THE NORTH SEA BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 60, 11 March 1915, Page 2

THE NORTH SEA BATTLE.

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND'S PART

BRITISH TRIBUTES.

English papers just to hand have full accounts of the recent naval battle in the North Sea, and are full of praise tor. the part played by H.M.s. New Zealand, the Dreadnought presented to the Home authorities by the people of this dominion through Sir Joseph Ward, at that time Prime Minister. The "Evening Standard" publishes a photograph of «.AJ.s. New Zealand/while the "Evenin" News reproduces a picture showing the big guns of the battleship, and the ''Star" shows a remarkable photograph of U.ALs. New Zetland and iH.M.s. Princess Koyal steaming at full speed and cleared for action. In the course of a leadin" article, headed "Very Creditable," the -Evening Standard" says.—"Tbis victor}- has also done good service in riddin" the North Sea of that very formidable 1 * the B)ucie r. The Joss of this l ? .O00-t©n vesper is far away the severest single loss Germany has yet had to face, the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau being some 4,000 tons smaller. And not only was she a heavy ship, but a fine fighter. A very successful ship in all respects, she practically stood in a class by herself. Another interesting dctajl was the part taken in the engagement by the warship presented by New Zealand to the Mother Country. This ship also did good service off Heligoland, and her Second experience will add to the"gratification of our generous brothers over the seas."

In the course of a graphic description of the battle the "Daily Mail" states inter alia that the-Blucher was left to the care of Tffi&Ls. New Zealand, and the article goes on to say:—"Shells screamed across the skies. Nearly always those from the British guns found their billet; .y»qsc frpm the German guns fell short ■or-wide. Ever nearer crept the British fleet. Now the Derfflinger was on fire and now the Moltke. and as for the Bluchcr she was already little bctter_than a- map- Shells Fom the New Zealand made of her a sorry w J«Lk. wore .crushed, and. torn. her funnels gone, her guns disniantled, while one shot from a 13.5, a passing attack from the Tiger, struck her fore turret, and, like a peanut tinder a sledge hammer, it was no more. In the words of .an observer, "It -was pushed right over the aide, turret,"guns, mountings, men—they all went, leaving a yawning gap in the Bluchers deck.' By now the fleet had raced nearly 100 miles across the North Sea, and, fearing that he would be headed off, the German Admiral altered his course, exposing the broadsides' of his'vessels to the English fire, JVithTrtdoubled fury the Tiger and Princess Royal, the Lion and the New Zealand, poured in their fire, and it .was at this moment that a German shelf, falling vertically, struck the Lion. With the alteration of the German line Admiral Beatty aitercd"his. ."The Princess Royal vent to the first position, the Tiger remained second, the New Zealand third, while. the Lion and the. Indomitable brought' up the rear. The Bluchcr was now'in a hopele-s state, almost awash. She was a doomed ship, but still her colours. Ilcw. and with what guns they could they sought ineffectively to reply to. the. .New Zealand. To add to her plight .German aircraft from Heligoland — but whether a : fleet of aeroplanes . or ...an . .airship, there, is

a, curious divergence of. opinion — misl-ook the BlUcher, accord ing Ho Hhc story of a German prisoner, for one of the -British fleet and dropped bombtfon her and hastened her crtd. . . On every hand tribute is paid to the men. They were as.jkeen" and as cool as if at practice. There.was no fuss or scurry at all. Every man knew .what to do, and did it. A gunner officer has little praise lor the shooting of.the Germans. They seemed flurried, and could not pet the range. Sonre of-nur ships, the New Zealand and the Indomitable, wore not hit at all", and •the Nc\VZealand raked the Bluchcr from stem to stern." Describing v the battle, the "Daily Mail" suddenly out of the haze must have loomed the huge form of Admiral Realty's big flagship, -the Lion, leading the British line and betraying the unwelcome" arrival of British battle cruisers. Behind her, as she came up swiftly, running perhaps at 25 knots, would come into view the yet larger bulk of the Tiger, soon to.be bloodedr-ifor she is a brand new ship—with after her again thy PrirKess Royal, the glorious New Zealand, gift of the most English of all the Dominions, and the Indomitable."

The "Daily, Mirror" also gives promi-nence-to the part played by HMjs. New Zealand, and publishes a fine .photograph of the "Dominion's battleship. Other papers comment on the fight as follows:

The-"Tames".: .".We also .congratulate the people of New Zealand on the good fortune Which has-attended their splendid warship on her second appearance in action. She was also in the Heligoland battle."

The "Daily Telegraph": "Particularly let- us emphasise the New Zealand, representing one of the great Dominions which the Germans assumed would seize the first opportunity- to throw off the British yoke.. 1 -' -"•- -• -- .

The -"Daily Mail": "It- adds to the unbounded satisfaction with which such magnificent new* will be received that the Dominion ship New Zealand shared in. the victory."