A BRITISH NAVAL VICTORY

Evening Star, Issue 17191, 5 November 1919, Page 7

A BRITISH NAVAL VICTORY

OVER BOLSHEVIK DREADNOUGHTS. AN “IMPREGNABLE” FORT.

As a preliminary to the fighting in the> Gulf of Finland British aeroplanes directed an Incessant attack on Kronstadt —the fortress of Petrograd, which has long been described as “impregnable.” Its “impregnability,” however, now seems certain to yield before the combined airland -ea attack directed against it by British foice;, lor, according to a Stockholm message, the . reinforced British fleet is now concentrated against it. The news contained in the Admiralty message .-ho",'? how effectively the British Navy, is carrydng out a necessary duty—i.e., iho duty of policing the Baltic. Were not cur ships in those waters, who could restrain the Bolshevik fleet from playing havoc \vi:n the innumerable fishing craft there, besides preying on international shipping generally and thwarting the mine-sweeping operations that are still in progress? It is understood that the Petropaviovsk and tho Andrei Poi’vo Svanui were put down by coastal motor boats, and it is interesting to think of such giants succumbing to such pigmies. It appears that the Bolshevik warships were forced to leave Kronstadt Harbor owing to the conflagration started in the forts and along the sea front by the combined bombardment and air raids. A Scandinavian message states that the old Russian cruiser Rnrik, a vessel of 15,190 tons, built by Vickers in 1906 and armed with four 10m, eight Bin, and a number of smaller guns, was also badly damaged. From the moment of the arrival of Rear-admiral Sir Walter Cowan’s fleet in the Gulf of Finland, destroyers, coastal motor boats (“scooters”),' trawlers, and seaplanes have carried on a ceaseless straggle. The first objective was to contain the enemy in his own minefield, and the second to pursue and harass him there, inflicting the maximum moral and physical damage with the minimum of risk to ourselves. Officers and crews for weeks together have not enjoyed an unbroken night, owing to alarms or irksome patrol duty. All service in the Baltic has .been made exceedingly dangerous by the multitudinous mines. British aeroplanes have raided Kronstadt almost daily, producing a lamentable state of nerve fatigue among the defenders. The coastal motor btot attack clinched the matter. The fight took place irams- j “• Kronstadt, oyer the Bolshevik minefield. The motor boats attacked without the fleet, but supported by three aeroplanes. One of these came down near Lighthouse, but the crew were safely picked up. The triumphant * flotilla received a great welcome on returning to the base. It is impossible to overestimate the debt of the Baltic States to the small, indefatigable fleet under Admiral Cowan. But for this fleet the Bolshevik warcraft would have ravaged Scandinavian waters unchecked. NAVY’S SMALLEST UNIT. ,

The C.M.8., which made its appearance in later stages of the Great War, is the smallest unit in the Navy. In flying smudges of foam these little craft career through the water with a velocity suggestive of an aeroplane. They carry" a single torpedo tube, and it was confidently • predicted that their insignificant size, coupled with their high speed, would make them more deadly than the submarine. Already „the_ C.M.B.s had some torpedo boats to their credit (sunk off the Belgian coast). Now they have destroyed battleships. It is, indeed, a feather in their caps. • Fine as are the achievements now reported, it must not bo supposed that the Baltic is as yfct cleared of the Bolshevik menace. Three Russian Dreadnoughts, besides destroyers and other craft, have still to be accounted for. Rear-admiral Sir Walter H. Cowan, D.5.0., commanded the battle cruiser Princess Royal at Jutland, and “ fought his ship with great skill and gallantry.’ * SMALL BRITISH CASUALTIES. The British 'casualties are as follow '—Killed—- • Lieutenant Archibald, Dnyrell-Reed, D.5.0.,.R.N. - Lieutenant William H. Bremner, D.5.0., R.N. Sub-lieutenant Thomas B. G. Usbome, R..3SL Chief Motor Mechanic Francis Edward Stephens, R.N.Y.R., M.B. 3,005. Chief Motor Mechanic Henry John Dunkley, 8.N.V.R., M.B. 2,714. Able Seaman William George Smith, R.N., O.N.J. 18754, • The following are missing and believed to be dead ;■ — Acting Lieutenant-commander Frank T. Brads, D.S.C., R.N.R. Lieutenant Laurence E. S. Napier, R.N, Sub-lieutenant Osman C. H. Qiddv, R.N. Sub-lieutenant Hector F. Maclean, R.N. Chief Motor Mechanic Benjamin Reynish R.N.V.R., M.B. 674. i Chief Motor Mechanic William Eric Whvte, R.N.V.R., M.B. 3006. Chief Motor Mechanic Francis Leslie Howe Thatcher, R.N.V.R., M.B. 1974. Stoker Petty Officer Samuel MWeigh, 312495 (Ch.). Leading Seaman Herbert James Bowles, J. 49783 (Cb.j; Leading Seaman Sidnev Davison Holmes, J. 15841 (Po.). Able Seaman Charles Alfred Harvey. J. 44035 (Ch.). THE ENEMY’S LOSSES. TWO MODERN DREADNOUGHTS AMONG THE VICTIMS. . Taking the official and unofficial reports .together, the enemy ships sunk are seen _ to be i Petropavlovsk; Modern super-Dread-nought, hardly eight years old; 23,000 tons; 12 12in guns, 16 4.7 in guns, and smaller weapons; Krupp armor; complement, over 1,000 men, Andrei Pervo Svanni: Battle-cruiser, 13 years old ; four 12in, 14 Sin, and smaller guns; complement, nearly 1,000. One transport. One guard ship. - One submarine depot ship. WHAT THE BRITISH LOST. The 1 Helsingforsblad ’ reports that, besides the Russian ships already reported as having been put out of action in the engagement off Kronstadt, the light cruiser Aurora and the armored cruiser Bajan were also damaged, and are now out of action. The original ships of the British squadron at Bjoerkoe have been replaced ■with new ones, and their crows, who -had enlisted for four months, have now been sent home. A new ship of the F class has recently arrived. HERO OF THE BALTIC. DASHING FEAT UNDER BOLSHEVIK GUNS. It i s announced that the V-C. was awarded to Lieutenant A. W. S. Agar, 8.N., “in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry, coolness, and skill under extremely difficult conditions in action.” Lieutenant Agar was in command of a. coastal motor boat, and in her he sank the Bolshvik cruiser Oleg on the nriht of June 17 last. The Oleg was cruising in the neighborhood of the Tolbuchin Lighthouse, an area that had been well mined by Trotsky’s orders. She was not, apparently,in any danger from British attack, for she was screened by destroyers, and was also within 'range of the land forts. The heavy sea that was running also made auhmarine attack improbable. Lieutenant Agar, who was on patrol with his c.m.b. in that area, succeeded in getting through the screen of Bolshevik destroyers without being observed, and then luck turned dead against him. His engines broke down, and- ho was compelled to remain within a biscuit-toss .almost of the enemy ships while repairs .were effected in darkness and a heavy sea.. The repairs were successful. . The c.m.b. was suddenly re stored to life and movement. She* was aimed at the Oleg, and- as she ran towards the target The torpedo was dropped over the stern. Then the little vessel swung to one side to allow the torpedo to run #n itg way and find its billet,