THE NORTH SEA ENGAGEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2369, 27 January 1915, Page 5

THE NORTH SEA ENGAGEMENT.

GERMAN VERSION LOSS OF THE BLUCHER ADMITTED Br!Mee»pfc-Ersas ■ Association—OosyrlsM . Amsterdam, January 25. . •; Tiie Germ an official toi6\ou'oi ftto nvrsl engagement m tte North Sea states that the. British warships broke off the engagement seventy miles from Heligoland losing a. ' The report admits that the, 1 Blucher was sunk'." ■ ' ' v '-' . v . : The Gormai} Admiralty states that the four Gsnnan cruisers and two torpedo /flotillas "were accompanied by a battle-cruiser, and that the British squadron-included twenty-six destroyers. _ , J,-. _ The fight lasted three hour's, and all exoept "the Blucher returned to harbour, .. ■-.v - ENGAGEMENT "WITNESSED BY A' DUTCH TRAWLER. > ' The captain of the . Dutch trawler -Erica states that he was 120 miles from Heligoland at 9.30, when six large German ships and. twenty torpedo boats appeared. v .' ■ .Simultaneously the' British ships came up, and the Germans immediately Went right-about face. The British 'opened fire, and projectiles fell like rain. '•'We saw," the captain added, "a German battleship sink, and the rest retire fighting. They were able to damage a : British ship,, though not seriously. The Germans were soon out of sight, with the British in pursuit." , . • , (Rec. January 27, 0.46 a.m,) / _ , Amsterdam, January 26. , The Erioa's sailors narrate that the' British fire was somewhat slower than the. Germ an, but was far more efficient. Every shell appeared to hit, the right place.- • The Bliioher.was quickly disabled, and" her crew sang patriotic songs while the cruiser foundered. When the Blucher disappeared the British boats rescued numerous survivors under the enemy's, relentless fire. The damaged German ships had their rudders disabled. ; . BLUCHER'S CAPTAIN SURVIVES THE ORDEAL. (Reo. January 27, 0.45 a.m.) ; • London, January 20. The captain of the Blucher was among the survivors. ■ : BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR LORD FISHER.' London, January 25. i Lord Fisher of Kilverstone, First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty, has received many congratulations upon bis'birthday. Lord Fisher (better known as Admiral Sir John Fisher) was born in 1841, and is therefore 74 years of age. He was First Sea Lord from 1904-1910; and subsequently retired, but shortly after the outbreak of war was again summon-' ed. to the Admiralty,'after the resignation of H.R.H, Prince Louis of Battenbprg, who was relieved, at his own personal request, of his position as First Sea Lord, a request made on the ground' that he did not desire ■ the Governbe embarrassed by publio mspicion of his origin. His nephew Prince Maurice, fought on the British side, and was killed , in action under circumstances of conspicuous gallantry. Lord Fisher has heen described as the "Kitchener of the Navy." He was a distinguished naval administrator; closely identified with the cause of reform; possesses both theoretical and practical experience, .while his administrative skill is. unequalled; is a master of gunnery, and has, at one time or aiwther,"held almost every, important position in the Navy afloat.and ashore. Under his control of the Navy the Dreadnought policy was introduced, also the plan of scrapping old ships instead of keeping them on the Navy Li s t. PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION A BOUQUET FOR CAPTAIN HALSEY. ." \ ' London, January 25. . The Hon. T. W. Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand) telegraphed to Captain Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, "Well done, HalseyfJ' Mr. Mackenzie, in an interview, said he was. proud that the New Zealand had been again in the front ranlr. Now Zealanders were prouder than ever of their . connection with the Mother Country, and the battle would stimulate them to further efforts to shatter the mad ideal of the Bernhardi school that the outlying portions .of the Empire were not heart and soul with the Motherland. The new Conditions after the war would require new management for each portion, and their voice in the Empire's councils would be proportioned to the part eaoh had been performing. (Rec. January 26, 9.30' p.m.) London, January 26. "The Times," in a leading article, says: ' One point requiring further, emphasis is the proof of Imperial solidarity supplied by the participation of the New. Zealand in the North Sea fight. The whole Empire may be proud of the fact that this fine warship, built by our brethren at the other end of .the world, was able to do excellent service." ' (Rec. January 27, 0.45 a.m.) London, January 26. Mr. John Redmond, on behalf of the Wexford people, has congratulated Admiral Sir David Beatty on his victory in t3io North Sea. (Rec. January 27, 0.45 a.m.) New York, January 26. Leading newspapers' tendency to rejoice over Admiral Boatty's victory is due to the belief that the Germans wore about to attempt a raid on defenceless-

