H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 25 February 1915, Page 4

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

GOOD WORK IN ACTION . ,' 1 SANK GERMAN SHIP KOLN IN THI* NORTH SEA. Liutonant-Coloncl A. A. Grace, of Nelson, has received from Captain Edgar Grace, of H.M.S. New Zealand, a photograph of that,ship, taken when she wis steaming into action off Heligoland, on ■August Bth (says the Mail). The photograph shows the silk ensign, made by the ladies of New Zealand, flying at tho foremast head, just above the signalyard and below the wireleSß. The bat-tle-cruiser was steaming at the rate of 2fi knots at the time the photograph was taken from one of the accompanying destroyers, two hours before the German cruiser Koln was sunk.

"It i» not generally known," says Captain Grace, "that wc in this ship sank the. Koln." I would seem that the NewZealand put that ship out of action and having minced her to a sinking condition, ceased fire on her. But'the Incoming up. and not perceiving the condition of things in the mist, fired at the Koln after the New Zealand had stopped firing. So that the people of this country may congratulate themselves on their gift ship having done useful service in the first naval engagement of the war. and also in the engagement between battle-cruisers on the Dogger Bank, in, January, when the Blucher was sunk, and the Borfflinffer, Moltke. and -Seydlitz were driven badly damaged in port. Evidently the silk ensign is hoisted ori the New Zealand only when she is goiaginto action, and that explains Captain Halsey's recent message to the High Commissioner, that the ensign would again be ready for hoisting shortly. Captain Grace was promoted from the rank of Commander on December 31st, and is not'likelv, therefore, to remain definitely with the New Zealand. People in this country (says the Mail) will be glad to know that all on board the battle-cruiser are very well and cheery.