NAVAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 7

NAVAL BATTLE.

KUXNING ITGHT IX NORTH SEA. THRILLING STORY TOLD BY A FISHERMAN. London, August 1. The first eye-witness of a sea-figlit between British and German warships in ,thc North Sea landed at Lowestoft yesterday morning. Until lie came ashore, Captain William Pleasants, of the fishing smack Loch Nevis, was quite unaware of the point of the drama he had , keen .witnessing, for he put out in search of fish before war was declared. But he knew it was no place for htm when the shells began to drop close about, so he hauled his trawl and stood about for home as fast as he could.

As a tig Monde East Coast fisherman would be, he was quite stolid concerning the affair when he described it to-day. He was 45 miles from the land .on Wednesday, with Vis trawl down. The weather was squally from the westward, and there was some sea running. THE PURSUIT. Some time before midday he noticed what looked like a light cruiser or gunboat in the north-east, steering a southwesterly course. He eould not quite make out what she was. At the same time his mate pointed out to him that two destroyers or torpedo-boats, obviously British, were coming up astern from the south-east, and were heading for the stranger, a much bigger vessel. He thought nothing of the matter, only noticing that the Btranger suddenly veered her course to the westward, and then quickly changed it again, as though she had seen something else, and stood on. as before.

! As the three vessels neared eayh other—the group was then about two to three miles otl—the two destroyers, runing abreast, began firing. The surprised fishermen thought that destroyers were firing at each other, Then the stronger, too, began banging away. "Why, they're after the big 'un, Bill," 'said the now thoroughly-interested mate, the trawl forgotten. "It was a lovely scrap," explained Captain Pleasants, with reminiscent wonder. The two little eraft were now on either side of the stranger, blazing at her with great rapidity. The enemy answered with less rapidity, but more heavily. The fishermen admit the noise was too great and the sight too surprising for them to think much, but certainly they were not prepared for the 6Udden appearance, also out of the south-west, »r about a dozen more mosquito cratt, which ranged themselves properly, and got in some first-rate rapid fire practice.

Then a' squall arrived and "rang down a grey curtain on the drama. Some near shots told the Loch Nevis that it was time she was out of it, and by the time the trawl was in the squall had gone well to the eastward, with the combatants in the midst. They were seen and heard no more.