THE NAVAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1916, Page 5

THE NAVAL BATTLE.

AGAINST HUGE ODDS. VESSELS WELCOMED HOME, ' ' . . London, June 5. The. vessels returning to the East Qoast -bases were welcomed with great enthusiasm and the wounded men were loualy cheered. One ship passed under the Are of fourteen enemy ships. The commander was wounded, but stuck to to pogt until the vessel was docked. A THRILLING STORY. TIGER OPENS FIRE. The Glasgow Herald says that the battle-Cruiser squadron went to seahWded by, the Lion, and steamed 25 ,toots for i nearly sixteen hours (400 miles). When they met the onemy the Tiger opened fire on the Derfflinger and sent a; shell toto one of the latter's turrets, -tyhich wiped out the whole gun crew. The Derfflinger sustained such a hot we that; the Tiger's crew are satisfied she is .unlikely to be again heard of. WARSPITE'S BRILLIANT FIGHT. Whenv the German reinforcements • came from the south the Warspite (sister-/ ship of the Queen Elizabeth) ,|ot the brunt of the first attack. She cocaine isolated from her consorts and got surrounded by half-a-dozen of the enemy ships; She made a brilliant fight against impossible odds and disposed of more than one of them, then cleverly ( manoeuvred herself out of sight. LOSS OJ? THE QUEEN MART. The fight between the battle-cruisers, says an eye-witness, was like' forty thunderstorms rolled into one; it was MI- . great shell punched through the Queen JMarv's outer and thicker armor and the magazine exploded. She buckled up and Bank like a stone, in a smother of smoke and flames, it was a terrifying and awe-inspiring spectacle. A story was told that a super-Zeppelin hovered over the vessel showering ■bombs, but the Queen Mary's anti-air-craft guns shot down the Zeppelin, .wtueh.in a blazing mass, fell close to the*Bhip, exploded, and was destroyed. Meanwhile the Queen Mary received two terrific tooadsides, but it is believed her opponent afterwards sunk. THE INDEFATIGABLE SINKS. The Indefatigable went next. German shells with poisonous gas exploded, filling the ship with fumes and playing hagpc with the crews. Annihilating . blasts from 12in. guns took the vessel like Ift tornado and wiped away the men like flies. THE INVINCIBLE TORPEDOED. The Lion and Tiger, manoeuvring marvellously, kept their heads to the enemy. Then the Invincible, Inflexible, and Indomitable appeared oit the scene. With them came the armored cruisers of the Second Cruiser Squadron. They put up a great fight against heavy odds, but a torpedo sent the Invincible to the bottom. GRAND FLEET APPEARS. When the Grand Fleet came on the scene the Germans made the shortest roa4 home with the whole might of the British fleet after them. Large fleets, of Dutch fishing craft did good work in life-saving. The Lion was where the fight was hottest, though at one time such a volume of fire was concentrated on the •tige- as few vessels ever received and survived. The Tiger, for ten minutes, was under the fire of a score of ships. Our light cruisers proved their superiority over the enemy, THE HINDENBURG, It is believed the Hindenburg succumbed to the destroyers' attack. The latter's attack was one of the most stirring spectacles in the struggle. A vessel, believed to have been the Hindenburg, was struck in quick succession toy four torpedoes and literally blown to pieces.

LUTZOW AND HINOENBURG.

reported lost. London, June 5. British officers who participated in the Jutland battle confirm the statement that the Hindenburg and Lutzow were sank. The Admiralty characterises as baseless German official statements that a submarine destroyed a British destroyer off ttob iHmriber, and that German fire destroyed the Euryalus is the battle off the tJkagfrsrack. The Euryalua was ''SbHßt; /

Wellington, Yesterday. The Premier has received confirmation of the sinking of the German warships Hindenburg and Lutzo-w in the North Sea fight. (The Lutzow and Hindenburg are two of the latest German battle-cruisers. The Lutzow wa? a vessel of 28,000 tons and a speed of 28 knots, carrying eight 12in. guns and twelve s,flin. guns, completed in 1915. The Hindenburg was also completed after the war began.)

RUMORED LOSS OF SEYDLITZ.

RESCUED SAILORS GO INSANE. Copenhagen, June o. The newspaper Ribe Stifts Tidende states that British warships were seen off Farnoe on Thursday morning chasing the Seydlitz, which was badly damaged all over and had two great holes aft.

