THE BLUCHER’S SURVIVORS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 125, 28 January 1915, Page 5

THE BLUCHER’S SURVIVORS.

LION FIRED AT FIFTEEN MILES. NEVER NEARER THAN EIGHT, A SHELL KILLED SCORES. . BLUCHERI CAPTIVES' STATEMENT. Press Association —OopyrigM. > (Reed. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. The Germans were sighted thirty miles from the English coast. Ihe Lion opened fire at fifteen miles; the contestants were never closer than ■eight miles. The Lion received) a tremendous ovation, A Blucher blue* jacket states one of the lomble shells burst in the heart of the ship and killed scores. The Blucher was battered to pieces. Two hundred and fifty three wounded and unwounded ■survivor© were laned in P.ritain. The Captain admits that the Blucher participated in the shelling of Hartlepool, when her casualties were ninety killed and twenty one wounded. THE north sea battle, ADMIRALTY'S OFFICIAL REPORT. ALL SHIPS RETURN SAFELY.

LION AND METEOR DAMAGED AND TOWED HOME, TOTAL CASUALTIES; 14. KILLED. 20 WOUNDED. f LONDON, Jan. 27. The Admiralty announce that all the ships and destroyers returned safely. The Indomitable towed home the Lion„ whose forward compartments were flooded through a shell striking her below the waterline. The Liberty towed the Meteor, which was disabled. Both were guarded by strong escorts fit destroyers. The repairs will bo speedy. The total casualties were: Lion, .17 wounded; Tiger, one officer and nine men killed and three officers and eight men wounded; Meteor, four killed and .one wounded. BATTLE-CRUISERS DO THE WORK. • l A TWO HOURS' FIGHT. ifGERMANS FIGHT GALLANTLY, v * BUT FIRE RECKLESSLY THE BUTCHER QUICKLY SETTLED LONDON, Jan. 27. A member of the crew of a lightcruier states that the light cruisers foil back and the battle-cruisers did the work. The enemy were two miles oft when first seen, and immediately turned tail. The Linn was the first ship to get into effective range, and soon did tremendous damage. The fight lasted two hours. The Germans put up a gallant fight but their firing was reckless. They fired fester than we did, but our chaps were wonderfully cool and steady. There was a good light and a calm sea. Our

shots hit their targets. It did not take many shots to finish the Hlmher. The test one took her waterline, and site slowly -Trent down like a glrss. sinking ir water. Our destroyers went to the rescue of

lint some of the Germans \ fired at them. The destroyer Liberty was deputed to rescue *h° survivors. FINE GUNNERY BY THE BRITISH. ATTEMPTS TO HEAD OFF THE V GERMANS r- / r LONDON, Jan. 27. A trawler’ crev? states that fishing on the Dogger Bank was suspended when the firing was heard. About in German vessels sped past, followed by the JJritisbers in line. The Germans

were firing their stern guns wikuy. me British shells constantly struck the Germans. Despite Midi-.* speed, the British tried to he»d the Germans south- ( wards. A BLUEJACKET’S STORY. A GHASTLY SIGHT. STREWN WITH MUTHATED BODIES. GERMANS BOMB BRITISH RESCUERS. LONDON, Jan. 27. A bluejacket recounts that when the Blucher was crippled her gunfire became more a menace 1 n her oven fleet than to the British. As she settled, her gun went off for (hi* last time. Ihe water was strewn with bodies and spars, making a ghastly sight. Many were mutilated beyond recognition. The firing was so heavy that I lie ocean was covered with dead fish, flocks of shrieking gulls holding a banquet. Two German aeroplanes dropped bombs and drove off the Liberty (which was deputed to pick up survivors.) TERRIFIC FIRING.

SQUADRONS ENVELOPED IN SMOKE. FLAMES BURST FROM A GERMAN SHIP. AMSERDAM, Jan. 27. The captain of a Dutch trawler counted 24 German ships. The Brit:shers were trying to cut them off. The filing was indescribably terrific, and the concussion jarred the trawler. The water spouted high in the air round the British ships, where badly-aimed German shots fell. The British guns wore beotter and more regularly served. Pc tli squadrons were enveloped in smoke. The captain saw a great burst of smoke and banks of flame coming from one German ship.

GRAPHIC STORY OF THE GREAT FIGHT. GERMANS RUSH MADLY TO SHELTER. TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF BRITISH GUNFIRE. LONDON, Jan. 27. The Scotsman reports that the Lion’s broadside, when passing the Blucher, caused frightful damage, but the Lion's quarry was further ahead, namely, the raider of Scarborough. Tho Tiger., in passing, also hit the Blucher. Tho Princess Royal, following, discharged a terrific broadside at the Blucher, which was already doomed and abandoned by her sister-ships. When the larger German ships wore overhauled, we pounded their light cruisers, which did their utmost to os cape. The Derfflinger and Soydlitz’s fire weakened as the fight proceeded, and within half an hour of reaching the mine area the former was afire forward, masses of flames sweeping the foredeck. The decks were strewn with wreckage. When within tho mined area the guns were unable to answer the hail of projectiles following her. The loss of life must have been serious.

The third vessel (the Beydlitz or Moltke), suffered more severely. One gun was smashed. Great execution was done amongst her crew'. She was n silent ship steaming desperately for shelter. The whole afterdeck wr.s ablaze as she entered the mined area. Meanwhile the Lion endeavoured to head off the light cruisers towards their pursuers. She damaged them, but they escaped. Some were seriously damaged, their hulls being battered and the guns swept from their mountings. Towards the end of the action the /■rethusa fired a torpedo, which struck the Blucher. The latter’s men ;:-v into the sea,