JUTLAND BATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 12

JUTLAND BATTLE

TODAY'S ANNIVERSARY TWELVE YEARS' INTERVAL KABLY FOREBODINGS To-day is tho anniversary of the Buttle of Jutland, one of .the highlights of the Groat War, and ono which has resulted in endless controversy. The battle commenced on the afternoon of 31st May, 191G —twelve years ago to-day—and lasted until the evening of the following flay. The first information of the battle was published in "The.Post" in the issue.of 3rd June, IDIG, when a. cablegram.from the High Commissioner, at that time the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, later to b«como Sir Thomas, was rec/cived from London to the following effect:— "The Admiralty announces that on Wednesday afternoon (31st May) a naval engagement took place off the coast of Jutland. The British ships on which the brunt of the righting fell were of the battle-cruiser fleet, some cruisers, and light cruisers, supported by four fast battleships, and among these the losses were heavy. The Gorman battle fleet, aided by low visibility, avoided a prolonged engagement with our main forces, and soon after these appeared on the scene the enemy returned to port, though not before receiving severe damage from our battleships. "The battle-cruisers Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible, 'and the cruisers Defence and Black Prince were sunk. The Warrior was disabled, and after being towed for some time had to bo abandoned by the crew. It is also known that the destroyers Tipperary, Turbulent, Fortune, Sparrowhawk, and Ardent were lost, and six others are missing and not yet accounted for. sNo British battleships or light cruisers were sunk. ' "The enemy's losses were serious, at least ono battle-cruiser being destroyed and ■one severely damaged. One battleship is reported sunk by our destroyers during the night attack. Two light cruisers were disabled and probably

sunk. The exact number of enemy destroyers disposed of during the action cannot bo ascertained with any certainty, but must have been large." This was the- wording of the first news of the great naval fight, the greatest in British , naval history, and it naturally left a feeling of insecurity, and the whole of the Dominion could do little more at the time than discuss the pros and cons of the action -for a great number of days. It was not until the war was over, however, that any real information was received about the battle. The first intimation of the action created the opinion that though the German High Seas Fleet had returned to port without pursuing any apparent advantage, it had had the best of the action. This, of course, lias since bebn disproved, and it is quito apparent that the Germans were very pleased to bo able to get back to the security of their defences in the Kiel Canal. NATIONAL GLOOM. Extracts from the High Commissioner's message hero republished were pasted up on the windows of practically every newspaper office in the Dominion, and those who can take .their memories back over the intervening period of twelve years will remember the general gloom which pervaded all classes of the community. Interviewed by a representative of "The Post" on the same day, the Prime Minister, the late Mr. Massey, made the following statement, showing that he, too, realised that a serious position might arise as a result of the indecisiveness of the action. "Sufficient information has not yet come to hand to enable us to form a definite opinion on what has taken place," said Mr. Massey. "It is quite certain, however, "that the losses on both sides have been very heavy, and the telegraphic information so .far to hand seems to show that the British have lost more seriously than the Germans. Our consolation, however, lies in the fact that the 'Gorman fleet has been driven back to port, and in that resepct the British have had the best of the fight. Wf; could not expect to escape losses, but nothing should shake the steadfast determination of British citizens all .over the world to see this war'through at all costs and at any sacrifice." Succeeding days put" a much better aspect on .the fight, and it has since been proved that though Britain lost a greater tonnage, the were compelled to retire to a haven of refuge before -the advance of the British Battle Meet under Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Jellicoe, later to become Earl Jollicoc. The gloom so apparent in New Zealand was but a. reflection of that m England, and on re-readiug the news it is apparent that at that time at least the mind was more prone to halt at the losses and to refuse to look at the greater factors behind. At this late day the, truth is more apparent, and it is evident that Germany lost the battle. THE TWO LEADERS; The history of the battle is centred chiefly round the two leaders, Admirals Jellicoe and Bcatty, both of whom havo been supported by different lines of thought. A great' number of books and' pamphlets have appeared on the subject, but even now it is probable that the general public only has a very hazy idea of the actual happenings during the greatest sea battle in history. It is has been said that there was neither a victor nor a vanquished at Jutland, as both sides had failed to achieve their objective. The British Command-or-in-Chicf preserved the Grand Fleet from the* danger of German torpedoes, while Admiral yon Seheer was able to boast that ho had saved the High Sea Fleet from the clutches of a-superior enemy. That there occurred big chances for both'sides during the action must bo conceded, but each man had to estimate the situation as more unfavourable to himself than it really was, for which they can hardly bo blamed, seeing that so much was at stake. History may eventually say whether anyone was to blame for the indecisiveneas of the battle, but whether the verdict is yes or no in favour of either country, the British Empire will never cease to consider the Battle of Jutland one of the greatest events of the war, and one in which British bravery and doggedncss were exemplified to the satisfaction of all Britishers, no matter in what part of the world they may reside. Of the two central figures in the action —Earl Jellicoe and Earl Beatty —both are now more or less considered national heroes. Jollicoe naturally appeals most to New Zealanders, because lie is known to us personally, but Bonify is one of those virile seamen , who cannot fail to hold the imagina-

lion. Sir John Jellicoe, as he was at the time of the battle, was Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet,1 and was in direct command of the battleship squadron. For his services he was raise* to an earldom and received a grant by Parliament of £00,000. Sir David Bcatty, on the other hand, was in command of the cruiser squadron, and bore the brunt of the action, for which lie, too, received an .earldom, but his grant was ;£ 100,000, double that of his loader. Since tliero Jipnours' were conferred both have held high office in the Admiralty, Earl JeiJicoo becoming First Sea Lord in November, 1916, which office lie retained until December of the following year. Earl Beatty's star was in tho ascendant for several years after tho war, and lie was appointed First Sea Lord in 1919, and remained in that office until last year. Both have now retired from active service, though Earl Beatty is only 57 years old. Earl Jellicoe, however is 68 years old, and his war service at least must now bo at an end.