JUBILATION IN GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 132, 5 June 1916, Page 7

JUBILATION IN GERMANY

" ONE OF THE FINEST DAYS FOR THE FATHERLAND "

ROTTERDAM, 3rd June. There are rejoicings throughout the German Empire,-the official communique being accepted at full face value. Experts declare the the English big ship losses total a hundred thousand tons and the German thirteen thousand. Members of the Reichstag and Federal Council listened to President Kaenipf reading the communique^ all standing. Dr. Kaempf added : "Several of our fine ships have been lost and many brave sailors have perished, but the enemy's losses are several times greater, and proof is thus given that'our fleet is able to face a superior British naval force and gain a victory."' .The King of Saxony telegraphed to the Kaiser his congratulations on the brilliant victory over the main part of the English battl% fleet. "This is one of the finest days for the Fatherland. Our fleet has proved itself to be absolutely equal to the army." AMSTERDAM, 3rd June. By an official Army Order, houses in Berlin were beflagged, and the schools were granted a holiday. . .'GERMAN "PRIDE AND ENTHUSIASM." (Received June 5,9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, 4th June. Herr yon Bethmann Hollweg, the German Chancellor, has telegraphed as follows to the Chief of the High Sea Fleet: —"Pride and enthusiasm fills the whole of Germany. The fleet, with its mighty blows, has shown itself superior to an enemy who considered himself to be invincible, and has shown what Germany's sea power can do." The Chief of the High Sea Fleet replied: "The Fatherland's pride gives us hope that we shall be able to contribu.ee our. share to Germany's .value in the world." The Cologne Gazette states:—"Now the 'rats' have again left their safe holes, and bitten, not through the oaken walls which were Britain's bulwark in Nelson's time, but through the iron armoured turrets under the Union Jack. It was a more formidable battle than any sinceN that of Trafalgar. Our victory proves that our fleet has for years been preparing for this decisive moment. England's arrogant presumption has learnt a lesson which h&s been burnt in bloody characters upon tho Islanders. Captain Perseus, the German naval writer, writing in the Berliner Tageblatt, says: " The German Fleet, in an open-sea battle without coastal support, has dealt a conquering blow to the strongest fleet in the world." The Deutsche Tageszeitung says : "Victory was obtained against superior numbers. Our young Navy has shown tremendous, superiority over the first and greatest fleetkin the world." '_ AMSTERDAM, 3rd June. A German semi-official message says Vice-Admiral Scheer commanded a force consisting of the high sea fleet, with Dreadnoughts and other ships of the line, battlc-cruisfers, all light units, and submarine flotillas. Vice-Admiral Hipper commanded reconnaissance forces, which first gave battle to the British battle-cruisers and light cruisers, and subsequently the whole of the fleets of both sides participated in a day battle. The enemy lost the Warspite, Queen Mary, one armoured cruiser) and several destroyers. The remainder of the enemy losses occurred during the, night, and were due to severe torpedo attacks and cruiser fighting. The German leading vessels alone destroyed six modern destroyers. All reports from German sources agree in acknowledging the enemy's bravery during an almost continuous battle of twelve hours. A PERTINENT QUESTION. AMSTERDAM, 3rd June. Excitement in Holland was rendered intense by the entire absence of English news, which came twenty hours after the German communique was published claiming a brilliant victory. The Dutch press and nation were strongly inclined to receive the German communique with reserve. The Rotterdam Nieuwsblad asks : "If the German fleet gained such a victory., .why had it to return from action?"