ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 April 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

RAIDS ON OSTEND AND ZEE- { BRUGGE. | i CONCRETE FILLED CRUISERS j BLOWN UP. | TO BLOCK ENTRANCE. Received 9.55 a.m.' LONDON, April 23. During a naval,raid on.Osicnd and Zeebrugge old 1 concrete filled cruisers were blown up in the harbours for the purpose of blocking egress, and the entrance of the Bruges canal was blocked, -the British landing parties to j distract the enemy's attention, RAID SIGNALLY SUCCESSFUL. ONE GERMAN AND ONE BRITISH DESTROYER SUNK. Received 11.30 a.m. LONDON, April 23. The Admiralty reports a raid was made early this morning on Ostend and Zeebrugge destroyer and submarine bases by our forces, who have been returning scanty information hitherto, but one report states this raid met with a reasonable measure of success. The force employed, except covering ships, consisted of auxiliary vessels and six obsolete cruisers. Five of these cruisers were filled with concrete and used as block ships. They were run aground, and, in accordance with orders, blown up and abandoned by the crews. The casualties are not yet reported. Sir Eric Geddes states the raid was signally successful. The marines landed at two points at Zeebrugge, and blew up the blockships in the mouth of Bruges Canal. Reuter reports a German destroyer and a British destroyer were sunk during the attack on Zeebrugge. RHEINLAND A TOTAL WRECK. i , j Received ’11.55 a.m." j " 'STOCKHOLM, "April .23." r; ■ i voa ;■ vi. > ■ ■ IT 'is 1 Impossible to salve the G er uran battle'ship Rheinland, which has bei r ... - ; 000-in ■ • ■ comers jtqtaLwreqk. , ! r (The Rheinland .struck a mine when .the German forces were being landed at , Hango, in Finland, about two weeks ago. .She struck in the same locality where the German battlecruiser Hindenburg went down. The Rheinland was of 18,600 tonnage, with a speed of 19 knots, and was armed with 12-inch guns.