On the Sea.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 March 1918, Page 3

On the Sea.

THE FIGHT IN THE NORTH SEA

FIVE ALLIED DESTROYERS

. TACKLE EIGHTEEN GERMANS

LONDON, March 25,

An eye-witness’ narrative of tlie destroyer action oft’ Dunkirk on Thursday last states that the British destroyers Botha and Morris, and the French destroyers Mehl, Magton, and Bouchier,. were patrolling the Channel at dawn, when they heard firing northwards, where the enemy was carrying out a further bombardment of deserted French watering places. The Allies, the Botha leading, went at full speed towards the flashes, firing star shells, which caused the raiders to disappear. The Allies then searched north-eastwards, using star shells. Presently they sighted the shadowy outline of an enemy'division sneaking off in the darkness and mist, and Immediately fired heavily. A running fight ensued. The Morris, emerging* from the enemy smoke screen, cut off and torpedoed a large destroyer, which sank. The Botha’s main steampipe was severed by a shell, but she fired both her torpedoes at a leading boat, and putting over the helm rammed and cut in half the fourth enemy boat. The Botha swung round and tried to ram the next astern ,which dodged, but was pounded to pieces by the French destroyers. The Morris meanwhile relinquished the pursuit in the smoke and mist/ and took the Botha.in tow. The French destroyers picked up some survivors of the enemy craft. These stated that the raiders numbered eighteen. They were unhesitatingly attacked and mauled by five Anglo-French destroyers. The remaining fifteen running home to Ostend were bombed and scattered by seaplanes, which aflerwards 1 -' fought a squadron of enemy seaplanes. The troubles of The' raiders were not ended at Ostend, for a sinister unseen thing, travelling at an incredible speed, rushed in a cloud of spray across the face of the water, Apparently from nowhere. One of her torpedoes struck the stern of a German destroyer, and in clouds of spray she vanished unscathed, amid a hail, of bullets. I

U-BOAT SUNK.

PARIS, March 26

‘An American steamer sunk a Üboat in French waters, capturing the crew of nine.