THE VITAL SIGNAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1920, Page 5

THE VITAL SIGNAL.

FAILED TO REACH FLAGSHIP. PROBABLY LOST VICTORY. Received Dec. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 17. Among the signals is one much discussed, which was sent from Admiral Beatty to Admiral Jellicoe at 747 p.m. on the 31st., and received seven minutes later; "Urgent: Submit van of battleships follow battle cruisers. We can then cut off the whole of the enemy's fleet"

Admiral Jellicoe at B.U, ordered Admiral Jerram, who waa commanding the Second Battle Squadron, to follow Admiral Beatty, but Admiral Jerram at 8.45 reported the battle cruisers were not in sight. Another signal from Flotilla Leader Faulkner at 1.52 on the morning of June 1 announced he had sighted enemy battleships and giving their position, but the Iron Duke, Admiral Jellicoe's flagship, did not receive the message, which was probably "jammed" by the Germans. Thia was viewed by some almost as a tragedy, as Admiral Jellicoe's battleships were then speeding southward to cut .off vofl Scheer. Faulkner's message, if received, might have prevented the enemy reaching home, and would have showed Admiral Jellicoe that von Scheer, about that time, was crossing his track. Critics are busily reconstructing the events in the light of the signals. The two s/jhoolß are still sharply divided. Pome declare that the signals uphold the previous contention that Admiral Jellicoe i>y turning away lost the chance of a decisive victory, while others say that Admiral Jellicoe took tho less spectacular but logical course of avoiding torpedoes. They direct attention to the fact that AdmiTal Beatty did not signal before Admiral Jellicoe manoeuvred away, but half-an-hour later, and Admiral Jellicoe completed the manoeuvre at 7.35.—Aui.-N.Z. Cable Asstti