THE GREAT SEA FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1916, Page 5

THE GREAT SEA FIGHT.

END OF THE QUEEN MARY. A MIDSHIPMAN'S STORY. London, June 7. A midshipman, who was a survivor of the Queen Mary, said that a German salvo set the whole quarter-deck on fire, the after guns being thrown out of action and apparently the whole turret unseated. A few minutes later there was a terrible explosion in the second magazine. The ship was lying on her side, broken amidships, with her bow and stern sticking out of the water at an acute angle. The stern was on fire and red hot. Another explosion blew the whole bow out of the water and threw the midshipman into the sea. The after magazine next exploded and the vessel sunk in a minute. The Tiger, which was steaming behind, passed over the spot. A destroyer's boat picked up the midshipman.

GLOOM DISPELLED. ADMIRALTY'S MISLEADING EPORTS. [ Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, June 7. The Times' city editor says that owing to the more favorable battle accounts the early depression lias been completely thrown off. Markets are firm and business is practically equal to that of last Monday, and, it is believed, even to that of Saturday. The email reaction would not have occurred if the first announcement had been differently compiled. The whole press adversely criticises the Admiralty's first report, the Evening News describing it as depressing and apologetic, with a bad effect both here and in France.

Tho Star suggests that there could be abler management of the Admiralty publicity department. It describes the official issue of Mr. Churchill's statement as a bad blunder.

The Westminster Gazette says that the Admiralty's first chilly announcement enabled great German bluff to do inconceivable harm in the world.

The. German press tone is markedly changing, its subdued reserve indicating a growing knowledge of the real extent of the German losses. The comments of the press in other countries indicate a complete reassurance by the later news.

The French ex-Minister of Marine, M. Laneshan, writing to the Petit Parisien, says that the German fleet was absolutely powerless before the British fleet, and Admiral Tirpitz correctly decided to confine the navy to cowardly submarines.

M. Herbette, in L' F.r)m do Paris, says that the Germans' effort to break the blockade was unsuccessful. British bravery and German flight have strengthened the blockade by sacrifice and victory. i .The Russian Admiralty ' thinks that the strategic advantage of the victory was wrested from the British. The New York Tribune considers that the Germans avoided a general action and the admiralty of the Atlantic remains unchanged. THE ABSENCE OF NEWS. MR. BALFOUR EXPLAINS.

London, June /. At the British Imperial Council of Commerce luncheon, Mr, A. J. Balfour, in replying to the toast of "The Imperial Navy." said that the attention of the civilised world had been concentrated on events in the North Sea. Sir John Jellicoe's dispatch could not yet be received. The work of collating from innumerable sources the relative facts necessary to the compilation of his dispatch would occupy the time of a man less heavily burdened than Sii John /Jellicoe. Until his dispatch was availAble he would not encourage discussion of details nor quarrel with the German newsmongers' estimates of the comparative losses.

There was no doubt that we had been told the whole (truth as to our own l»is«s, and it was equally certain that falsification began on the German side hours before the Admiralty received th« first of Sir John Jellicoe's messages. He had just seen a German wireless to New York claiming the loss of another British battleship which had been safely in port since Thursday. It was futile to discuss the situation when the testimony of one side was evidently tainted. Mr. Balfour admitted that he himself was entirely responsible for the method of issuing the news. Sir John Jellicoe's first telegram was received at' four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, when he indicated that an action was imminent as the fleets had sighted each other. The Admiralty did not receive a further telegram from Admiral Jellicoe until Friday afternoon. He immediately communicated it to the newspapers. Admiral Jellicoe was not blameworthy, *or he had such tremendous responsibilities, and the strain was not relaxed for two nights or thirty-six hours after he had driven the Germans back to port. The information was obviously incomplete, but it was all Admiral Jellicoe could furnish. Undoubtedly fuller facts would have given a better impression, but he (Mr. Balfour) conceived it right to let the public know the best or the worst. The Germans immediately wirelessed the news over the wide world regardless of the truth.

Admiral Jellicoe's second telegram on Friday at midnight showed that more ships had returned, and gave fuller details of German losses. In view of that telegram he considered the newspapers conveyed an unnecessary shock of alarm. Mr. Balfour said he was sorriest for the fleet. They returned bitterly disappointed at not having caught the whole German fleet with the opportunity of a crushing defeat. Nevertheless they had played their part magnificently and expected a congratulatory and not a tragic reception.

STAUNCHER THAN EVER. THE BLOCKADE TIGHTENED. CONFIDENCE AND HOPE. ( Received June 8, 5.5 p.m. London, June 8. Mr. Balfour continued: "If by nn piomptncss in announcing the details I retain the confidence in the Admiralty, showing that we are determined to deal straightly and fairly with the public. 1 have nothing to regret. German headquarters have always known our naval superiority, but they fostered the idea that we were skulking behind our deICfiees, refusing to come out and meet tie "valorous" German in mid-ocean. "There were extraordinarily Inconsistent German accounts of the battle. If the Gorman fleet inflicted these great losses, why did they not, like every other successful general, seek to improve the occasion and press their advantage to the utmost? The most amazing part of the Scrman story is that after their wonderful success' chc v ran away! .Yet much bunting was displayed in Berlin. The only purpose of the raids on the East Coast was to keep up the spirits of the German people and preserve the illusion or German superiority. The German admirals, well knowing the inferiority of their fleet, preferred.to withdraw rather than risk destruction.

"Some people argued that the battle was indecisive. Undoubtedly fortune, was against us, the weather preventing Admiral .Tellicoe compelling the whole German fleet to accept action, enabling a defeat such as nobody could ,len\ was decisive. The German strength is relatively much inferio; than before, and they will be unable foi many months to carry out any contemplated undertaking.

