Naval Battle

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 195, 26 January 1915, Page 5

Naval Battle

GERMAN WARSHIP SUNK. RAIDING SQUADRON MEETS HOT OPPOSITION. IN THE NORTH SEA.

London, January 24. Viee-Admiral Sir David Jieatty's squadron sighted four German battlecruisers and a number of destroyers making for England. The Germans fled, and made a running fight. The Blucher was sunk, and two battle-cruisers were seriously damaged. There were no British losses. H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND TAKES PART. GERMANS FLEE TO THE MINED AREA. TWO CRUISERS CRIPPLED. London, January 25. The Tight began at 5.30 a.m., between the Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal, and New Zealand against the Uerll'linger, Sc-ydlitz, Moltke, and Blucher. The latter capsized and sank at 1 o'clock, and the remainder, some of them crippled, reached the security of the mined area. The British casualties were eleven wounded aboartl the Lion.

A hundred and thirteen of the Blucher'a crew were rescued. [The Blucher was an armored cruiser of 15,500 tons, completed in 1909, speed of 24 knots, 12 8-inch guns, eight 5-inch, sixteen 3-inch, and four torpedo tubes. Of the other German vessels, the Derfflinger and Seydlitz are of the latest type of battle-cruisers, and the Moltke belongs to the same class, the tonnages, armament, and speed being as follow:—Seydlitz (1913), 24,610 tons, 26 knots, carrying ten 11-inch guns; Derfflinger (1914), 28,000 tons, 30 knots; Moltke (1911), 22,640 tons, 24 knots, carrying twelve 8.2 guns. The Dcrfflinger's armament would probably be far heavier than that of her consorts.

[Of the British squadron, the Tiger is one of tbe most modern of our battlecruisers, of 27,000 tons, completed in 1913, carrying eight 13.5-inch and sixteen 4-inch guns. Her speed is 28 knots. The Princess Royal is a battle-cruiser of 26,350 tons, completed in 1912, 32.7 knots, similar armament to the Tiger. The Lion is a similar vessel in all particulars, completed in 1911, but her speed is 31.8 knots. H.M.S. New Zealand, of course, is 18,800 tons, carrying eight 12inch and sixteen 4-inch guns, and capable of developing a speed of 28 knots.]

"MADE FOR HOME AT HIGH SPEED." BOASTFUL GERMAN NAVY TURNS TAIL. OUR VERY SLIGHT CASUALTIES. THE ADMIRALTY REPORT.

The Prime Minister has received the following from the High Commissioner:— London, January 24, 4 p.m. The Admiralty announces that early this morning the British patrolling squadron of battle-cruisers and light cruisers, under Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, with a flotilla of destroyers cruisers, under Vice-Admiral Sir David four German battle-cruisers, several light cruisers, and a number of destroyers, steering westward, and apparently making for the English coast The enemy at once made for home at high speed, but were at once pursued. At about 9.30 an action commenced between the battle-cruisers Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal, -New Zealand, and Indomitable, on the one hand, and the Derfflinger, Seydlitz, Moltke, and Elucher. A well-contested running fight ensued.

Shortly after 1 o'clock the Blucher, which had previously fallen out of the line, capsized and sank. Admiral Beatty reports that two other German battle-cruisers were seriously damaged, but were able to continue their flight, and reached the area where the dangers of German submarines and mines prevented further pursuit. No British ships were lost. Our casualties in personnel, as at present reported, were slight, the Lion, leading the line, having eleven wounded, and no killed. One hundred and twenty-three survivors were rescued of the Blucher's crew of 885, anil it is possible that others were saved By some of our de-

stroyers. No reports of any destroyer or lightcruiser fighting have yet been received at the Admiralty, though some apparently has taken place. Their Lordships have expressed their satisfaction to Vice-Admiral Bcatty.

THE BRITISH REPLY TO SCARBOROUGH. BRITAIN COMMANDS THE NORTH SEA. THE BLUCHER'S FATE DESERVED. SUPERIORITY OF OUR | GUNNERY. Received 20, 1 a.m. London, January 25. The Times heads a leader, "The British Reply to Scarborough." ,Tlie article says: "The German fleet was caught steaming at full speed on another of its murderous raids. Such is the crushing reply of British sailors to the raiders who bombard undefended towns, and slaughter helpless women and children. The Admiralty announcement shows that our grand fleet has maintained its dominion in the .North Sea to a degree unsuspected by the nation. It is believed that the enemy was sighted somewhere- near the Dogger Bank. The Blucher participated in the Scarborough raid, and richly deserved her fate. The moral of every straight sea fight in this war has been guns, guns, guns!' coupled with speed." ON THE ALERT. THE KAISER'S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE. DIVERTED TO LORD FISHER.

Received 26, 1 a.m. London, January 25. The Times' naval correspondent declares that the results so far are fairly good evidence that our navy is on the alert and ready to give the enemy an opportunity of showing what he is made of whenever he cares to accept. We were told that the Kaiscr'a birthday on Wednesday would be made the occasion of startling surprise for the British nation, but Admiral Beatty and his comrades have presented Lord Fishor with an appropriate present for his birthday on Monday.

TORPEDO FLOTILLA ENGAGED. PAUCITY OF NEWS. Received 25, 7.55 a.m. London, January 24. Commodore Trywhitfs torpedo flotilla participated in the fight. The Germans included several light cruisers. The enemy dashed homewards at high ;peed when the Britishers were sighted. Some lighting was heard off Friesland (in the extreme north of the Netherlands), indicating a flight northward of Ameland and Ichiermondikog Islands. The Admiralty has nbt received any report of the light cruisers or destroyers fighting, though some apparently occurred.

NEW ZEALAND CONGRATULATED. UPON OUR GIFT BATTLEShIP'S SECOND FIGHT. Wellington, Last Night. The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner: — "The Times congratulates the people of New Zealand on the good fortune which attended their splendid warship on her second appearance in action."

JOY IN ENGLAND. Received 26, 1.20 a.m. London, January 25. Audiences at Sunday night's coneerts received the news with great enthusiasm and cries of: "The baby-killers have got what they were looking for!" There were also joyful demonstrations in east coast towns.