HOW BEATTY TREATED THE BABY-KILLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3873, 9 March 1915, Page 3

HOW BEATTY TREATED THE BABY-KILLERS.

GRAPHIC STORIES OF THE NORTH SEA ACTION. (From "Cape Times” files received h} yesterday’s mail.) The “(Scotsman” publishes the story of the battle of the North Sea of January 24th, as obtained from the crews from all the classes of the ships engaged. It says that the point where the Germans were met was 2) hours from the English coast, which indicates that their objective was primarily Newcastle, also Hartlepool. / The men were in high glee as they /dashed to the attack. One, commander remarked, "One would think this was ia football game. The hoys are enjoying it so much.” There was a long chase before the guns began to talk, both sides travelling 40 miles at full speed before it could be said that the guns were doing real damage. THE BATTERED BLUCHER. The Lion led the line, followed by the Tiger', Princess Royal,‘lndomitable and New Zealand, in the order named. Soon the Lion overhauled the Blucher, and gave her abroadsido in passing, doing frightful damage. Tim Tiger and Princess lloyal also gavo her) broadsides as they passed. It was already evident that the Blucher was doomed, and she was abandoned by her speedier consorts. The chase by this time bad been continued for two hours. The enemy’s light cruisers endeavored, in a most' plucky manner, to cover the fleeing battle-cruisers, but when that became hopeless, as the British ships were speedily overhauling them, they also thought only of their own safety. the derfflinger on fire. Then the Lion, which had overhauled and smashed the second cruiser in the German line, saw that the fight was likely to be prolonged into the minefields. The 'Tiger, Princess Royal. New Zealand and Indomitable were then within range of the enemy’s large vessels. It is certain that they wrought terrible havoc, as the fire from the Derfflinger and Seydlitz was growing weaker. The Derfflinger when within half an hour of the mined area, was on fire forward, the flames sweeping the foredeck. Wreckage of her shattered upper works strewed her decks, and her guns wore silent when she entered the mined area. She must have suffered most serious loss of life, and may not have got home, as she was believed to have been torpedoed.

THIRD VESSEL ABLAZE. The third vessel in the German line at this point is believed to have been the Sevdlitz, but possibly it was the Moitko. Site suffered even more severely, and had been under fire from the Lion, Tiger. Princess P.oyal, New Zealand, and Indomitable. Her plight was terrible. One after anotlier of her <funs was smashed, ac-

companied by great execution among her crew. ' vShe was a silent ship, steaming desperately for shelter. Ihe whole ol her afterdook was ablaze when she entered the mined area. PEXI-HING THE LIGHT CR RISERS.

In the meantime the Lion tumor, her attention to the struggle be' tween Hie light cruisers, using hei speiVl and gun-power with great ef feet. Siie worked to head-off anc

drive the German light cruisers upon the pursuing British vessels. 1 bis was a difficult task, in view of the large pumbor or ships engaged. The Lion inflicted great damage on these vessels, hut" they succeeded in escaping with, in some eases, their guns swept from their mountings and their hulls battered. A number of enemy light cruisers must be unlit for action for a long time.

THE LAST OF THE BLITHER. The Blucher was doomed from the first, but fought gallantly. Her upper works were smashed out of all semblance to tlie fittings oi a ship. Practically every gun was out of action. It is stated that just towards the close of the action the Arethusa successfully torpedoed the Blucher. Mon were seen to leap into the sea as she heeled suddenlv over. She sank steadily with a very slight heel until her decks were almost awash. d lien she turned over and with a sudden roai sank with her Hag Hying.* As her keel appeared scores of swimmers attempted to reach and cling to it, hut that support was denied them by the vessel sinking.

RESCUERS ATTACKED BY AIR-CRAFT.

