NAVAL ATTACK

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 5

NAVAL ATTACK

AIR RAID ON GERMANY, BRITISH ENTER GERMAN WATERS, SINK TWO PATROL BOATS. TWO SEAPLANES LOST. Received March 27, 9.30 p.m. London, March 27. The Admiralty report that an escorting force of light cruisers and destroyers, under Captain Tyrwhitt, on Saturday morning convoyed British seaplanes to a rendezvous near the German coast, for the purpose of an attack upon German airsheds in Schleswig-Holstein, eastward of the island of Sylt. Three attacking seaplanes are missing. The light cruiser Medusa; and the torpedo-boat destroyer Laverock (965 tons) collided; and it is feared that in last night's storm the Medusa was possibly lost. There are no misgivings regarding the safety of the crew. Our destroyers sank two German armed patrol vessels. No details have yet been received, but Danish press messages indicate that the operation, which was carried out within German waters, achieved its object. BRITISH SEAPLANE ATTACK. SIGNS OF NAVAL ACTIVITY. BRITISH PURSUE GERMAN SHIPS. TWO TRAWLERS AFIRE. -»■ (Received March 27, 9.30 p.m.

Copenhagen, March 27. Esbjerg telegrams state that there was a great naval engagement three I miles off the Gartdy lightship at noon on Saturday. Tt is reported that five seaplanes bombed Tondern. Vessels report seeing five German cruisers and twenty torpedoers outside Esbjerg and Fano. Fishermen reported twenty British torpedoers near Blaavandshuk, in international waters. The captain of the steamer Cimbria said that at noon on Saturday he saw a German flotilla going south. Suddenly ten British torpedoers appeared and attacked two German trawlers, which fled, on fire, towards the island of Sylt. The German fortress at Sylt fired on the Britishers and stopped the pursuit. A violent cannonade was heard in the North. Sea between 7 and 8 o'clock on Saturday night. [Esbjerg i 8 a Danish seaport on the west coast of Jutland, opposite Fano.]

TWO GERMAN SHIPS DISABLED. BRITISH CUT GERMANS OFF. PART OF SQUADRON DESTROYED. BOTH FLEETS ACTIVE. Received March 28, 12.15 a.m. Copenhagen, March 27. British and German squadrons rfcre sighted in thick and snowy weather, anil firing was heard for twenty minutes. The Germans rapidly retired behind the island of Rom, but two ships were disabled. The German squadron included several disguised merchantmen. Preliminary to the main action twelve British destroyers on Friday got between four German destroyers and Heligoland, and by skilful manoeuvring compelled the Germans to steam northwards. Later, armed trawlers and other vessels carrying four seaplanes, also two Zeppelins, joined them. It is reported that part of this flotilla has been destroyed. Vessels report passing on the high s ea 3 fifty German and eighty British ships. Heavy cannonading was again heard from Esbjerg and Fano. Several aeroplanes were seen proceeding towards Wilhelmshaven and Emden.