THE NAVAL FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 30 January 1915, Page 5

THE NAVAL FIGHT

NEW ZEALAND'S WARSHIP. ffIGH COMMISSIONER'S EULOGY. | Lodon, January 28. The warship New Zealand has received her full share of plaudits for hie part in the North Sea engagement. Special prominence is given to the statement of Mr T. Mackenzie, who writing to Mr Churchill, says: "The gift of New Zealand's Aip was a most far-seeing act of statesmanship. Events are showing every day that the young States of the Empire are getting over their period of infancy and feeling the power of youtli in their sinews. They arc nobly taking their share in maintaining the integrity of the Empire, and what has already occurred In the way of support from the Dominion is only the beginning of things. Canada will undoubtedly 6oon follow in the naval lead already given. When the -war is over the conditions will requirj managements In the ->roportion of what each Dominion is doing will be its voice in the councils of empire, where the first and foremost planks will be efficient defence.' ' LONDON' UNEXCITED. London, January 28. A Canadian correspondent notes the calmness witih which London received the victories. There were no signs of public rejoicings. Of thirty flagpoles in the -vicinity of Piccadilly only five displayed flags. This seeming indifference •runs parallel with the country's strenuous preparations for increasing her world and has puzzled every foreign observer. " , FRENCH NAVAL DUTIES. London. January 28. An officer says tbat the public does not give the Frency Navy half the credit lue. They hold command of the Mediterranean, not we. Their ships are cften 58 daya at sea. perhaps three time anchoring at night. The climate of the Adriatic is just as bad as that of the North Sea. AN UNFOUNDED REPORT. London, January 28. The Admiralty states that the report ' that the Von der Tann was damaged in 'a collision is without foundation. . THE GERMAN LAME-DUCKS. REACH HOME JUST AFLOAT. BLUCHER'S OFFICERS LOSE THEIR NERVE. Received 29 11.20 p.m. London, January 29. It is reported that the battle cruisers Seydlitz and Derflinger got home little more than afloat, the rormer being afire. The Derflinger had every gun out of action and was damaged astern by a torpedo. Narratives of the Blucher's survivors show that the British broadside made I the ship reel, the guns being torn from their settings and whole gun crews ■ hurled to destruction. Men were swept from the deck like flies. Everywhere blood trickled and flowed. Shells burst in the interior of the vessel, which was in a halo of flame. Those in authority j lost their heads and their nerves, being unable to stand the strain. i . THE BLUCHER TORPEDOED. ADMISSION BY GERMAN OFFICER. BRITAIN UNCONQUERABLE AT SEA. Received 29. 8.30 p.m. London, January 29. The Arethusa finished the Blucher with a couple of torpedoes. One of the Blucher's officers confessed that the Fatherland miglit beat England on land, perhaps, but on sea, never. I .Another remarked: "Your shells are terrifying and seamanship marvellous." A number of the Arcthusa's crow • states that the Blucher's men were game : "to the last and lined the rails. On>' '■" of our officers megaphoned that a tor- | pedo was coining and they instantly ' dived overboard. We threw over hundreds of planks whereto the Germans j clung until picked up.