The Zeebrugge Raid

Taihape Daily Times, 26 April 1918, Page 5

The Zeebrugge Raid

HOTTER THAN GALLIPOLI. PRELUDES GREATER OPERATIONS. LONDON, April 24. The newspapers not merely pay a tribute to the initiative, resource and daring displayed in the Zeebrugge raid but also to the elaborate rehearsals for weeks. The men state that during the hour they were ashore they were subjected to terrific machine-gun fire, which they returned with interest. Gallipoli veterans said that while it lasted it was much'hotter than the Dardanelles landing. When the men returned to the cruiser they found her decks torn up by enemy fire. Few of the crew escaped injury. Experts believe that the results will be of paramount importance* not merely on account of scaling the Zeebrugge hornets ’ nest, but probably because the raid Is connected with contemplated greater .operations. EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ZEEBRUGGE MOLE SMASHED. OSTBND FAIRWAY BLOCKED. LONDON. April 24. The Admiralty reports: Following yesterday morning’s operations, aircraft carried on'. observations and bomb attacks. Owing to clouds, the machines descended to fifty feet. They observed a clear break of twenty yards in the Zeebrugge canal, A sunken object was seen lying between the piers at Ostend, blocking the greater part of the fairway. Numoruos bombs were dropped on objectives on shore.

Others survivors state that before destroying the guns on the mole, the landing party turned them, against the enemy fortifications The Vindictive left a number on the mole. Some of these were subsequently taken off by patrol boats and launches. Others remained apd completed their task of the, destruction of tho military .works, knowing they would be killed or prisonered. ~ , ,

The British destroyer which was re,ported lost, received a salvo, of guns, in the engine-room and dashed to the shore in a sinking condition. She was ultimately beached. Another destroyer took off the survivors, and then blew up the stranded vessel. There are conflicting stories as to the enemy losses. Some survivors state that in addition to- the destroyers rammed, two destroyers were sunk in the harbour and one sunk alongside the mole. Other smaller craft, ■' including submarines, are reported sunk. The Press Bureau reports: Vice-Ad-miral -Keys has been prompted to a Commander of the Bath, in recognition of his services at Zeebrugge. , Lieutenant Carpenter, commander of the Vindictive, has been promoted to captain.

Participators of the raid state that the concrete-laden ships were anchored at the entrance to the harbour and swung round. They sank within twenthree minutes of being anchored - A German official message, referring to the raids on Zecbrugge and Ostend on the 23rd inst,, says: The enterprise, which -was conceived on a large scale and planned regardless of sacrifice, was frustrated. Small cruisers escorted by numerous destroyers and motor-boats, after a violent bombardment, pushed forward under veil of artificial fog near Ostend and Zeebrugge to quite near the coast, with the intention of destroying the locks and harbour works. Only forty marines got on the mole. These fell into our hands, some alive and some dead. Both parties fought on the narrow high wall with the utmost gallantry.

A German official claims, inter alia, that the Germans sank three destroyers and three small cruisers during the attack on Zecbrugge and Ostend on the 23rd inst.

The two small vessels Intrepid and 1 Sirius and two others of similar construction were sunk close to the coast, while three destroyers and a considerable number of torpedo boats were also sun’lC*by artillery fire. Only'a few of their crews could be saved. Beyond damage to the mole by a torpedo the harbour works and coast batteries are undamaged. One of our torpedo boats suffered slight damage. Our casualties were slight. BRITAIN’S MARINERS BOLD. THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE RAID. “WELL DONE, VINDICTIVE.’ * Received 10 45 a.m. LONDON, April 25. The ships returning from the raid had a tremendous reception. The Vindictive arrived with masts gone and sides streaked white where the high explosives struck. All the partieipat-* ors were granted special leave. Admiral Keyes had a groat reception at Dover.

Further details show the action at the mole bQgan with a shot from the Vindictive, which waited until the lighthouse’s beam camte into line, when a shot destroyed the lighthouse. The British before quitting the mole hoisted the Union Jack, which was left flying. Two ofiiicers, who miraculously escaped from Zeebrugge, graphically describe the raid, praising the conduct of all ranks. They declared it was a "dashed fine adventure carried out with dare-devil pluck.” After approaching Zeebrugge in 4hs black snloke fpg which extended from Zee’bihgge to Ostend, the Funs suddenly discovered the attackers. There was no alternative but to go ahead through : the smoke. Then we got unadulterated hell. All the Vindictive’s men were on deck and the Germans shelled them incessantly for twenty minutes. The men carried on notwithstanding the terrific fire. When alongside the mole they'found two out of fourteen in one gang serviceable, the remainder being shot away. With ringing cheers amid cries of "Over you go, Royals,” "the stormers landed on the first ledge ef the mole they lost heavily and landing amidst a hail of shell. They found thmselvcs faced with a drop of twenty feet leading to the. second ledge, which it was necessary to negotiate before coming to grips with the enemy. The heavy rain only made matters worse but the raiders, undaunted, lowered ropes and ladders, and swarmed down while three German destroyers on the further side of the mole kept up> a vicious fire at short range It was necessary to silence these first. The British rushed to the attack with cheers, and the Germans swarmed out to meet the attack, but the cheers seemed to strike terror into Fritz, and he bolted. The > raiders cleared a space and then''dashed on to the nearest destroyer, lobbing fifty hand bombs aboard, and loud explosions followed. The attackers passed on, leaving her afire, and sinking. The raiders formed up in a line and proceeded along the mole wdth bayonets fixed, and charged the crews of the guns ashore, killing a number ,and scattered thq remainder. and,capturing the gun. Mean,-. 'While All a.ropnd was an. incessant,-din qf Cannonading, , The .*rh>s of- the wounded ( w r ag, ghastly, but the British behaved; magnificently. The Vindictive' was. the target for The concep--trated fire of guns from every. direction, but kept up a most gallant fight with the shore batteries until the siren signalled "withdraw,” after the block ships had, beep sunk. When she returned the poor old Vindictive was a terrible sight. She had already lost three successive crews of the forward gun before the landing was effected, but the other gunners stuck it like Britons. Throughout the raid the Vindictive’s captain, fully. exposed on the bridge, gave orders with absolute coolness,' ‘ and - skilfully > manoeuvred ' ■ the ship seaward, As she steered. down the Ghapneb)homeward bound ah'day 3, light she piefc Admiral Keyes aboard a' warship. Keyes signalled "Well done, Vindictive!” The vessels crews cheered themselves hoarse in passing.

The Vindictive’s survivors state that our two submarines got under the viaduct at Zecbrugge, exploding twenty tons of explosives under the shore end, blowing it up completely. AMERICAN PRAISE. FOR WORK OF BRITISH SEA FIGHTERS. Received 10.5 a.m. NEW TORI'?, April 25. The “World,” commenting on tn» Zeebrugge raid, says the operations wer ecarried out with splendid dash and skill. The daring exploit shows that after weary years of wailing the aggressive spirit of the British seafighters has not declined. They are ready for any adventure. The “Sun” remarks that the attack were carried out, with splendid dash that sustains the best traditions of the British Navy, which throughout the war has set a standard of excellence which has not been surpassed in the history of the world.