Naval Battle.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1915, Page 5

Naval Battle.

ENGAGEMENT IN THE BALTIC. ■ RUSSIANS SINK TWO HERMAN [ SHIPS. __ GERMAN MINELAYER DISABLED. RUSSIANS RETIRE TO SAFETY. Received July 3, o p.lll. Stockholm, Jul;.- 3. A severe fighjt -took place between German and Russian cruisers ami torpedoers in tlio vicinity of Windau. A German torpedoer and a cruiser of the Magdeburg type were sunk. Four Russian cruisers chased the Ger- . man minelayer Albatross eastward of i Gothland, killing twenty-four and i wounding seventy-one of the crew. T'ic 1 Albatross ran ashore to avoid capture. Just as tlic Albatross was disabled a German squadron outnumbering the ' Russians arrived. ■ A vigorous engagement ensued, the Russians retiring slowly northward to safety. ' German torpedoers landed many wounded at Gothland. THE RUSSIAN VERSION. LITTLE DAMAGE TO RUSSIANS. ACTIVITY IN THE BLACK SEA. RUSSIAN 1 SUBMARINE'S SUCCESS. Received July 4, 5 p.m. Petrograd, July" 3. Official: Russian cruisers encountered two enemy light cruisers and torpedoers in a fog east of Gothland, and gave' battle. The German cruiser Albatross at nine o'clock in the morning lowered her flag and ran ashore, and the others made off. Our squadron of ten vessels encountered at noon a light cruiser and torpedoers and we renewed the battle. The enemy at 10.30 began to retire southwards, and during the retreat another enemy light I cruiser joined and all fled. Pursuit ceased at 11.30 after a battle. A submarine attacked our squadron fruitlessly. Our damage is insignificant. A Russian submarine sank two steamers and a large sailer in the Black Sea, and drove a number of small vessels ashore. THE GERMAN VERSION. Received July 5, 1.35 a.m. Amsterdam, July 4. A German official report, referring to : tlic Gothland fight, gays the German forces were weaker than the enemy's. They vainly attempted to draw the enemy within the area controlled by the German ships southward. A PROTEST FROM SWEDEN. Received July 4, *5 p.m. Copenhagen, July 3. The Albatross was acting as an information ship to the cruisers. She carried 225 men. Twenty-live shots struck her and both her masts fell, and the vessel grounded a hundred yards from the shore. Twenty-seven were killed and 33 wounded. The Swedish authorities have protested to Petrograd at the action taking place in Swedish waters. 1 (iWindau is a seaport on the Russian coast of the Baltic Sea, near the. Gulf of Riga. Gothland is an Island almost directly opposite to Windau..)