same direction. Then he went at full speed and got ahead ol the Germans to take tactical position in advance of their line. Admiral Beatty was able to carry out the plan owing to superior speed. Just before the turning point was reached 1 , the Indefatigable sank, probably from a mine. The Queen Mary and the Invincible were also lost at the same point, where the High Seas I* leot concentrated their fire. As the German cruisers were turning, a destroyer sunk a new cruiser, supposed to be the Hmdenburg. Admiral Beatty, now being found with the loss I of throe ships, raced away parallel to the Germans, the “Elizabeths” following and engaging the High Seas Fleet. Tim “Elizabeths” then turned sixteen points after Admiral Beatty. The Warspite’s steering gear jammed, and she failed to get round. She drew the fire of six of the enemy ships, who closed upon her. On paper the j War spite should have been lost, yet though repeatedly straddled by shellfire, and the water boiling up all round

her, she was not seriously hit, and was able to sink one of her opponents. The captain recovered control of the ship, brought her rou.. 1, and followed her consorts.

Meanwhile the Barham, Valiant and Malaya turned in short order to avoid the danger spot where the Queen Mary and Invincible were lost, and for an hour fought a delaying action until Admiral Jellicoe arrived. The Warspite joined them and all four so successful--I,■ manoeuvred that they upset the ! ihmlations of their opponents. No serious hits were suffered, as they had the speed of their opponents by fullv four knots, and were able to draw away from the long line of German battleships. : The “Elizabeths” fired steadily at the flashes of the Germans yinis, the range varying from twelve cliinsane 1 , to fifteen thousand yards. By 5.45 half the German fleet had left and were out, of range, and the j “Elizabeths” steamed fast to join Admiral Jellicoe. Meanwhile Admiral Beatty’s cruisers outflanked the German cruisers, which were compelled to turn at a full right angle to starboard jto avoid being headed. Heavy fighting continued, and the Derfflinger was sunk.

j Towards six o’clock German fire slackened consideranly. The Grand Fleet was now in* sight, coming fast from three directions. The “Elizabeths” altered their course four points Ito starboard, and drew in towards the 1 enemy to allow Admiral Jellicoe to de_ploy into .line.

j The Grand Fleet, perfectly manoeuvred and with their deploying perfectly timed, steamed right across. At the .head of the fleet were the Revenge and jthe Royal Oak, with 15-ir.chers. The Agincourt, which fired from seven turrets, at almost a speed maximum, was the first to come into action.

Only a decent light whs necessary to complete the destruction of the Germans in detail. The light did improve for a few minutes, and rhe conditions were favorable to the British Meet, which was now in a line approximately north and south across the head of the Germans.

~ During the few minutes of good light, Admiral Jellicoe smashed the first three German ships. Then the mist fell and the visibility failed, end the defeated German Fleet drew off in ragged divisions, pursued by the British, had them enveloped between Jellicoe on the west, Beatty on the north, and Evan Thomas with three “Elizabeths” on the south

The" destroyers during the night heavily attacked, and ' although they lost heavily, themselves they sunk two Germans. It was now imposibla to obtain co-ordination, and the Germans escaped between the battleships of Admiral Jellicoe, since we were unable, to fire as our own destroyers w. -e in the Way. This saw the end of the Jutland battle, which was nearly a great success, and was spoiled kV unfavorable weather. German small craft were rounded up, and soon ceased to count as an organised body.

GRAND FLEET’S DECOY. ‘ 'v'v * *'v THE WARRIOR AND DEFENCE. f\ > ' London, June 5. The Warrior’s crew: have arrived- at Chatham, and met,with an enthusiastic reception. v / , I ■ The Warrior’s exploits as a decoy cruiser for the Grand Fleet are on every lip, and are destined to live long jin naval annals. She was only seventeen minutes in action, yet 66 men were killed and 43 injured. She first engaged two cruisers, and was at one time fighting six adversaries, including four battleships, though part of the crew was detailed to extinguish a serious fire amidships. The Defence was accompanying the Warrior, fifteen miles ahead of the battleships, when they sighted the Germans between 6 and 7 o’clock, and immediately opened five. A German dreadnought quickly sank the Defence. Zeppelins signalled that the Grand Fleet was still far away, and the Germans hurriedly attempted to surround the Warrior. The latter’s captain, by brilliant seamanship, zigzagged through, and the vessel, though desperately injured, was kept afloat and in action, and actually sank the Elbing and a destroyer, and severely damaged another cruiser, which was afire, before Admiral Jellicoe’s leading super-dreadnoughts hove •in sight, the Warspite leading, when the epeiqy immediately turned tail. A shell crippled the Warrior’s engines, and her decks were a mass of twisted iron and steel, but the men were still standing by their guns. The 'Engadine took her in tow, but it was necessary to abandon her. The captain was the last to leave the ship. I The Warrior’s chief petty officer, Daly, had both legs blown oft', but shouted enthusiastically, “Give it to ’em!” | The crew of the Marlborough relate that at one time six Zeppelins were over the fleet, and their reconnoitring greatly helped the Germans. The Zeppelins bombed Britishers who were struggling in the water, j Forty naval men have been buried in an east coast town. There was an impressive scene. i Some of the enemy’s light ships were blown right out of the water by our shells. One could see bits of masts and mechanism and men’s bodies hurled high into the air. The water was soon thick with debris and bodies. The Warrior’s men relate that, the loading stoker, Allen, after the fires