The British light cruisers and destroyers having abandoned the chase of tlie other German vessels, turneu their attention to the rescue of till undred of the Bluclier’s men, and would have saved more than they did but a Zeppelin and a number of aeroplanes appeared from the direction of Heligoland, giving a wide berth to the battle-cruisers and light cruisers in fear of anti-aircraft guns. .They attacked the which were rescuing tlie survivors from the Blusher. The men employed in the rescue work complain most bitterly that the airships dropped bombs on them with murderous intent. The destroyers promptly scattered and the aircraft desisted from the attack and made for home. S REVIVORS STOBIES. German survivors state that there was the greatest excitement on the Blucliev when the British Fleet was sighted. All on board knew that the Blucher would never escape. She was under fire first and last. They never dreamt of such gunnery as tne British. One big shell burst through the heart of tne ship and killed scores of men. When picked up after the sinking of the vessel the rescued men were treated very kindly. They were fed and clothed. Two German destroyers were also severely damaged, and* probably never reached port. British seamen state that the Germans were rescued included eight officers, who pressed watches rings, and money on the crew of the Arcthusa- out of gratitude to* tlieir rescuers; The men asked for cigarettes," which the British tars heartily supplied. The officers dined in the wardroom, tne conversation being of a genial nature. '.me light cruiser Aurora engaged the Ivolberg, and her first shot carried away tlie Kolberg’s midship funnel, and her guns raked the Ivolberg, which was hist- seen sinking. " The acting-Surgeon of the. Tiger, in a letter to his father, says; The Lion, Tiger and Princess Loyal were the only ships together when fire was opened. The Indomitable and New Zealand were unable to keep pace with them. The only way we could get our wounded down was through, the manhole down a 12-foot vertical ladder. As we took them along lielow we could hear the enemy’s shells rattling against our armour. Afterwards I went on, deck, and saw the Blucher burning and exploding.. Her condition was simplv indescribable. I cannot imagine how anyone could have lived on board. We were pouring broadsides into 1 her at close range, shells meanwhile dropping in hundreds around us.

GERMAN ADMIRAL’S REPORT. The report by the German Admiral Hippner on the battle (says the Reciter Agency’s Amsterdam corespondent) rudely shatters the Berliners notions .that the British- retreated. The Admiral says the German slnps turned homewards in order 10 hue support nearer the German coast, and also to secure favorable conditions as regards sun and wind. The British slims were faster, and soon damaged the Blucher stengi'nes by concentrated fire a destroyer •finishing.the Blucher With a torpedo: Admiral Hippner says tlie British turned;: miles from Heligoland, evidently foariuo- the mine fields or reinforcements. The Admiral admits that another

Gorman battle-cruiser and a small cruiser had some dead.” FOREIGN COMMENT. The Agency's Petrograd correspondent says the British naval victory was the'occasion of universal rejoicing throughout Russia. Students in Petrograd held demonstrations outside tJie British Embassy, cheering Britain and Admiral Beatty. _ Referring to the action the ‘‘Bourse Gazette” says: —“England has avenged the Yorkshire oabes. In an open and honorable fight the gentlemen ot the sea have soundly thrashed the pirates.” . r ' The German version or the Norni Sea fight is ridiculed by the neutral Press. „ . , ~.. The Dutch “Telegraaf -and Neu« s van den Dag” dismiss the German assertions as most improbable. The Rome “Tribune” says the fight shows that the Germans w ill nei ei risk a decisive battle with their whole naval power against England. The New York Press, comparing the German flight in the North Sea with Admiral Cradock s courage, sajs if “The Day” is ever to come then German commanders must display more enterprise and take some risk. The “New Fork Times” says the British Naw is obviously wide awake. Sir David Beatty lias advanced still further in his countrymen's esteem, which is already great owing to his victory off Heligoland. The' New York “'World” says that in the contest of attrition the advantage is far from being with the Germans. and is decidedly the other way. The British Navy could stand many such losses as that by the Germans, while Germany cannot. The New York paper the “Press says whatever they might do on land. Germanv can have no glimmering hope or overcoming Britain oh the sea.