Scandinavian steamers rescued members of the Wiesbaden's sailors, who state that the losses were colossal; only a few were saved from each ship. Each ship had a number of small rafts, on which many took refuge. After 30 hours without food or water most of them drank sea water, became insane and jumped into the sea. BLINDED BY SEARCHLIGHTS. THE DESTROYERS' DASH. London, June 5. The Daily Telegraph states that wounded sailors who are arriving at Shields report that the Germans on Wednesday night used searchlights to blind the British gunners. The lights were revolved rapidly, the flashing glare alternating with intense darkness, and the Germans in some instances thus evaded our fire and escaped. The Spitfire did a thrilling piece of work, torpedoing and blowing up a big battleship in the pitch darkness and then ramming and sinking a submarine. Some enemy vessels were chased for 200 miles. The ocean-going destroyer Porpoise fought actively and sustained one casualty.

NO LIVES SAVED.

FROM SEVEN SHIPS. Received June 0, 5.5 p.m. Lohdon, June 5. 4 No men are Teportwl saved from the Indefatigable, Defence, Black Prince, Xipperary, Turbulent, Nomad and Nestor. BODIES WASHING UP. Received June 6, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, June 5. Numerous British and German bodies are washing up on the shores of west Jutland. Steamers report that large German cruisers have been withdrawn from ttie coast of Clour land, where they were recently operating, and a large squadron of torpedo boats that was lately patrolling the southern Baltic was not seen last week.

KEEPING UP TRADITIONS.

NAVY LEAGUE'S COSsGRATULA- , TIONS. Received July 0, 8.20 p.m. London. June 5. The Navy League, after considering the 'nformation available, states in unqualified terms that the final result is an undoubted British victory. The League warmly congratulates Admirals Jellicoe and Beattv and the Fleet on their unsurpased courage and skill, which has raised the standard of the whole Fleet to the highest level of the Nelsonian tradition, while our superiority is greater than before.

THE NEW ZEALAND.

IK THE THICK OP IT. ANOTHER SOUL • STIR KING NARRA-, ' TIVE. Received June 6, 5.5 p.m. London, June 5. A naval officer, who was a participant in the great fight, has reached Edinburgh. >He gives a thrilling narrative, which shows the New Zealand's great shave in the battle, "She fought," he says, "throughout Wednesday afternoon alongside 1 the Lion, yet was practically unscathed, and she participated in the search on Thursday before returning to record and refit. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S SQUADRON, "The Lion, Tiger, IPrincess Royal, New Zealand, and Queen Mary were the principal ships in Admiral Beatty's squadron. The sea was dead calm, and Admiral Beatty, who was steering southeast, had the worst possible position of visibility, the direct sunlight silhouetting the vessels' hulls on the sky-line to the enemy. '■TAKE UP BATTLE STATIONS!" "Admiral Beatty, however, followed Admiral Craddock's example in the fight off Coronel. He gave the order to engage, and signalled, 'Take up your battle stations.' The Germans were sighted at 3.30, and fighting commenced at 3.50. Admiral Beatty hauled oil' and manoeuvred for a better position, while! the Germans, knowing that niomiMiinrilv they, possessed an enormous did not lose a moment. ' l'h■ ■ Ui-j ships, at ten thousand yards, Wj!«n each other over a screen of tlisiro.wrs, and shelta were soon passing like a hurricane. The roar was deafening. OUR FIRST LOSS. "Within two minutes misfortune overtook the British. A full salvo from a German dreadnought struck the Queen Mary, finding a vulnerable spot. In a cloud of steam and a roar which rose like thunder, the ship blew up and was engulfed. "Commander' Sir Charles Blane, who only joined the Queen Mary in April, was killed by the explosion of a shell before the vessel sank. He had two brothers killed in France. WORSE TO COMB. "The loss of the Queen Mary was bad, but worse came fifteen minutes later, when the Indefatigable was sunk. ENEMY'S GUNFIRE 'DETERIORATES. "Germany's sensational success was in the first salvo, but their marksmanship deteriorated directly we replied, and as the engagement 'proceeded the gun-laying of the Germans was inferior to that of the British. We devote twelve, years to training a gunner, and the Germans give th-ee years. ' The fight proved the immeasurable superiority of our rating. ■DESTROYERS CLOSE IK "Clouds of steam and flying masses oi metal told how we were punishing the Germans, but the odds were overwhelming. The German commander sought to press his advantage, and ordered his destroyers to close with our flotilla. They paid dearly for their venture, and we completely outpointed the enemy, wiping out several without sustaining loss. AN AWESOME SIGHT.

