BOMBARDMENT OF ZEEBRUGGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 13 January 1915, Page 3

BOMBARDMENT OF ZEEBRUGGE.

SUBMARINE BASE DESTROYED. BRITISH WARSHIPS DO IMMENSE DAMAGE. Frequent mention was made in the cable messages early last month of the bombardment by British warships of the port of Zeebrugge, on the Belgian coast, some miles above Ostend. The Cape Times contains many references to the bombardment, which were not cabled, but which are of special interest. On Wednesday, November -2"), the. Admiralty announced that two British battleships on Monday severely bombarded all points of military significance at Zeebrugge. 'The German opposition was feeble. The extent of the damage caused by tbo warships is unknown. The warships returned safely. A special Renter message stated that according to Dutch correspondents the British bombardment of Zeebrugge thwarted the German .scheme to make, Chat place a naval base. Prior t.o the bombardment, British airmen reconnoitred the German gun positions on the coast, and then the British-French I squadron, of smaller ships, bombarded | them, silencing two batteries. j Simultaneously, the Allied infantry attacked the enemy's trenches, while later on two battleships cannonaded Zeebrugge. and destroyed sluices, setting fire to the power station, an hotel, and a factory. j

The Germans attempted to remove to 1 Unifies a quantity of stores, including i Apparatus for making hydrogen, for j Zeppelins, but a section of" the railway | was destroyed by shells. I The fate'of the six submarines, which j the Germans had assembled at Zee- ) bruggc. is unknown; many motor-boats, t armed with machine guns, and intended for use 011 the Yser, were destroyed at Ostend. The operations were connected with the mussing of German troops preparatory to a final attempt to reach Calais. 1 : ' The best account of the bombardment of Zcebrupge comes from a Dutch press correspondent, who witnessed the affair from a church tower. He says that not a shot missed. The first razed the Valace Hotel, the German Xaval Headquarters: the second exploded the gasholders and the third the petrol tanks. The damage was indescribable. Refugees from Zeebruggc, who have arrived in Holland, report that the first shell fired by the British warships exploded close to a number of Germans working among submarines, killing seventeen. The German Naval Staff had | quarters at the Palace Hotel, which was J destroyed. ] . The special correspondent of the Cape , Times, telcpraghing on "26th November, J | said that it was still impossible to know accurately the extent of the damage J done by the warships, during the bom- I bardment of Zeebrugge, Many reports j say that six German submarines were ] destroyed, but this is not confirmed.! One report states that the German sub- ] marines were ready in the harbor when the warships arrived, and boldly emerged to attack them, but failed and retreated. This is doubtful, as the submar-; ines, which were brought overland, were probably not ready for service. The greatest satisfaction is expressed in Lon.don that the bombardment took place, it shows the» impraetibility of the .Germans maintaining a naval base, without a fleet to keep the sea clear. Many believe iliat the bombardment of Zcebrugge. will convince even the German War Lords of the futility of their plans in regard to Calais, should tliu German armies ever get there, which is highly improbable, ft "will also convince' them of the uselessness of German guns on shore against the fire of warships. A week later, the Cape Times published the following telegram:—The ."Renter's Agency Amsterdam correspondent says that'there are persistent reports of another bombardment of Zecbrugge by British warships, biit details of the previous bombardment, w;.: -h are now leaking through, indicate that another bombardment is scarcely necessary. The harbor is completely closed, tiie sluices are. unworkable, and the German submarines are blocked by the canal and are useless. The marksmanship of the British gunners has had a depressing effect on the Germans. This is illustrated by a high German official fleeing to Shiis. When asked to return to Zeebrugge, he | mere replied, "Best thanks for your friendly letter."