THE NAVAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1916, Page 5

THE NAVAL BATTLE.

VIVID STORIES OF THE BATTLE. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S STRATEGY. GERMANS NO MATCH FOR THE BRITISH GUNNERS. London, June 0. Tlic Times' correspondent at Edinburgh writes that three trains passeu filled with cheering bluejackets, and with a torn and stained naval ensign waving out of the window. The seamen shouted, "Are we downhearted?" and a defiant cry of "No!" came from the assembled crowd. As the trains stopped the bluejackets' caps revealed that they were survivors of the Warrior. The sailors would not hear a word about a reverse. They said ihe Tiger sank six destroyers arid the Warrior sank two light cruisers and destroyers. They were firing at a range of 5000 yards at 0 o'clock, and every shot went home. .

The correspondent says the Germans adopted concentrated fire, the full might of the German fleet being directed alternately on the Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible, and Defence. The Queen Mary blew up with an appalling roar, a shell reaching her magazine. The survivors of the explosion sank with the ship, four midshipmen and a few men being saved. The Indefatigable blew up with the same dreadful suddenness. There was no quarter. 'The guns fought until destroyed and the ship sank with her flag flying proudly. Before Admiral Jellieoe arrived, Admiral Beatty's squadron sank a battlecruiser and other ships. The Warrior in a fierce hitlf-hour's fighting engaged the enemy at 13,000 yards, the distance rapidly lessening until six German ships were making her their target. The Warspite came to her assistance and screened the crew to some extent. At 0 o'clock, when the enemy was preparing to run, the Warrior dropped out of the battle with a bad hole below the water-line, making the engines useless, though the big guns were intact.

A seaman, describing the battle, said: "For five hours we were at it hammer and tongs. Most of the fighting wiw done at a range of 9000 yards and was deadly. Tile Germans outnumbered us and had also the benefit of position for a good part of the battle. The sun made it difficult to sight our guns. While their ships could see us we could' hardly see them. Shells hailed round us, some hitting without damaging or putting the guns out of action, and several bndly dented our armor without breaking, Gas shells sent out poison gas, densely clouding the atmosphere." The Times' East Coast correspondentsays: Among the many theories current here, the most likely seems to be that Admiral Beattv, finding the German fleet out, tried to cut if off from its base and hold it until the battle fleet ■ rnVed. This, awiming tlwt lue• encountered the Germans off the. north, coast of Jutland and got between them and the western shores, would explain the repeated statement that our gunneri were handicapped by fighting with the sun in their eves.

1 Thompson, physical instructor 011 the Invincible, one of the five survivors, states that the ship led the battle-line into action. Thompson was in under control with Gunnery-Commander Dam» wither. The first salvo, at 1-2,500 yard*, smashed the bows of a big four-funnell-ed cruiser, which was invisible after the smoke and spray had cleared. The Invincible altered her course to fight the big ships which were approaching in single line ahead and engaged them at 8500 yards, firing salvo after salvo into one of the leaders, which was believed to be the Hindenburg. !h(> must have sustained very heavy .laniage, The'lnvincible was trying to 'give her the finishing stroke when she herself was blown up. The ship seemed to open like a furnace and the majority of the men were instantly killed. Thompson and Danni outlier fell into the sea with a mast. They and three others clung to a target practice raft for an hour and were picked up. Thompson says the Germans handled their ships well, but were out-man-oeuvred and were no match for ]the British gunners. The Germans were disorganised at the finish. Admiral Beatty, writing to Admiral Meux, says:—;'We drew the enemy into the jaws of the fleet. I have no regrets except for the gallant lives of my pals who died gloriously. It would have warmed your heart to see how the gallant Hood brought his squadron into action. Would to God he had been more successful. The general result is that we are ready for next time, and please God may it come soon. The battlecruiser fleet is alive and has a very big kick in her." Amsterdam, June 0. A German torpedo-boat has arrived at Zeebrugge towing a destroyer and submarine. The former is without funnel and has holes in her sides, and the submarine's deck is swept clean.

THE GERMAN PLAN.

