D.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3023, 18 August 1916, Page 1

D.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

A SHIP WHICH DID THINGS

DOCTOR'S STORY OF THE

BATTLE

Elect. Surgeon .John Sloddarl, R..N., was on tlie New Zealand in the baffle oil' .Jutland. Describing tbe idiaro his vessel bore in the (in-lit. Dr. Stoddart said:—

The New Zealand had stirring experiences. She (lew the flag of Admiral Pakcnhain, iv the absence of his Majesty's ship Australia, to which ifi given, as a rule, tho distinction, and thus in a double sense was the vessel representative of a part of our Einpiro whoso readiness iv patriotic effort has been exemplary. In this Connection, too. an interesting coincidence may be noted. When the New Zealand figured in the Dogger Bank affair she _ also carried an admiral's flag, for Sir A. Moore, who was second in command. She sailed into THE GREAT ADVENTURE

oil' Jutland Coa<st proudly bearing other evidences of her Antipodean connection. There Hon tod in the breeze of the eventful May evening tho White Ensign and Union Jack presented by the women of NVw Zealand, which figured in her previous engagements also, and is now showing tbe marks of action, though the -Maori emblem on the forepart of the lighting-top is, iso far, practically unscathed. Whether the captain of the New Zealand shares the superstitions of men ''who go down to the sea in ships," Dr. Stoddart cannot say, but he understand*- he fulfilled on tins occasion th-* conditions attaching to a .small greenstone charm given to his predecessor by a Maori chief. The tiki was to bo worn by the captain who first took tho ship into action, and that was done. Of a Maori mat, also given by the patriotic and

WELL-INTENTIONED NATIVES, which was to lie donned by the captain in action, the writer cannot say so much. Modern battle conditions on tbe sea do not permit of liberties in the direction of ceremonial dress. The bulldog, which has taken tbe place of a better-known predecessor, in tho role of mascot, the .former animal having died la«t year by an accident, slept peacefully through the action. Probably no better index to the spirit with which the men of our Fleet went into action could be given than the efforts made by tho crew of the New Zealand. Like everybody concerned, they were "ITCHING FOR THE SCRAP."

With them all it seemed to be a personal matter. The New Zealand's men "down below" worked like Trojans. They seemed to get every available ounce and more out of the ship. She was not expected, naturally, to produce the capacity of her battle companions, but she surprised her olli-

ccrs with her speed. When the scene of tho conflict was reached we and tho enemy opened lire about the same time at a range of 10 miles. A few minutes after the opening of the battle, in which deadly work and heavy damage was being done by guns on both sides, the sinking of the indefatigable left the New Zealand tho rearmost ship in the line. With a further reduction of the line caused by tho DISAPPEARANCE OF THE QUEEN AIARY,

the position of tho New Zealand became one of danger as well as honour, for in the arranging of battle position with the coming of reinforcements the ship held the place nearest to the enemy. There was a-particu-larly hot spell at this time. The firing of the Germans .was concentrated and intense, and the particular turning movement which was carried through at that time is recalled by the expressive phrase, "the windy corner." The fall of projectiles was fast and furious. The time was one of admitted anxiety for the daring cruisers, which was allayed by the welcome view of the ships behind racing to the fray. With the widening of the scope of the fighting there was a tornado of shell. It churned the sea with its splashing. Splinters pattered on the ship's sides like hail, while over nil was the roar of the guns. The New Zealand PLAYED HER PART

right well. She seems almost to have had a charmed life, for her escapes were numerous and narrow, while her damage was of tbe slightest, and her casualties really negligible ;two of her sailors were wounded. She gave . a great deal more than she received. On the assumption that the unit of the enemy's line she was engaging was devoting its attention to her, there is evidence that the German had much the worse of the encounter. After some 10 minutes' fighting, at any rate, his fire lost both its rapidity and accuracy. The slackening told its own tale. It should not be overlooked, too, that the fight was all in favour of the enemy. Whereas for us this condition was exceedingly difficult, it was well-nigh PERFECT FOR THE GERMANS,

who had us between them and the light while it lasted. The Germans suffered much more heavily than can ho definitely ascertained. Only the disadvantageous -weather conditions and the enemy's retreat prevented further knowledge of their damage as well as a good deal more havoc among their ships. The immovable conviction among the men who were on the spot is that tbe Germans were the beaten side actually as well ns morally. Their daylight torpedo attack was an absolute failure. It was frustrated in the cleverest fashion possible. Our light cruisers rushed in at tbe right moment. The timing could scarcely have been better, and the attack was easily encountered. FROM FIRST TO LAST

it might to all appearances, so smartly wa.s it conceived and carried out by our cruisers, have been a bit of work in manoeuvres done strictly by the drill-book. The men of our licet came home satisfied with Avhat had been achieved, but disappointed in being deprived of tho fruits of their will had they only been left the way. The weather and the German refusal to "fight it out" are at the bottom of the .British Navy's disappointment. Their outlook, however, is coloured with the hope that tlie chance will yet come. If and when it does, tlie New Zealand will much want to be there.