ENTIRE GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET ENGAGED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 132, 7 June 1916, Page 6

ENTIRE GERMAN HIGH SEA FLEET ENGAGED.

BRITISH BATTLE FLEET AGAIN READY FOR SEA. INTERESTING DETAILS OP THE BATTLE. LONDON, June 4. In an interview by a representative of the American Associated Press with a naval officer of high rank, the latter declared that the further details would be even more heartening in effect than the news published to-day. The officer continues. I can only say that we were looking for fight when the fleet went out. The stories that the fleet Avere decoyed by the Germans is the sheerest nonsense. In a Avord, avc engaged the entir e German high sea fleet. We interrupted their plans and drove them back into their harbours.

In doing this we sustained heavy losses, which we expected, but Ave also attained the expected result in forcing the enemy to abandon their plan and refuge in their own Avaters. With the exception of two divisions, Avhereof part Avas only partially engaged, r the brunt of the battle Avas borne by the battle cruiser fleet, and, with one exception, the battle fleet is ready for sea service. We had exceptionally hard luck Avith our battle cruisers, but the losg does not cripple our control of the sea. The great battle had four phases—first, Avhen the battle cruisers at six miles range joined action Avith the German battle cruisers. Shortly afterwards the 'second phase began Avith the arrival of the battleships of both sides. The Germans arrived first, but before their arrival our three battle cruisers Avere blOAvn up, supposedly as the result of gun fire, but there is a, possibility that they wore torpedoed.

At such close-range fighting with our battle cruisers might he criticised as bda tactics, but the fleet, following the traditions of the navy, went out to engage, the enemy, but owing to the weather, they could only do so at close range. In the third place, in the engagement the battleships were never more than partially engaged. The phase included a running fight as the German Dreadoughts fled towards their base. All cf the big-ship fighting was over at 9.15. Then came the weirdest feature of the battle, as the German destroyers made attack after attack—like infantry following after artillery preparations —on our big ships, but those onslaughts were singularly futile, not a single torpedo getting home. With morning the attacks ended. The battle ground was scoured by Admiral Jellieoe’s fleet, which reported that, not a single enemy was in sight. Pending Admiral

Jellicoe’s complete report only fragmentary incidents are available. Among these are the torpedoing of the super-Dreadnought Marlborough, which is now safely in harbour. She must have struck a veritable lj|c>rnet’s nest of submarines. By skilful manoeuvring she avoided three before she was finally hit. According to Admiral Beatty’s report, early in the engagement a. German battle cruiser, after being hotly engaged, blew up and broke in two, and sank. The Zeppelins did not play up to the part attributed to them. The weather conditions were such that it is very doubtful whether aircraft could have been of much service. The enemy did not spring any surprises, and no tricks were used that are not already known in naval warfare.

HELPING THE BELGIANS. A “CHILDREN’S DAY” APPEAL. SYDNEY, June 4. The Lord Mayor of Loudon cables that the National Committee of Relief for Belgium is arranging a “Children’s Day” throughout the Empire on July 10th in aid of 21 millions of children in Belgium, the majority of ■whom are destitute, and who, through a neutral committee, will be provided with a daily ration of just enough to keep them alive. He appeals to the children of Australia and New Zealand to assist, and asks the educational authorities to organise. ANTI-MILITARISM IN GERMANY. IRRITATING CENCORSHIP REMOVED. AMSTERDAM, June 4. During an animated anti-militarist debate in the Reichstag resolutions were adopted demanding that nonmilitary matter should be submitted only to civil censorship, and demanding the introduction of a Bill guaranteeing that civil rights should not be encroached upon by the military.