THE NAVAL BATTLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 25 August 1915, Page 5

THE NAVAL BATTLE.

FAILURE OF GERMAN PLANS. ENEMY'S FLEET CRIPPLED. . LONDON, August 24. Petrograd says the desperate efforts !of the Germans to upset our militarjplans by a-diversion on the coast have signally fainted. Aided by British submarines, the Russans were able from the shelter of the Great and Little Sounds, to harass and eripple and finally drive out. the enemy from the Gulf. The losses in the gallant Baltic £ leot are extremely small, and do not mpair its efficiency. So long as this •is preserved, no serious danger can immodate'iV threaten Petrograd. Rumours of the evacuation of the capital, started by panic-mongers, were unfounded.

RUSSIAN SUPERIORITY. (Rec. 1.45 a.m.) PETROGRAD, Aug. 24. The old battleship Slava put up a fine fight against the enemy'S'cruisers in Riga Bay Two of the Germans' best armoured destroyers failed to find the Slava, but encountered the destroyer Novik. After 20 minutes' desperate fighting the leading enemy destroyer's funnel was shot away, and she was otherwise . seriously injured and drew off. Her consort gave up ,the fight. The more seriously damaged vessel afterwards sank. It is reported that the Germans also lost an auxiliary cruiser. THE RIGA LANDING. i PETROGRAD, Aug. 24. It is estimated the German landing force comprised a battalion (which was annihilated). SHELLED TOR THREE HOURS. BRITISH SHIPS IN ACTION. MUCH DAMGAE RECORDED. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 24. The British bombardment of Zeebrugge began at 6 on Monday morning, and lasted three hours. The shock smashed many windows in Dutch Zeoland. The warships did excellent shooting against the vessels in the harbour. A destroyer crept daringly in-shore and drew the fire of the Germans. ■ the battle-cruisers plumped shells on the sand-dunes, where there were 16 big guns. The defenders of Zeebrngge were concealed, but the British shells thoroughly searched the dunes. The garrison of Zeebrugge remained in specially prepared shelters, but marines at Ivnocke assembled behind the Grand Hotel, the officers fearing a British landing. A German aeroplane directed the fire of the German batteries. The Germans were apparently surprised, and the defences hurriedly manned, but practically did not interfere with the British slips, which were twelve miles out.

The British fire was concentrated principally on Zeebrugge inner harbour, where parts of new submarines wore being assembled ,nlso a poisonous gas factory at Lissewghie. Heavy smoke clouds over the harbour and factory are reported. Knocke is afire, and the harbour works at Zeebrugge are extensively damaged. Several guns at Heyst and Knocke were put of action. Most of the German shells fell short, while some of the British shells exploded in the country behind Zeebrugge.

SUBMARINE DRIVEN ASHORE. PETROGRAD, August 24. A German submarine has been driven ashore. f 'IN THE BLACK SEA. RUSSIAN FLEET AT WORK. PETROGRAD, August 24. ! Russian warships again destroyed coaling stations.and fortifications in Anatolia, after reconstruction, and several coal-Mden salers at Trebizond. THE CAPTURE Or KOVNO. EIG HAUL OF GUNS. SOFIA, August 2?.. A Berlin wireless states that the lihl of the booty at Kovno is incomplete but it includes many modern hcavj guns "and enormous quantities of ammunition, machine-guns, motor-cars, and material worth millions.

The Russians did not expect the fall. Fifteen thousand unarmed Russian reserves fled at the last moment. RUSSIANS STILL HOLD RIGA. PETROGRAD, August 2-1. Official: The situation at Riga on land is unchanged. We held up the enemy's offensive on the Kovansk-Wil-komir-Kochedary front. Further south some of our units crossed to the right bank of the Niemen. We are defending positions between the Bohr and Brest Litovsk step by -step. There are stubborn enemy attacks in the Sielsk region, aliso in the Lake region, near Pichlicha. STUBBORN FIGHTING. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 24. Austrian communique: Severe fightiDg occurred east of the lower Pulwa, the enemy stubbornly defending every inch. ADRIANOPLE READY FOR SIEGE.

LONDON, August 24. The Echo de Paris says AdrianopTe is provided with- new siege guns and the primeter of the exterior defence has been enlarged in order to avoid bombardment of the town in the event of a siege. It is estimated that 95,000 Turks are assembled at Adrianople, Kirk Kilisse, Luleburgas. and Rod'.sto.

A FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. (Reed 9.35 a.m.) PARIS, August 24. A communjiquq Jsftattes Jsjhat; i',iere was very violent fighting 0:1 heights eastward of Northern Fecht. German counter-attacks at Schratzrnanelle, Barrenkopf and the crests at Sondernach were repulsed. AMERICAN NOTE TO BRITAINA FORMAL PROTEST. AGAINST COTTON BEING CONTRABAND. (Reed 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23 Router's Washington correspondent says the American Note re neutral trade will probably be redrafted owing to the declaration of cotton as contraband. It is understood that the Note will formally protest against the declaration, and Jong diplomatic correspondence is likely to follow.