had been drawn, pluckily ran back and turned off the main steam pipe, averting an explosion, which would have .wrecked the ship. It is reported that British light cruisers destroyed a squadron of Gorman torpedoers near Heligoland, i Our destroyers v ere amazing. They were bound to suffer, considering the risks they took. When ordered to attack they dashed off at thirty knots, and raced within thirty yards of the biggest ships and discharged their torpedoes. One of the most gallant was the On slaughfc, commanded by Lieut.-Com-mander Percy Hughes Onslow, one of tlie most popular men in the service. Single-handed she attacked and sank a battleship. An hour later, in coming out of action, the Onslaught was hit by two shells. A fragment of one struck Onslow in the stomach. He was bandaged and said, “I think I will go to sleep now.” Then he died. | Nothing could have been finer than the way Admiral Arbuthnot went .in with the Defence, Warrior, and Slick Prince. He attacked, unsupported, the whole German Fleet, and kept them at bay for a long time, doing tremendous havoc.

SURVIVOR FROM THE SHARK.

London, June 5,

The Times correspondent at Portsmouth reports that a survivor of the Shark graphically describes the fight. “Eight ahead of us,” he said, “we saw two columns of German' destroyers. Our skipper took us at full speed towards the enemy. We attacked at close range and managed to torpedo two enemy destroyers, hut we got it hot. We were engaged ten minutes, and then two torpedoes! struck us fairly and ripped three holes. “The Shark sank immediately. Some of us got on to rafts and stayed foifive hours watching the battle. Zeppelins, torpedo craft, submarines, and big ships were all packed together, and shells fell like hail, badly damaging the small craft. The enemy’s losses in destroyers must be very great. We saw several sink like stones. A number of German submarines were very busy, but many were done in, our ships running over them.” TWO BATTERED DESTROYERS. The Times correspondent at North, Shields reports that two big destroyers, lashed together, limped into port, badly knocked about, funnels gone, and with jagged rents exposing their ribs. It was miraculous that they reached the harbor. Thousands of dockers gave them a rousing welcome. Seventeen wounded are aboard, some of the boys having their legs blown off.

The crews stated that the Defence wag the first ship engaged. They watched her enter into action with powerful dash. Suddenly there was, ai burst of smoke and steam, and when this cleared there was no sign of wreckage, - hut only the foaming wake. They could not say whether she was torpedoed or shelled. They only knew that one minute the Defence was there, and the next she was gone. The Echo do Paris says that the German accounts carefully dissemble their losses, but establish the face that the night retreat, tinder difficulties, ended a great offensive. THE QUEEN MARY'S OFFICERS. RELATIVES IN DOMINION. Per Press Association. Christchurch, June 4. One of . the officers on the Queen Mary was Engineer-Lieutenant-Com-mander John M. Murray, a brother of Mr W. Murray, general manager of the Christchurch Meat Company. Another was Sub-Lieutenant A. T. W. Robertson, who was midshipman on H.M.S. New Zealand when she visited the Dominion. He has relatives in the North Island. A third was Commander Harry L. L. Pennell, who was a member of Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition, and who brought the Terra Nova back to Lyttelton. He afterwards conducted a survey of the New Zealand coast near French Pass. He had many friends throughout New Zealand. Captain Cecil Irby Prowse, who commanded the Queen Mary, was well known in New Zealand as flag-captain td Sir Richard Poore, of H.M.S. Powerful, from 1908 to 1911, during which time he made several, visits to New Zealand waters. There are probably many other officers, on the lost ships who have relatives and friends in New Zealand, but as the Navy List has not been published since last year it is impossible to obtain an accurate list of the officers on the various vessels.

