BRILLIANT TACTICS OF THE GREAT BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2790, 7 June 1916, Page 5

BRILLIANT TACTICS OF THE GREAT BATTLE

• THE NEW ZEALAND IN THE LEADING LINE GERMANS OUT-SAILED AND OUT-MANOEBVKED Ey Telesraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. June G, 10.45 p.m.) London, June 6. In the line of battle at the opening of the engagement the Lion'was first, then came the Princess Royal. Queea Mary, Tiger, New Zealand, and Indefatigable. These bore the brunt of the lig hiing until the battleships arrived. The New Zealand flow Bear-Admiral Pakenham's Hag, and 'her fire so punished her opponents that they were unable to do more than tho most trifling damage. Some distance bothind tho battle cruisers eame tho Barhaui, Valiant, Warspite, ami Malaya. The enemy's battle-cruiser squadron comprised the Hindonburg, Seydlitz, Derfflinger, Lutzow, and Moltke, and possibly the Salemis. Sir David Beatty at once opened fire at 20,000 yards, ehor'enmg to 16,000. AVhen ,the fleets closed the big Elizabeths opened fire as they camo within range, and tho Germans ported their helm and drew away to about 20,000 yards. A destroyer screen appeared beyond the German battle-cruisers, and the whole of the High Seas Fleet was seen, approaching from the north-eastern horizon in three divisions. The Gorman battle-cruisers turned right round, and took station in front of the German battleships, and so Sir David Beafly had before him the whole of the German fleet, with Sir John. Jellicoe still some distance away, A Mastoi'ly Stroke. The opposing fleets were now moving parallel to one another in opposite directions, and but for a masterly manoeuvre on Sir David Beatty's party his advance ships would have been cut off from Sir John Jellicoe's fleet. In order to avoid this, and at the same time enable Sir John Jellicoe to envelope his adversary, Sir David Beatty turned right round sixteen points, which brought him parallel to tho German fleet, aud facing the same direction. He then raced at full speed, and got ahead of the Germans to take a tactical position in advanco of their line. Sir David Beatty was able to carry out his plan owing to his superior speed. Just before the turning point was reached the Indefatigable was sunk, probably from a mine. The Queen Mary and Invincible were also lost at the same point, where the High Seas Fleet had concentrated its fire. As tho German cruisers were turnin'g, Sir David Beatty, destroying a new cruiser—supposed to be the Hindenburg—and now being round with tile loss of three ships, raced away parallel to the Germans, the Elizabeths followiitg and enI gaging the High. Seas Fleet. Tho Elizabeths'then turned sixteen points after j Sir David Beatty. The Warspito's steering-gear at this juncture jammed. She failed to get round, and drew the fire, of six of the enomy's ships, who closed upon her. On paper, the Warspite should have been lost, yet though repeatedly spattered by shell-fire—the water was boiling up all round her—she was not seriously hit, and wa9 able to sink one of her opponents. Her captain recovered control of the steering-gear, and brought the ship round, and followed his consorts. Enemy's Ranging Disorganised. MeaJlwhilo the BaTliani, Valiant, and Malaya turned in short order to avoid the danger spot where tho Queen Mary and the Invincible were'lost, and for-an hour fought to delay action until Sir Jo hn Jellicoe arrived. The Warspite joined them, and all four so successfully man oeuvred that they so upset the spotting and firo corrections of their opponents tli at no serious hits were suffered. They had the speed of their opponents by full y four knots, and I were able to draw away from the long line of German battleships. The Elizabeths fired steadily at tho flashes of the German guns, tho ranges varying from twelve to fifteeu thousand yards. By 5.45 p.m. half tho German fleet had left out of range, and tho Elizabeths steamed fast to join Sir John Jellicoe. Meanwhile Sir David Beatty's cruisers outflanked the German cruisers, which wero compelled to turn at a full right-angle to starboard to avoid being headed. Heavy fighting continued. The Derfflinger was sunk. Towards six o'clock the German fire had'slackened considerably. The British Grand Fleet was now in sight, coming up fast from threo directions. The Elizabeths altered their courso four points to starboard,' and drew in towards tlio enemy to allow Sir John Jellicoe room to deploy into line. .... Grand Fleet in Action. The Grand Fleet manoeuvred perfectly, the deploying of 'the ships being perfectly timed, steamed right across tho head of tho German fleet, the Revenge and the Itoyal Oak, with their 15in. guns, and the Agincourt, which fired from seven turrets, and steaming 'almost at the speed maximum, being