ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

BOTTLING UP OSTEND. FINEST FEAT IN NAVAL HISTORY. iPari.., May 12. The Matin declares that the latest attack on the Flanders coast is the finest feat in the naval history of all times and all countries.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. WHY NOT DONE EARLIER? STRONG PRESS COMMENTS. London, May 12. The newspapers are asking why the navy was not fully used in an earlier attack on the submarine bases. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the inability to focus measures to deal with the submarine problem must be recorded as one of our major errors. Tho shipping shortage is the penalty of past torpor and piecemeal defensive. Commander Bellairs, M.P., in an article in the Standard, says it is no longer necessary to conceal the fact that men long familiar with Zecbrugge and Ostend repeatedly pleaded for permission to block them before the building of the del': ,-es was completed. Tho papers express the opinion that naval commanders in future will be given greater initiative.—United Service.

THE VINDICTIVE. The Vindictive was not a big boat, "Teat though her exploit was. She was a light cruiser of tlio Arrogant typesister ship to Furious—and was 5750 tons, built in IS9B, and possessing a speed of 20 knots. She carried ten Cinch and nino 12-pounder guns, as well as three 3-pounder and machine-guns, and was fitted with two torepdo tubes. Her complement was 430 men- The story of her doings at Zeebrugge, though recent, is worth reading again. Aj the Vindictive lay alongside the mole, rolling and bumping against the foundations, she was swept diagonally by ma-chine-gun fire from both end's of the mole and by the heavy batteries ashore. The landing parties of marines and bluejackets gathered on the main and lower decks, The commanders of both wore Willed before the word to assault wa« given. The men were magnificent. They had to rush across the swaying, splinterings gangways and drop over the para pet into a field of fire of the German machine-guns. Then there was a further drop of 18ft on to the mole itself, but nothing stopped their orderly, nweenincf landing. Meanwhile the lower deck had become, a shambles. The crew of the howitzer mounted forward were all Wiled. A second crew was likewise destroyed, and a third crew took over the guns. Daffodil was engaged in pressing the Vindictive against the mole. "Vindictive," said a survivor, "was a target for the. concentrated firo of the guns in every direction, but kept up a mo«-t gallant fight with the shore batteries until the siren signalled ■Withdrawal!' after the block-ships had been sunk. When she returned, poo; old Vindictive was a terrible sight. She had already lost three successive crews of her forward gun before the landing was effected, but other gunners stuck it like Britons. Throughout, the raid, VSndicfive's captain, fully exposed on the bridge, gave orders with absolute coolness, and skilfully manoeuvred the shin seaward Ss she steered down the Channel, homeward bound, at daylight, she met Vice--Admiral Kevcs aboard a warship. Viee-Admirai Keycs signalled "Well done, Vindictive!' and thCvosscls' crews cheered themselves hoarse in passing." The end to which Vindictive has now come is worthy of her great place in the Navy's honor roll, and while there will bo regret i n parting with a ship that has appealed so strongly to all, it will be a satisfaction to remember that, like other great ships in our Navy, she ?'as met a glorious fighting end. . CAPELLE'S CONFIDENCE IN SUBMARINES.

UNRESTRICTED CAMPAIGN VOTED. Amsterdam, May 12. Admiral Capelle, submitting the navy estimates in the Reichstag, said that the reports of unrestricted submarine warfare continued favorable. The increase in the number of submarines exceeded the losses. It was more and more developing into a struggle between submarine action and the construction of ships. He claimed that British shipbuilding had been reduced from 101,000 tons in March to 111,000 in April, or from 32 to 22 ships. American building was far below expectations, and, even if it increased, America would require all the increase. There was every reason to regard the submarine campaign with tho truestconfidence. Success surely would not fail them. As far as other requirements of the army and navy would permit, the entire industry would be placed at the service of submarine construction. The Reichstag unanimously voted in favor of tho unrestricted submarine campaign.—Reuter. MINESWEEPERS AND SLOOP TORPEDOED. 15 OF CREW MISSING. Received May 13, 8.25 p.m. London, May 12. The Admiralty reports that some minesweepers and a sloop were torpedoed and sunk on the oth inst. Two officers and thirteen men are missing.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.