"The fighting continued at a speed of twenty-five knots. The sight was awesome, shells striking the sea and exploding as though- in contact with a wall. We saw British destroyers buckle and disappear, and passed' bodies of mangled men, but it was impossible to spare a moment to succour the drowning. WAITING FOR JELLICOE. 'Tour battle-cruisers, backed by some of the third line ships, were now fighting the whole German High Sea Fleet, taking their toll ship for ship, and manoeuvring for time until Admiral Jellicoe came lip. Firing astern, the Germans tried to envelope us, but we avoided the trap. ENEMY RAOE FOR HOME. "At the sight of fifteen ships of the Grand Fleet, seen on the horizon, the Germans began to scamper home. Ad-, miral Jellicoe pursued them, the Germans scattering in difl'erent directions. They sent up vast curtains of smoke, as they had no stomach for fight. Their loin, guns were now firing, not broadside, but over the stern. Our destroyers kept up the cliase throughout the night, doing great execution, the enemy running towards Heligoland and the Baltic.

"Admiral Beatty's ships, including the Xew Zealand, accompanied Admiral Jellicoe in a thorough search of the battle-ground, vainly hoping for the opportunity of a further blow."

THE END OF THE SHARK.

A SURVIVOR'S STORY. Times and Sydney Siin 'Services. Received June G, 5.5 p.m. London, June 5. The Times correspondent at Portsmouth reports that a survivor of the Shark graphically describes the fight, "Right ahead of us," he said, "we saw two columns of German destroyers. Our skipper took us at full speed towards the enemy. We attacked at close range and managed to torpedo two enemy destroyers, but we got it hot. We were engaged ten minutes, and then two torpedoes struck us fairly and ripped three holes.

"The Shark sank immediately. Some of us got on to rafts and stayed for five hours watching the battle. Zeppelins, torpedo craft, submarines, and big ships were all packed together, and shells fell like hail, badly damaging the small craft. The enemy's losses in destroyers must be very great. We saw several sink like stones. A number of German submarines were very busy, but many were done in. our ships running over them."

A FURTHER NARRATIVE.

THE LINE OF BATTLE. Received June C, 10.30 p.m. London, June 6. The New Zealand's fire so punished her opponents that t.hey were unable to do her more than the most trifling damage. The line of battle was: Lion first, (hen the Princess Royal, Queen Mary, Tiger, New Zealand, Indefatigable. These bore the brunt until the battleships arrived. The New Zealand flew Vice-Ad-miral Pakenham's flag. Some distance behind the battle cruisers en me the Barham, Valiant, Warspite. and Malaya. THE ENEMY CRUISERS. The enemy's battle cruiser squadron comprised the Hindenburg, Seydlitz, Derfflinger, Lutzow, Moltke, and possibly the Salemis THE BATTLE CiPENS Admiral Beatty at once opened fire fit twenty thousand yards, shortening to sixteen thousand. As the fleets closed the "Elizabeths" opened fire as they came within range, and the Germans ported helm and drew away to about twenty thousand yards. A destroyer screen appeared beyond the German battle cruisers and the whole High Seas Fleet was seen approaching on the northeastern horizon, in three divisions. A GAME OF MANOEUVRING The German battle cruisers turned "ight round and took station in front of the German battleships. Admiral Beatty liow had before him the whole German Fleet, with Admiral Jellicoe still seme distance away. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S GENIUS. The opposing fleets were now moving parallel to one another in opposite directions. But for a masterly manoeuvre on Admiral Eeatty's part the advance ships w-ould have been cut off from Admiral Jcllicoe's fleet. In order to avoid this, and at the same time enaale Admiral Jellicoe to envelope his adversary, Admiral Beatty turned right round sixteen points, and brought his ships parallel to the German fleet, and facing in the same direction. Then he went at full speed and got ahead of the. Germans to tike tactical position in advance of their line. Admiral Beatty was able to carry out the plan owing to superior speed. LOSSES AT THE TURNING POINT. Just before the turning point was reached the Indefatigable sank, probably from a mine. The Queen Mary and the Invincible were also lost at the same point, where the High Sens Fleet concentrated their lire. As the German cruisers were turning, a destroyer sunk a new cruiser, supposed to be the Hindenburg. Admiral Beatty, now being found witl the loss of three ships, raced away painllel to the Germans, The "Elizabeths" following and engaging the High Seas Fleet. The "Elizabeths" then turned sixteen points after Admiral Beatty. THE WARSPITE'S PERIL. The Warspite's steering gear jammed, and Bhe failed to get round. She drew the fire of six of the enemy ships, who dosed upon her. On paper the Warspite should have Deen lost, yet though repeatedly straddied by shellfire, and the water boiling up all round her, she was not seriously hit, and was able to sinkone of her opponents. The captain recovered control of the ship, brought her round, and followed her consorts. THE ACTION CONTINUES. Weanwhile the Barham, Valiant and Malaya turned in short order to avoid the danger spot where the Queen Mary and Invincible were lost, and for an hour fought a delaying action until Admiral Jellicoe arrived. The Warspite joined them, and all four so successfully manoeuvred that they upset the calculations of their opponents. No serious hits were suffered, as they had t'ne speed of their opponents by fully four knots, and were able to draw away from the long line of German battleships. The "Elizabeths" fired steadily at the flashes of the Germans guns, the range varying from twelve thousand to fifteen thousand yards.

