Battle of Heligoland Bight

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 82, 1 September 1914, Page 5

Battle of Heligoland Bight

British Clever Strategy.

THE AISETHUSA'S BAPTISM. OF FIRE. A GLORIOUS CHRISTENING.

GERMAN OFFICERS SHOOT OWN SAILORS IN) THE WATER.

Received 31, 7.30 p.m.

London, August 31 (morning). The Press Bureau states that the AreI thusa, not the Amethyst, played the leading role in the fighting. The vessel was only commissioned a few days before the war as an emergency ship, and the officers and crew did not know each other.

| Tho fight indicated the fighting qualities, of the Arethusa class, of which a large number will join the fleet in the next few months.

The Arethusa headed a strong force of destroyers, aiming to cut off the German light craft from their home and engage them at their leisure in the open sea.

Two German cruisers first attacked

the Arethusa for 35 minutes, at 3000 yds. The Arethusa was damaged, but drove off the* German cruisers, one of which was seriously injured by the 6in guns. Later.

The Arethusa engaged iwo other vessels encountered in the confused fight, and was in company of the Fearless and the light cruiser squadron during the fighting. The x Arethusa assisted in the sinking of the Mainz.

| With her speed reduced to ten knot 3, and many of'her guns disabled, at one o'clock she was about to be attacked '>y two other cruisers of the Town class, when the battle-cruiser squadron opportunely arrived and sank tie Arethusa's new antagonists.

Only two German destroyers were actually seen sinking, but most of the 18 or 20 boats rounded up were well punished, and were only saved by a scattered flight.

The superior gun-power strength of the British destroyers, ship for ship, was conclusively demonstrated. The Laurel and the Liberty were knocked about in the process. British destroyers exposed themselves to considerable risk in endeavoring to save as many drowning Germans as possible. British officers present vouch for thy fact that German officers were observed firing at their own men in the water 'with pistols, and several were thin shot.

The destroyer Defender was picking up wounded when she was driven off by a Geniian cruiser, and obliged to leave two boats' crews behind. Fortunately they were rescued by submarines. As it was impossible to take 30 German survivors aboard the. submarine, they were allowed to go in the boats.

Three" 'hundred and thirty Germans were saved out of the crews of five vessels, which aggregated 1200. All the British ships will be fit for service in a week or ten davs.

(The Arethusa is one of this year's cruisers, with a displacement of 4000 tons, 20,000-horse power, capable of developing a speed of 25'/o knots. Her main armament consists of four Oin guns and two 4in guns.)

TREACHEROUS WATERS.

FLOATING BOMBS CAUSE DE STRUCTION.

London, August 30.

The (Press Bureau states that much of the mine-laying in the North Sea was done by German trawlers.-

Copenhagen, August 29.

The trawler Gerda, of Hamburg, was blown up by a mine in the Langeland'Sea. The crew were saved. Many mines are drifting near Denmark. Copenhagen, August 30.

A German semi-oflluial statement announced that several small British cruisers and nearly forty torpedo boats appeared in the bay north-west of Heligoland. There was desperate isolated fighting between them. Our light forces and small German cruisers went in a westerly direction and came into contact with several strong cruisers. The Gorman cruiser Ariadne was hit by shots from two cruisers of the Lion class and sank after a glorious fight The majority of the crew of 250 were saved. A torpedo boat was bombarded by ?. small cruiser and ten torpedo boats, and sank after firing to the hist moment. The commander of the squadron was killed. The small cruisers Kolm and Mainz are missing. According to the English accounts they sank after a fight with a superior force. Six of their officers and ninety-one men were apparently

saved by the Britishers. ■ '(The Ariadne was a protected cruiser of 201R tons, and the Kohn and Mainz sister ships of 4281 tons). PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE. llf)\V THE GERMAN'S WERE CAUGHT GERMAN OFFICERS SHOOT OWN SAILORS. The Prime Minister has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner:— "" Vj! London, August 31, The Admiralty reports that in the action on the 28th. off Heligoland, the Arethusn, not tile Amethyst, played the principal part, The. principle of the operation was a scoopmg'movenient by a

strong force of destroyers, headed %y | the Arethusa, to cut the German li*ht craft from their home and engage at leisure in open sea the battle-cruiser squadron, when opportunity occurred. Intercepted German signals confirm the emking of a third German cruiser by the Ariadne.

The British destroyers exposed themselves to considerable risk in saving German sailors.

British officers vouch for the fact tliat ■hey observed German officers shooting heir own men in the water

The complements of the five German I vessels known to be sunk (1200), with the exception of 330, perished. The total British casualties were 60 The success of the operation was due to in-' formation brought to the Admiralty bv submarine officers. *

To-day's reports justify neither pessimism nor over-confidence as to the position of the Allies. Received 30, 0.55 a.m. Reliable.-IParis reports that the «ituondW 116 Allies' front in the Imn, and the Vosges is unchanged. The Ger mans seem to have slackened their march. Both sides report heavy losses and are exhausted with continuous ngftting. In one instance only (SO Germans survived out of a force of 6000 It is estimated that the German losses total 200,000. Reports from Amsterdam state that 160 trains of Germans passed through Belgium, northwards, to strengthen the force against Russia. Reports that the Allies have abandoned Boulogne are unconfirmed. Official.—The British have not laid I mines.

STRONG IN STRATEGY. ACCURATE IN AIM. THE FLEET DELIGHTED.

Received 1, 12.50 a.m.

London, August 31 (morning). Other accounts state that the British shells naked the German decks fore and

aft. Although the fight lasted for eight hours, there were considerable periods in which no fighting occurred. The fleet was delighted with Admiral Jcllicoe's strategy, whereby the big ships appeared just at the right moment to linieh the job off.