NAYAL BATTLE IN THE NORTH SEA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2370, 28 January 1915, Page 5

NAYAL BATTLE IN THE NORTH SEA

ALL BRITISH SHIPS RETURN BATTLE CRUISER AND DESTROYER DISABLED The Prime Minister has received the following telegram from the High Commissionert London, January 26, 11 p.m. The Admiralty has announced that all British ships and destroyers engaged, in. Sunday's action returned safely to port. H.M.S. Lion, which had some forward compartments flooded through a shell striking below the waterline was towed by the. Indomitable. The destroyer Meteor was also disabled, arid was towed by the destroyer Liberty. ; Both vessel"! were guarded by strong escorts of destroyers. Repairs to both vessels can be speedily effected. Total number of"casualties: Lion, 17 wounded; Tiger, 1 officer' 9 men. killed 3 officers and 8 men wounded; Meteor, 4 killed and 1 wounded. ' It is not believed that there are any other casualties, but if there are any they will immediately be published. As soon as Admiral Sir David Beatty's report is received a fuller account will be given, GERMAN ACCOUNTS OF THE NORTH SEA FIGHT RECEIVED WITH DERISION OUTSIDE GERMANY. 3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' London, January 26. It is asserted in Germany that a torpedo-boat sank a British battlecruiser, and that an airship saw-the occurrence. The account adds that the easterly course of the German ships was due to tactical and artillery considera.The German wireless service states that it is reported that two British destroyers were sunk. The attempts at describing the battle are received with derision outside Germany. THE RESULT OF CEASELESS WATCHING DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE BY SAILORS. London, January 26. Sailors who have returned to Grimsby state that a British destroyer 6ighted the enemy off the Dogger Bank, The fastest British small vessels exchanged shots with the German light cruisers, while the battle cruisers endeavoured to bring the large ships to action. The running fight continued over a hundred miles. The Blucher caught fire, and another battle-cruiser was afire, and the whole of another battle-cruisor'6 above-deck gear was shot away. The British warships had been 'ceaselessly watching since the Yarmouth raid and the Germans' escape from Scarborough. THE LION TOOK ON ALL THE FIGHTING. Sailors who have returned to Leith state that the chase began when the Germans turned tail. H.M.S. Lion led, but did not fire for a considerable time. At last a sigliter secured the range, and a thunderous roar followed, announcing the discharge of her 13in. guns. The Lion took on all the fighting, and her speed exceeded expectations. THE FIRING OF THE GERMANS WAS RECKLESS. .. (Rec. January 27, 9.25 p.m.) London, January 27. A member bf the crew of a light' cruiser states the light cruisers fell back and the battle cruisers did the work. The enemy was two miles off when he was first seen, and he immediately turned tail. The Lion was tho first to come into effective range, and soon did tremendous damage. The fight lasted two hours. Tho Germans put up a gallant fight, but their firing was reckless. They fired faster than us, but our chaps were wonderfully cool and steady. There was a good light, and a calm sea, and our shots hit the target. It did not take many shots to finish the Blucher. The last one took her on the waterline, and she slowly heeler ovor and went down like glass sinking in water. Our destroyers wont to the rescuo of the crews, but some of the Germans fired at them. The destroyer Liberty was deputed to rescue the survivors A bluejacket recounts:: "When tho Biutclicr was crippled her gunfire became more a menace to her own fleet than to the English. As she settled the rruns went oft for the last time." The water was strewn with bodies and spars. It was a ghastly sight, 'ilan.v were mutilated beyond recognition. The firing was so heavy that the ocean was covered with dead fish .and flocks of shrieking gulls were holding a banquet, 'iVo German aeroplanes % dropped bombs and drove off the Liberty.

GERMAN BATTLE CRUISERS BADLY PUNISHED DECKS STREWN WITH WRECKAGE AND GUNS SILENCED. (Bee. January 27, 11.15 p.m.) London, January 27. The "Scotsman" reports: "The Lion's broadside passing the Blucher caused frightful damage, but the Lion's quarry was further ahead, namely, the raider of Scarborough (the Derfliiigor). Tho Tiger, when passing, also hit tho Blucher. The Princess Royal, following, discharged a. terrific broadside, and the Blucher, already a doomed ship, was abandoned by her sister ships. When tho bigger German ships wero overhauled they were pounded, and their light cruisors did their utmost to escape. The Derflinger's and Soydlitn's firo weakened as the fight'proceeded, and within half an hour of reaching the mine area the former was afire forward and masses of flames were sweeping the foredeck. The decks were strewn with wreckage, and when within the mined area her guns were unable to answer the hail of projectiles following. Her loss of life must hare been serious. The third vessel, either 1 the Seydlitz or the Moltke, suffered more severely bv one of her guns being smashed which did great execution among the crew. She was a silent ship for shelter. Her whole afterdeck was ablaze as she entered t'he mined area. _ Meanwhile the Lion endeavoured to head off the light cruisers towards their pursuers, and damaged them, but they escaped. Some were seriously damaged; their hulls were battered, and guttj swept from tho mountings. Towards the end of the action the. Aretlrusa fired a torpedo which 6truck the Blucher, and the latter's men leapt into the soa. One of the Blucher's superior officer? was a-ssisted aboard the rescuing vessel, and when one of t'he latter's officers advanced tho German spat in the welcomer's face. A larger proportion of the Blucher's losses was due to the terrible cffecte of tho British gunfire, and but for the intervention of air craft scarcely a man of those thrown into tho sea wonld.hare been lost. A huge Zeppelin, and a number of aeroplanes from Heligoland avoided the larger vessels, arid antiair craft guns, and bombed the destroyers. ABOUT 35 GERMAN VESSELS ENGAGED. (Rec. January 27, 10.25 p.m.) , , London, January 27. A member of a trawler's crew states that fishing at the Dogger Bank was suspended when firing was heard. About thirty-five German vessels sped past, followed by the Britishers in line ' The Germans weTe firing-their stern giuis wildly, but the British shells oonstantly struck the Germans, despite their speed. The British tried to head the Germans southwards. THE FIRING WAS INDESCRIBABLY TERRIFIC. (Bee. January 27, 10.25 p.m.) ' / Amsterdam, January 27. The captain of* a Dutch trawler counted twenty-four German ships, and the British were trying to cut them off. The firing was indescribably terrific, and the confusion jarred his trawler. Water spouted high into the air round the British ships where the badlyaimed German shots fell. Tho British guns were better and more regularly served. Both squadrons were enveloped in smoke. He saw great burets of smoke and bands of flame coming from one of the German vessels. JUST RETRIBUTION FOR THE BABY-KILLERS MORAL SUPERIORITY PASSES DECISIVELY TO THE BRITISH London, January 26. The "Daily Chronicle" says that Vice-Admiral Beatty's victory was an act of justice against baby-killers, as well as of war.. Everybody rejoiced when Captain von Midler was saved from tho Umden, and regretted when Admiral von Spee was drowned at tho Falkland 6, but there is no such sentiment for tho baby-killers, for whoso crime the old stern nqival justice would have exacted repayment at the yard-arm. The ''Daily Mail" declares that moral superiority passes decisively to Britain. The children of Drake and Nelson,havo lost none of their ancestors' valour or seamanship. "THE FLAG IS READY TO HOIST AGAIN" MESSAGE FROM COMMANDER HALSEY. 1 / London, January 26. Commander H'alsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, in thanking the Hon. T. W. MacEenzio for New Zealand congratulations, telegraphs: "The flag is ready to hoist again."