TO ATTACK RUSSIAN PORT, AND TO LET OUT COMMERCE DESTROYERS. Paris, Julie 6. Admiral Hautefeuille, in a letter to M. Clcmenceau, says he is astonished that journalists allow themselves to he hypnotised by the heaviness of battle losses. The German fleet came out with two objects. The first was to destroy ships supplying Russia with food via Archangel and Kola and returning grain-laden, also to destroy Kola and the establishments at Archangel. Their operations would have isolated Russia and reduced her to extremities. The second object was to cover the exit of the Wiesbaden and Elbing, which were specially equipped as commerce raiders with huge coal capacity. These vessels.hoped to reach the South Atlantic and Pacific and surpass the Emden's successes. NEW ZEALAND'S SYMPATHY. Wellington, Last Night. On .Tune sth, the Governor sent the following telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies; "Please convey to His Majesty the King the following message: New Zealand desires to express her admiration for the heroism of pur sailors is the great naval fight,

and extends her deepest sympathy to all who mourn the los of so many gallant lives." To-day His Excellency received the following reply: "His Majesty the King sends warm thanks for the message from New Zealand." His Excellency to-<lay depatched the following message to his Majosty the King: "Myself, the Government and people of New Zealand deeply grieve at the news which has been received announcing the disaster to his Majesty's ship, Hampshire. The Dominion mourns the loss of a gallant soldier and feels that the true way to honor his memory is to use even greater efforts than hitherto to bring the war to a victorious conclusion." s WARSPITE'S GREAT FEAT. RESCUING THE WARRIOR. ENGAGED THE MIGHT OP THE GERMAN F.T.EET. TWO STOKERS SAVE THEIR SHIP. Times and Sydney Sun Services.

Received June 7, 6.20 p.fn. London, June 7. The Times' Portsmouth correspondent tells a stirring story of the dramatic/appearance of the Warsprite and the rescue of the Warrior. While the Warrior was lagging, battered and helpless, Admiral Jellicoe, learning of her peril, sent the Warsprite ahead of the Grand Fleet. The great battleship suddenly loomed on the horizon going at a tr'emendoua paec and with her 15-inch guns trained on the enemy. The Warspitc, swept by spray caused by her speed, threw herself between the Germans and the Warrior. The Warspite's first salvo sank a Getman ship, and, circling round tile Warrioi, drew the German fire, replying vigorously and effectively. Her steering gear was damaged after circling four times. Admiral Beatty signalled "Come back; you are sacrificing yourself!" The Warspite was unable to obey. She hung on and fought till the Grand Fleet arrived. The Warrior's survivors say that the ship's company was saved by the plucky action of Leading Stokers Darby and Allan, who, after the fires were withdrawn, ran back and turned off the main steam pipe), thus preventing an explosion, which would have wrecked the ship.

•LADY BEATTY'S VIGIL. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received June 7, 0.20 p.m. London, June 7. The Evening News says that Lady Beatty was among the throng of women who pent the night on a certain pier. She refused a,cosy seat by a fire, preferring to wait outside all night, nobly cheering the other v-omen. I HI-: ESTIMATED LOSSES The Evening News' naval correspond ent estimates provisionally that the* British tonnage loss amounted to 104,70 H and the German tonnage to 104,410. The German loss is relatively equivalent to a British loss of 250,000." BRITISH SUBMARINES. RETURN FROM THE NORTH SEA. Received June 7, 10 p.m. London, June 7. Official: All the British submarine;that were in the North Sea battle have returned to harbor. 1262 LOST ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY. ONSLAUGHT LOSES ALL ITS OFFICERS. Received June 7, 9 p.m. London, June 7. There were 1262 petty officers and men lost aboard the Queen Mary. All the officers on the Onslaught were killed in the eonning-tower, which was wrecked, the charts being destroyed. Midshipmen and 17 of the crew.- piloted the ship out of action and brought her to port.

A GERMAN CLAIM.

FALSE AS USUAL. Received June 7, 9 p.m. Berlin, June 7. An official message claims the loss of the Warspite, Princess Royal, Birmingham, and Acasta on the evidence of Brtish sailors who were picked up. The Admiralty announces that the statement is false.

THE GERMAN LOSSES.

RIDICULOUS ESTIMATES. Received June 7, 0 p.m. Copenhagen, .Tune 7. A Kiel unofficial estimate of the German losses in the naval battle is 800 tilled, 4000 missing, and 1400 wounded. A shipbuilding expert who saw the damaged ships says it will take at least six months to repair them. CURE FOR RHEUMATISM. This is not a patent medicine, it is a prescription of an eminent English specialist. For years I had been a sufferer from chronic rheumatism. One year ago I consulted one of tha leading specialists of the'; Dominion (now deceased). On receipt' of postage stamps, money order, or postal notes for 4s (id, I will post twelve doses of the remedy, which this specialist declared to be the only thing known to science as a cure for this painful disease. F. Greville, Editor N.Z, Dairyman, Box 502, Wellington.—Advt. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. ' For Children') Hacking Cough,