The Battle of Jutland

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 13

The Battle of Jutland

Sir, —I regret that “Loyal Briton” has thought it necessary to display his profound innocence of actual facts leading up to our victorious defeat at Jutland. First, I said in my letter that Admiral von Spee was “surprised or trapped into close range by the Stanley Harbour coaling base.” However, your correspondent chooses to give his own version of the engagement in a choice flight of the imagination. Further flights appear regarding Jutland, but your authoritative correspondent Mr. R. H. h itz-Herbert gives these their quietus. „ For the information of "Loyal Briton and others who think loyally and not otherwise, it might be reasonable to suggest that the Emden destroyed the Sydney’s 6-inch gun turret in the first few shots and made an epic defence with 4.1inch guns as against the Sydney s 4.7. guns, and heavier armour. At. Jutland the German armoured cruiser Wiesbaden, crippled and on fire, withstood the combined fire from both enemy and friend as well,' and even then is reputed to have put out of action by torpedo the Marlborough. The British Navy used 9-foot range- j finders, and the Germans used 30-foot • ones, and it is noted in the battle-cruiser action at Jutland ■ that the first salvoes . from the German ships straddled or hit their objectives. Such was the British gunnery that the German battle-cruiser Derrflinger wasn’t fired upon at all. At the Dogger Bank engagement Admiral Beatty issued certain signals when the Lion was disabled by accurate fire from the fleeing German squadron. Travelling at high speed caused the flags to be unreadable, and the chase was ruined by failure to repeat, and have confirmed, accurate signalling. At Jutland, before commencing action, Admiral Beatty . issued certain instructions. to Admiral Evan-Thomas, which again proved unreadable, were not repeated nor confirmed, and four of the fastest and most heavily-armed ships of the Grand Fleet were thrown out of the battle-cruiser action when their 15-inch guns might easily have rescued the defeated English Admiral. . „ Did Admiral Hipper or his officers make any mistakes? Did Admiral _von Scheer, when the whole of the High seas Fleet ran into the Grand Fleet, make any unreadable signals, when we realise that the whole of the German Fleet manoeuvred as a single unit and turned certain destruction into as skilful a retreat as is known in military or naval history? . x „ There are many other points.that may , instruct critics like “Loyal Briton,” but I must respect your space. It causes serious reflection for many or u s to note the battleship versus bomber controversy of to-day, and recalls the Fisher-Scott pre-war controversy of battleship versus submarine. There is no need for such argument, for to those who read there are three peoples on the earth to whom, and for whom, there, is only one answer —dozens of battleships and thousands of bombers. That, sir, is the lesson of Jutland to all who may read.—l am, etc.. H. STRATFORD, Norsewood, November 16.