GERMAN CRUISERS OUTFLANKED. By 5.45, half the German fleet had left and were out of range, and the "Elizabeths" steamed fast to join Admiral Jellicoe. Meanwhile Admiral Beatty's cruisers outflanked the German cruisers, whieli Were compelled to turn at a full right angle to starboard to avoid being headed. Heavy fighting continued, and the Derfl'linge'r was sunk. GRAND FLEET IN SIGHT. Towards six o'clock German fire slackened considerably. The Grand Fleet was now in sight, coming fast from three directions. The "Elizabeths" altered their course four points to starboard, and drew, in towards the enemy to allow Admiral Jellicoe room to deploy into line. WONDERFUL SEAMANSHIP. The Grand Fleet, perfectly manoeuvred and with their deploying perfectly timed, steamed At the head of the fleet were the Revenge and the Royal Oak, with 15-inchers. The Agineourt, which fired from seven turrets at almost a speed maximum, was the first to come into ai.tion. THF LIGHT FAILS. Only a decent light was necessary to complete the destruction of the Germans in detail. 'J he light did improve for a few minutes, and the conditions were favorable to the British Fleet, which was now in a" line approximately north and south across the head of the Germans. JELLICOE TAKES A HAND. During the few minutes of good light, Admiral Jellicoe smashed the first three German ships. Then the mist fell and the vis'bility failed, and the defeated German Fleet drew off in ragged divisions, pursued by the British who had them enveloped between Jellicoe on the west. Beatty on the north and Evan Thomas with three "Elizabeths" on the south HIE NIGHT BATTLE. The destroyers during the night heavily attacked, and although they lost heavily themselves they sunk two Germans. It was now impossible to obtain co-ordination, and the Germans escaped between the battleships of Admiral Jellicoe, since we were unable to fire as our own destro'vers were in the way. This saw the end of the Jutland battle, which was nearly a great success, and was spoiled bv unfavorable weather. German small craft were rounded up, and soon ceased to count ".a tm organised iboi*

| THE WARRIOR.

A DECOY CRUISER. lIER MAGNIFICENT DARING. Received June G, 5.5 p.m. London, June 5. The Warrior's crew have arrived at Chatham, and met with an enthusiastic reception. . The Warrior's exploits as a decoy c.'uiser for the Grand Fleet are on every lip, and are destined to live long in naval annals. She was only seventeen minutes in action, vet 06 men were killed and 43 injured. She first engaged two cruisers, and was at one time lighting six adversaries, including four battleships, though part of the crew was detailed to extinguish a serious fire amidships.

■LOSS OF THE DEFENCE,! The Defence was accompanying the Warrior, fifteen miles ahead of the battleships, when they sighted the Germans between 0 and 7 o'clock, and immediately opened fire. A German dreadnought quickly sank the Defence, Zeppelins signalled that the Grand Fleet was still far away, and the Germans hurriedly attempted to surround the Warrior. GLORIOUS SEAMANSHIP The latter's captain, by brilliant seamanship, zigzagged through, and the vessel, though desperately injured, was kept afloat and in action, and actually sank the Elbing and a destroyer, and severely damaged another cruiser, which was afire, before Admiral Jellicoe's leading super-dreadnoughts hove in sight, the Warspite leading, when the enemy immediately turned tail. BOYS OF THE BULLDOG BRiEED. A shell crippled the Warrior's engines, and her decks were a mass of twisted iron and steel, but the men were still standing by their guns. 'The Engadine took her in tow, but it was nScessary to abandon lier. The captain was the I last to leave the ship.

"GIVE IT TO 'EMI* The Warrior's chief petty officer, Daly, had both legs blown oft', but shouted enthusiastically, "Give it to 'em!" MURDEROUS ZEPPELIN WORK. The crew of the Marlborough relate that at one time six Zeppelins wire over the fleet, and their reconnoitring greatly helped the Germans. The Zeppelins bombed Britishers who were struggling in the water. ) BURIAL OF SOME OF THE DEAD. Received June G, 10.55 p.m. London, June a. ' Forty naval men have been buried in an east coast town. There was an impressive scene. BLOWN INTO THE AIR. AWFUL SCENES. Some of the enemy's light ships were blown right out of the water liy our .hells. One could see bits of masts and mechanism and - men's bodies hurled high into the air. The water was soon thick with debris and bodies.

