BATTLE OF DESTROYERS IN THE NORTH SEA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2987, 26 January 1917, Page 5

BATTLE OF DESTROYERS IN THE NORTH SEA

SHARP, SUDDEN AND FURIOUS

GERMANS SUFFERED A SEVERE BLOW AND TAUGHT A STERN LESSON By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, January 24. _ The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Ymuiden states that within a few hours of the anniversary of the Dogger Bank battle, the Germans again suffered a severe blow at sea, and have been sternly, taught that raids cannot always be undertaken without grave losses. • Tho engagement occurred'on a bitter morning, a few miles Irom the coast. The light was sharp, sudden, and furious. It appears that Zcobrugge harbour is freezing, and tho German flotilla feared being frozen in. As it would bo in groat danger of destruction by long-range fire, tho vessels wore ordered to quit and make for a Gorman harbour. The flotilla niunbored fourteen or twelvo vessels. All went well until Hearing Schouw'on Bank, when thoy suddenly encountered a. terrific fire from a. large number of British warships. _ Somo of the wounded say there were twelve British warships; others excitedly estimate th'em at a hundred. Dwellers on tho coast heard deep and hoavy tiring at 4 o'clock in the morning, which woko tho population on the coast. The first news reached laml by tho trawler Ems, which brought ten dangerously wounded men, and announced a soverc Gorman defeat. The crew of tho Ems stated that they were fishing slightly north of Ymuidou, and were hailed by a badly-damaged German torpedo-boat, V 69, which,transferred ten wounded men wrapped in blankets and placed on planks'. All woro terribly injured. One of tho wounded narrated his part in tho battle in fragmentary sentences, frequently voicing his disgust at the whole war business. He said the Germans were taken by surprise, and knew nothing of the proximity of the British Fleet until a shot shattered the bridge, killing the commandcr and two officers. 'The captain's legs woro shot away. , ■ V 69 lay helpless five miles from Ymuiden. Dutch tugs and torpedo-boats hastened to the rescue, and brought her intoharbour, where she now lies. Her stern is almost submerged, and she is kept afloat with difficulty. If tho flotilla consisted of twelve boats, there cannot be many left. Only two are unaccounted for. , ~ The presence among the survivors of men bolongmg to several sections or the Gorman Fleet suggests that they were taken out of the water, apparently confirming that several destroyers wero sunk. ' ' Some of tlio wounded men say that tho flotilla was so quickly surrounded that there is little hope of many of the boats escaping. . ... Another account from Ymuiden states that V 69 collided with a. British destroyer. , . Thoro wore gruesome scenes, due to the frost. The dead on tue trozen deck were freed by the use of axos.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TERRIBLY BATTERED CONDITION OF A GERMAN DESTROYER Ymuiden, January 24.' Dutch coastguards saw a German submarine in the vicinity of the battle, and expelled her from territorial waters. _ 11, is not certain whether V 69 witl bo interned. Apparently it will be impossible to render her seaworthy within twenty-four hours.—Keutcr. GERMAN WOUNDED ADMIT TEN VESSELS WERE SUNK. London, January 24. "The Times" correspondent at Ymuiden stales that Commander Boclm, of the torpedo flotilla, was not killed. _ Four officers of V 69 and SO men out of a crew of 160 are missing. Some of the German wounded admit that ten German vessels were sunk. — "Tho Times." ENEMY ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTING t —i— (Rcc. January 25, 5.5 p.m.) Lonfrfn, January '21. A wireless German official message states: "Onr.torpedoers encountered the English in 'Hoofden.' We sank olio destroyer and observed another by aeroplane to bo in a sinking condition. One of our torpedoers was damaged, and being unseaworthy ran into Ymuiden. All our other ships returned with slight losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcutcr,