GERMAN FLEET

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 90, 13 October 1916, Page 2

GERMAN FLEET

HURRIED RETREAT TO MINEp

WATERS

DUTCH SKIPPERS' REPORTS,

The German High Seas Fleet haa won another "great victory." It has appeared in the North Sea in fuH strength, it has cruised westwards—and it has t returned to its harbours. This triumph (says Leona-rd Spray in a despatch from Rotterdam on 21st August to the London Daily Telegraph) is even more wonderful than that of Ist June, for on Saturday, except for an incidental, submarine exploit, the German armada completely succeeded in avoiding encounter with British forces. . According to the standard of the Kaiser's Admiralty Staff, what is lacking to prevent them announcing to the world another proof that it is Germany, not Britain, which holds the dominion of the seas?

Perhaps one thing among others. They realise, for instance, that scores of Dutch skippers know exactly what happened. trained sailors witnessed all the movements of the German squadrons and destroyer flotillas. And their reports prove conclusively the only fact of importance in. the day's events —namely, that- on the'first news of the appearance of the British fleets the Germans turned tail and headed westwards at full sp-eed.

At 9 o'clock in the morning the Great German Fleet, at least sixty vessels of all descriptions, was sighted.

It was carefully guided by three Zeppelins. At 6 o'clock in the evening the same fleet was viewed further north, and this time, with attendant airships, was steaming furiously eastwards. What had happened in the meantime? This, too, is equally clear from reports of other Dutch captains. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon they saw one or more British squadrons much further south than the 6 o'clock position of the German fleet heading almost due north in the direction of the enemy. Something else they noted. From the northwards appeared three Zeppelins. The airships, immediately on spotting the British vessels, went about in the direction of the main German fleet. Then came a swift dash. Half an hour afterwards the High Canal Fleet was in mad retreat to its home bases.

That was the last seen of any German warship in the North Sea. But for many hours after that British squadrons were sighted scouring the seas for the vanished enemy. It is no matter for surprise, thereforl!! that up to the moment of sending this despatch the. German Admiralty has not announced the latest "victory" of its High Seas Forces. The testimony to the real course of events is both conclusive and ample, for a larg'j number of Dutch trawlers in the North Sea on Saturday have returned to Vmuiden.

Individually and collectively their cvi dence comes to this: At six o'clock thu German fleet disappeared, whilst for hours afterwards the' British squadrons were sighted, searching for the battle which the German admirals were so careful to avoid. Into the hours of darkness tihe British pursued hope of con test. No possible chance to bring the enemy to that contest was missed, but, alas! in vain, for equally—and even-to a superior extent—no chance that the contest should take place was risked by the Kaiser's admirals. After their Zeppelins had reported the presence of great British forces they devoted all their abilities to escape meeting with tho Fleet which they .were boasting a few weeks ago they had smashed.

[As reported at the' time,, the German High Seas Fleet came out on the Saturday, but, learning that the British forces were in strength, avoided engagement, and returned to port. In searching for the p-nemy we lo?t two light, cruisers, the Nottingham and the Falmouth, both of which were in the Battle of.Jutland. W Te sank one enemy submarine, and rammed, and possibly sunk, another.]