A HEROIC STOKER, The Warrior's men relate that the leatl. ing stoker, Allen after the fires had been drawn, pluckily ran back and turned off the main steam pipe, averting an explosion which would have wrecked the ship. It is reported that British light cruisers destroyed a squadron of German torpedoers near Heligoland. THE AMAZING DESTROYERS.

Our destroyers were amazing. They were bound to suffer, considering the risks they took. When ordered tg attack they dashed off at thirty knots, and raced within thirty yards of the biggest ships and discharged their torpedoes. DEATH OF A HERO.

One of the most gallant was the .Onslaught, commanded by Lieut.-Com-mander Percy Hughes Onslow, one of the most popular men in the service. Single-handed she attacked and sank a battleship. An hour later, in coming out of action, the Onslaught was hit by two shells. A fragment of one struck Onslow in the stomach. He was bandaged and said, <T think I will go to sleep now." Then he died. ADMIRAL ARBUTHNOT'S VALOR. Nothing could have been finer than the way Admiral Arbuthnot went in with the Defence, Warrior, and Black Prince. He attacked, upsupported, the whole German Fleet and kept them at bay for a long time, doing tremendous havoc.

GERMAN LOSSES.

ESTIMATED AT 22 SHIPS. * ' Received June B, M.40 p.m. London, .Tune 5. It h freely stated that Germany's losses are not less than twenty-two ships. It is officially stated that Wilhelmshaven is closed to visitors for some months. THE SEYDLTTZ. Heceived June 6, 11.40 p.m. Copenhagen: June fi. The inclusion of many of the crew of the Reydlitz in the casualty list induces the belief that the vessel was sunk> MORE KAISER BOASTING. Received June 6, 11.40 p.m. Amsterdam, June fi. The Kaiser sent messages to Admirals von Tirpitz and von Koester, eulogising the work which had made the Fleet a living war instrument that • stood so > hrUli&ntly its trial of flra,

LIMPING INTO PORT.

DESTROYERS LASHED TOGETHER. Times and Sydney Sun Services, Received Jane 6, 5.5 p.m. London, June a. The Times correspondent at North Shields reports that two big destroyers, lashed together, limped into port, badly knocked about, funnels gone, and with jagged rents exposing their ribs. It was miraculous that they reached the harbor. Thousands of dockers gave them a rousing welcome. Seventeen wounded are aboard, some of the boys having their legs blown off. END OF THE DEFENCE, The crews stated that the Defence was the flrst ship engaged. They watched her enter into action with powerful dash. Suddenly there was a burst of smoke and steam, and when this cleared there was no sign of wreckage, but only the foaming wake. They could not say whether she. was torpedoed or shelled. They only knew that one minute the Defence was there, and the next she was gone. A PARIS PAPER'S, OPINION. The Echo de Paris says that the German accounts carefully dissemble their losses, but establish the fact that the night retreat, under difficulties, ended a great offensive.

ENTIRE ENEMY FLEET OUT.

STORY OP GERMAN SURVIVORS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received June 0, s.s> p.m. London, June ,j. Survivors of tlie Frauenlob have graphically described the beginning of the fight between the large German fleet and a, small British squadron, which, although outnumbered and outgunned, fought doggedly while awaiting the Grand Fleet's arrival. The latter's appearance terminated the engagement, the Germans fleeing. A Britisli destroyer torpedoed the Frauenlob, which sunk in three minutes. Three hundred and fifty of the crew were drowned and twenty saved. Several of the latter died of their wounds. The survivors stated that the entire German fleet was out, the Frauenlob and other light cruisers acting as outposts.

GERMANY'S ONLY RESULT!

A DAY'S HOLIDAY FOR SCHOOLS. Received June 6, 11,46 p.m. Paris, June 6. M. Clemenceau, in L'Homme Fnchaine, says that Germany's only strategical result of the naval battle was a day's holiday for the German school children.

AMERICAN OPINION.

GERMAN' NAVY STILL IX GAOL. Received June fl, 11.40 p.m. New York, June 6. The consensus of newspaper opinion is that the German navy is still a navy in gaol, which assaults its gaoler now and then, but romains in gaol nevertheless, SYMPATHY FROM RUSSIA. Received June 6, 11.40 p.m. Petrograd, June 0. The Council of Empire passed a resolution sympathising with the King and the British people in their painful losses, and admiration of the British valor.