towns. - (Rec. January' 27, 0.45 a.m.) . ' Paris, January 26. Admiral Sir Bcatty's victory was received with tho greatest satisfaction. There liavfe been spirited newspaper co mmcntfi. • GEJSAT JUBILATION IN RUSSIA. ■ (Rce. Jauuary 26, 8.20 p.m.) • 1 V London, January 26. Tho Russians are delighted with Vice-Admiral Beatly's victory. Admiral Skrydloff declared that the British Navy throughout has accomplished everything that was humanly pwnihlo for it to do. fHißftfcly m' turned a£lor several moaUis iji Jwaacl. .

ENGLAND'S MENACED.EAST COAST.

(Rec. January 26,-5.5 p.m.) .j London, January 25. In view of further raids on the East-Coast, many churches are fitting win-dow-blinds; others are not holding even song, substituting for that service an afternoon service.—(''Times" ,and .Syduey "Sun" Services.) BRITISH ARMED LINER.REPORTED LOST . WRECKAGE AND BODIES,OFF IRISH COAST. ' (Reo. January 26, f 9.30 p.m.) ■ , _ London, January 26. The Admiralty reports that the_ British armed merchantman Viknor (?) has been lost witli all hands either in a gale or by striking a mine off the north. of Ireland, whore bodies and wreckage,-have been found. ' . THE LOSS OF THE- DURWARD.. ' (Rec. JaJiuaiy 26, .5.5 pjn.) London, January 25. . "The 'fitness" naval correspondent says that the Durward is the fifth of the Allies' merchantmen to be torpedoed. This does not mark the beginning of a new phase of. German operations. The desire to carry out Grand Admiral von Tirpitz's threat has not been wanting, although up to the present its expression has not been strikingly, successful.—("'Times" and Sydney "Sun" services.) " , RAIDER KARLSRUHE AGAIN AT WORK. (Reo. Januajy 27, 1.20 ajru) - London, January 26. German advices state that the-Karlsruhe has sunk .eleven merchantmen during the last fortnight. ' " AUSTRIAN CRUISER MINED AND StTNK. • ■ (Reo. January 27, 1.20 ajn.) ROma, J&nmry 26 ; It is reported that an Austrian crnieer vaa mined Aftd Bunk near Trieste. PROGRESS OF ALLIES IN FLANDERS 1 . COOTK-ATTACK #N THE AISNE DESTROYING THE MEUSE BRIDGES . Paris, January 25. A-communique statesWe made slight progress east of Saint Georges (east of Nieuport). We repulsed a. counter-attack at Bfifry-au-Bac. (on the AiSnß line). ' . , • The artillery completed the destruction of. the bndgtis at 'Saint Mihiel (on the Meuse)t : ' ■ : London, January 25. Amsterdam reports that sixteen German heavy guns in the Arras region, which were seriously damaged by the Ffonch artillery, have been removed by twins.—("Tillies" and Sydney "Sun"'Services.) "NOTHING TO REPORT." (Reo. January 2(3, 8.30 p.m.) Paris, Jannafy 26. OfficiaL—"There is nothing to rßpoit."THE MILITARY SITUATION IN THE WOE\2RE The "Times" correspondent, Writing, from the WoeVre Tegloh, recently gave an interesting analysis of tfie military situation along that part of the Allies' battle-front. It will be remembered that not long ago the French bombarded the town of Arijiiville, niiie miles short of Metz, ; and on the direot line of German communications by which their advanced forces at St. Mihiel and in the rest of the' Woevre were supplied with ammunition and provisions from Metz. The bombardment of Arnaville is a matter that attects the possible retirement of the Germans from the Woevre. la the Canton of Obey they are at the preseit moment constructing a kind oi vast iortified ftamp. In the'whole region, and especially along the 13 miles of ihe road from Blamont to Saarburg, they are hard at work aided 'by the able-bodied pris-oners'-from these evacuated villages, on an elaborate series of defensive earthworks, consisting chiefly, of cemented trenches and carefulty concealed batteries. The ground over which they expect the French troops to advance has been further fortified by a large number of mines. It is interesting to realise the real importance of these preparations. All of. them, including the mines, have, of course; been long foreseen by the French military authorities. Their elaboration on tlie Lorraine frontier can only mean that here, as elsewhere, the Germans are beginning to make up their minds to the fact that their attack has failed and that before long it will be their tiiro to make a stand against the invasion.