BATTLE OF JUTLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 7

BATTLE OF JUTLAND

GERMAN GUNNERY OFFICER'S VERSION

UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

WITH BRITISH

(By Telegraph-Press AsEOciation-CopyricW

London, -February 11.

Commander von llase, v.-ho was senior gunnery officer of tho Geihian battlecruiser DerlFlingeiy lias published a book iu Berlin describinj; tho Battle of Jutliind, which he says was entirely fortuitous. Tho High Sen Fleet .went to sea to cover a big raid on British shipping, and (lid 'not expect to see .the British Grand Elect. The Derffliugcr, in tho action, concentrated her fire. on tlio Queen Mary. When the range opened to 19,000 yards, the German guns were outranged. -When they closed iB„ tho Indefatigable was blown up. by the ino of the Von der Tann. ; . The writer pays a high tribute to the superb guniiery. of the Queen Mary, which fired full salvos at fabulous speed till she blew up under the Dei'Minger s salvos. -Then the four Queen Elizabeths arrived, and their IP-inch guns had 'rt tremendous effect. These four slups one Lime engaged the whole ( kcrrnaa fleet. • Twilight found, the Germans half encircled bv the British, so the cruisers and torpedo-boats were ordered to charge the enemy to cover■the retreat of the rest of the fleet. The DerfHinger, - leading tho German batt ecruisers, met a veritable tornado of- lire. Shell after shell crashed lino the Derfflinger, flames penetrated tho ammunition room, but the cartridges only -burned and did not explode, and this proved the ships' salvation.- Darkness saved tho" battle-cruisers from .absolute destruction. - . _ , Yon. Hase says there was great relict when next morning the enemy was not - f?i"htcd, for with battered snips, and . their-ammunition almost gone, they could not have fought victoriously. The Derlflinger alone bad two hundred killed > | -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.