the first to come into action. Only a decent light was wanted to complete the destruction of tho Germans iu detail, 'l'he light did improve for a few minutes, and the conditions were now favourable to the British Fleet, which was now on a line which Tan approximately north and south across the head of tho Germans. During these few minutes of good light Sir John Jellicoo smashed the first threo German ships. The mist then fell, visibility failed, and the defeated German fleet drew off in ragged divisions, pursued by the British, who had them enveloped between Sir John Jellicoe on tho west and Sir David Beatty on the north, and Rear-Admiral Hugh Evan-Thomas, with threo Elizabeths, on the south. The destroyers during the night heav lly attacked, and although they lost heavily themselves, they sunk two of the German ships. It being now impossible to obtain co-ordiaation and prevent the Germans' escape between the battleships and Sir John Jellicoe, since we were unable to fire as our own" destroyers wero ill the .way, this saj.c theend. Tho Battle of Jutland, which was nearly a great success, was spoiled by un favourablo weather. The German small craft, of which we rounded up some/ had ceased to count as an organised body. • ENEMY'S LOSSES STILL MOUNTING HINDENBURG AND LUTZOW KNOWN TO BE SUNK New York, June 5. A Router message from London states that British officers who participated in the Jutlandßnttlo confirm the statements that tho Hindenburg and Lutzow were sunk. The Prime Minister stated yesterday that 'a message has been received confirming the statement that the Hindenburg and Lutzow had been sunk. (Rec. Juno C, 11.40 p.m.) London, June G. It is freely stated'that *3?rmany'» '-osscs were not , less than' twenty-two ships. A German official message states that tho German naval base at Wilhehnshafen will Be closed to visitors for somo months. • DAMAGED SEYDLITZ CHASED. By Telegraph—Presß Association—Copyright Copenhagen, June 5. ' The "Ribe Stiftstideude" says that British, warships wero seen off Fano Mand (off the southern Danish coast) on Thursday morning, c'hnsiug the Seydlitz, which was badly damaged all over, aiid had two great holes aft. (Rec. June G, 11.40 p.m.) Copenhagen, June 0. The inclusion of manv of the battle-cruiser Seydlitz's crew in the casualty list induces the belief that that vessel was sunk. GERMAN LIES EXPOSED. London,' Juno 5. The Admiralty characterises as baseless the German official statements that a submarine destroyed a British destroy er off the Humber and that the German fire destroyed tho Euryalua at the battle of Skager Hack. Tho Euralyus was Hot there. SIFTING THE TRUTH FROM GERMAN ACCOUNTS ' ("Times" and Sydnney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. June' 6, 5.20 p.m.) London, June 5. The "Echo do Paris" states that the German accounts of the naval battle carefully dissemble the losses, but establish tho fact that the nighj? retreat under difficulties ended a great offensive movement. COMPARATIVE TABLE OF LOSSES • BRITISH. . Displacement, Tons. Built. Speed. Guns. Complement. Battle Cruisers— 1 Queen Mary 27,000 1912 28 8 13.5-in. 16 4-in. , ICOO and smaller. Indefatigable 18,750 1911 25 8 12-in. 16 4-in. 796 and smaller. Invincible 17,250 1909 26 8 12-in. 16 4-in. 7EO Armoured Cruisers— . and smaller. Defence 1909 23 4 9.2-in. 10 7.5-in. 850 ' and smaller. •' Warrior 13,550 1907 22.9 6 9.2-in. 4 7.5-in. 704 and smaller. ' Black Prince 13.5C0 19C6 23.65 6 9,2-in. 10 6-in. 704 , and smaller. Flotilla Leaders— Tipperary 1.650 1914 31 6 4-in., etc. . 160 Turbulent )No particulars available. Nestor ) Destroyers— Ardent 935 1913 31 3 4-inch 130 Fortuno 952 1913 51 3 4-inch . 130 Shark 9" 1913 31 .3 4-inch 130 Bpari'o'.vhav.'k .7.... 935 1913 31 3 4-inch 130 Nomad ? 1913 31 3 4-inch ' 130 Damaged. Battleships— Wargytc 27.5C0 1915 25 S 15-in. 12 6-in. 1000 Marlborough 25,000 1914 22 10 13.5-in. 12 6-in. 10C0 ctc. " Also some destroyers. CERMAN. Battle-ships— Kaiser Class i 34,310 1912 23.6 10 1 2-in. 14 5.9-in. 1073 U'estfalen I 0 "00 WW 20.2 12 U-in. 12 5.9-in. 961 Fommern 13.2C0 1907 19.21 4 11-in. 14 6.7-in. . 736 Battle Cruisers— Hindeulierg 28.000 1915 27 8 12-in. 12 5.9-in. 1100 Lutiow 23.000 1915 27 8 12-in. 12 5.9-in. 1100 Derfflinger ZW 1915 27 8 12-in. 12 5.9-in. 1000 ' ctc. ' Light CruisersWeslhaden ) No particulars'available. Bostodt Class 4,820 1913 29 12 4.1-iil„ etc. 373 ' Frauenlob . 2,657 1913 29 10 4.1-in., etc., 281 Destroyers— Nine—not identified. Submarines— \ ■ One—not identified. Damaged. v Battle Cruisers— Seydlitz 28 - M0 1913 27 812-in. 12 5.9-in. 1000 etc. And several smaller craft. Tho total losses may thus bo stated:— British. German. Battleships 0 3 Battle crnieers 3 3 Armoured cruisers 3 0 bight cruisers J « Destroyers » » Submarines „ 1 "totals : « 20.