STORY OF GERMAN SURYH London, Survivors of the PrauenloiH| graphically described the beHS ;of the fight between the ! man fleet and a small ron, which, although , and outgunned, fought j while awaiting the Grand Fleet®! { val. The latter’s appearance ted the engagement, the fleeing. ■ A British destroyer Frauenlob, which sunk in H minutes. Three hundred and the crew were drowned and saved. 0 f tLe latter diH their wounds. B ! The survivors stated that tiß tire German fleet was out, the lob and other light cruisers ns outposts. ■ ——r- vSB NO LIVES SAVED FROM SEW SHIPS. I London, JunqS No men are reported saved fro™ Indefatigable, Defence, Black Pfl Tipperary, Turbulent, Nomad I Nestor. , I Copenhagen, Junell Numerous ‘British and German|V ios are washing up on the short! west Jutland. ' ; Steamers report that large Ger cruisers have been withdrawn frott coast of Couriahd, where they .wen cently operating, and a large s(| ron of torpedo boats that was w patrolling the southern Baltic was seen last week. " " " T 1 vs. . ; vsa| GERMANY’S ONLY STRATEGIC RESULT. Paris, Jane f M. Clemenceau, in L’Homme chaine, says that Germany’s o strategical result of the naval bai was a day’s holiday for the Gera 1 school children. T‘

AMERICAN OPINION. ■llll t New York, June The consensus of newspaper is that the German navy navy in gaol, which assan now and then, but remamstwr^jß^^H nevertheless. V'.' ' ■*•—**' 1111111 RUSSIAN SYMPATHY AND 'AO*l|| MIRATION. I Petrograd, June 6. The Council of Empire passed a solution sympathising with the and the British people in their ful losses, and admiration of the Bri-^Bi tish valor. H|| B NAVY LEAGUE’S CONCRATULA- K TIONS. B London, June 5. The Navy League, after consider- H| ing the information available, states Hj in unqualified terms that the final re-'H| suit is an undoubted British victory*;® The League warmly congratulates Ad-■I mirals Jellicoe and Beatty and. 1 Fleet dn'their unsurpassed courage atkf’Bß skill, which has raised the of tho whole Fleet to the of the Nelsonian wmfe 3 superiority is greater than before. ■ GERMANY’S LOSSES. I LOSSES ESTIMATED AT 22. London, June 5. It is freely stated that Germany’s . losses are not less than twenty-two , ships. It is officially stated that Wilhelmshaven is closed to visitors for some , months, • ~Y|p THE SEYDLITZ, Copenhagen, June 6. The inclusion of many of the crew of the Seydlitz in the casualty list induces the belief that the vessel was sunk. TOWED INTO ZEEBRUCCE. DAMAGED DESTROYER A«D SUBMARINE. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, June 6, A German torpedoer arrived at Zeebnigge towing a destroyer and a submarine. The former was funnelless and there were holes in her sides. The submarine’s deck had been swept clean.

KAISER MESSAGES. Amsterdam, June 6. ' The Kaiser sent messages to Admirals von Tirpitz and von Koester, eulogising the work which had made the Flefet a living war instrument that stood so brilliantly its trial of fire.

SURVIVOR'S STORY. ENCAGING THE H INDENBURC. GERMANS DISORGANIZED AT FINISH. (Iveceivcu 0.- id a.in.) u iilit* 0. Mr Thompson, pin Meal instructor on the invincible, one ui live survivors, states that the ship lea me naulo-ime into action. Thompson was in the lore control with the gunnci.y euiu.i.amle. Danrettthor. Tho first salvo was tired at a distance of 12,6110 yards and smashed me bows of a big ■four-tunnelled cruiser, which was invisible alter the smoke aic.i spray cleared. The Invincible altered her course to light tho lag ships which were approaching in a single line ahead, and engaged them at MbOU yards, n: mg salvo alter salvo into one ol the leaders (believed vo he the iiiimciiourgg which must have sustained very heavy damage. j Tho Invincible was trying to give the finishing stroke when she herself was blown up. The ship seemed to open like a big furnace. Tho majority ol the men were instantly killed. Thompson and Danreuthcr fell into the sea with a mast. They and three others clung to a target practice rah for an hour, when they were picked up. Thompson says the Hermans bandied their ships well, but were out- I manoeuvred, and were no match lor the British gunners. The Germans were disorganised at the finish.