"The battle was a real victory, and not indecisive. We carried off the honors, reaping substantial fruits in three most important naval considerations namely, continuance of the blockade, invasion, and the sea trade. The Germans' situation is worse than ever. The battle enabled us to increase our grip of flie blockade problem, and an invasion of Britain is as difficult for the Kaiser as it was for Philip II of Spain. "Another of Germany's unfulfilled war dreams has been dissipated for ever, and oui power to uphold oin commerce remains complete. More than ever is it impossible for Germany to rehabilitate her mercantile position, which was built up by laborious and costly organisation before she rashly entered into hostilities. Looking at the broad facts we arc justified in regarding the Imperial Navy with even greater confidence, and hope."

MAORILAND'S PRIDE, THE NEW ZEALAND IN BATTLE. ' A STIRRING STORY. Received June 8, 8.20 p.m. London, June 8. The Scotsman publishes a special narrative about the New Zealand's share in one of the greatest sea fights in history. She Hew Admiral Pakenlmm's Hag, in the absence of the Australia. The New Zealand thus in a double sense represented the patriotism of the overseas dominions. It Is noteworthy that when she fought at Dogger Bank she also carried an Admiral's flag.

GOING INTO ACTION. J'lie New Zealand sailed into the Jutland battle flying the White Ensign, the Union Jack presented by New Zealand women, and her Maori emblem on the forward turret. This was practically unscathedyduring the action, though the New Zealand herself received plenty of marks. ITCHING FOR "A SCRAP." The entire crew xera itching for a scrap. The New Zealanders in the stokehold worked like Trojans to get every ounce and more out of the ship. She was not expected to produce; a capacity equal to her battle companions, but she surprised her officers with her speed, and.broke her Dogger Bank records. There was no difficulty in holding her place in the line, and this fact is a splendid compliment to the gallant fellows below. When the conflict commenced the New Zealand engaged the enemy at a range of ten miles. A few minutes after the opening there was deadly work, heavy damage being done by the guns on both sides. The sinking of the Indefatigable left the New Zealand the rearmost ship of the line, and the disappearance of the Queen Mary made the New Zealand's position one of danger, as well as one of honor.

HOLDING THE FORT. In arranging the battle position with the coming reinforcements the New. Zealand held the place nearest the enemy. There was a particularly hot spell at this time. The firing of the Germans was concentrated and intense. The particular turning movements that were then carried out left the New Zealand with a windy corner, and the fall or projectiles was fast and furious. It was an anxious moment for the daring cruiser, hut it was allayed by the welcome view of ships behind racing to the fray. A tornado of shells churned the sea and splinters pattered the New Zealand's side like- hail, but she played her part right well. A CHARMED LIFE. She had almost a charmed life. Her escapes were numerous and narrow, while the damage done was of the slightest. The casualties were negligible, only two sailors being wounded. Moreover, she gave a great deal more than she received. The fire of the German unit engaging her lost botli rapidity and accuracy after ten minutes' fighting, and the slackening fire told its own tale, despite the fact that the light was all in favor of the enemy, whereas the conditions were exceedingly difficult for the British. The immovable conviction among the New Zealand's crew is that the Germans wore beaten. Their torpedo attack was an absolute failure, and was frustrated in the cleverest fashion. Our light cruisers rushed in to the fight in a moment, and easily countered the attack. ' This was so smartly executed that it might havo been manoeuvres. Germany's refusal to fight it out deprived us of the fruits of victory, but the New Zealand's men look forward to another chance, whenthey will add further glory to a record of which the people of New Zealand may be i u3tl £ P r(ra £. '

GERMANS PICK UP DROWNING MEN. OVEB 200 BRITISHERS RESCUED. Received June 8, 8.5 p.m. Berlin, June 8.Official: German small cruisers and lorpedocrs rescued an engineer and one man from the Queen Mary, two men from the. Indefatigable, seven from the Tipperary, four ollicer.s and seventy-five men from the Nestor, four officers and sixty-eight men from the Nomad, and lourteen ,ncn from the Turbulent. LIVES NOT GIVEN IN VAIN. SIR E. GREY'S IEPLY TO RUSSIA.

'Received June 8, 9.55 p.m. London, June 8. Sir Edward Gray (Foreign Secretary), replying to the congratulations of m! Sazanoff (Russian Foreign Minister) on the naval battle, says that, knowing the enemy bas deliberately concealed his losses and severe damage 'and been compelled to seek safety in port, leaving us in possession of the scene of action, we feel that British lives were not given in vain. We rejoice to think that the Fleet has contributed to the success of the Allies' cause.

LOSS ON TWO SHIPS. Received June 8, 10.55 p.m. London, June 8. There were 1792 lost on the Invincible and Defence.

79 GERMAN VESSELS. Rotterdam, June 7. _ The captain of a Hutch trawler saw 7P German warships of all classes steaming towards the scene of Wednesday's battle. JAPANESE COMMANDER LOST. Received June 8, 8.5 p.m. London, June 8. The Admiralty annonunce that Commander Chiusake Shioomura, of the Japanese Navy, perished aboard the Queen Mary. A WARNING. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, June 7. The Press Bureau announced, in view of the irresponsible criticisms of Admirals in the battle, that the Admiralty, pending Sir J. Jellicoe's report, deprecates such aspersions as inflicting grave injustice upon able and gallant officers charged with the fighting and command of his Majesty's ships. ADMIRALTY'S THANKS.

Wellington! Yesterday. The Governor has received the following from the Secretary of State:—"The battle-cruiser \c\v Zealand was in the thick of the nava' battle of May 31. The Admiralty desires once more to place on record the debt of the Mother Country to New Zealand and the generosity which has enabled the navy to place so valuable a unit in the fighting line."