THE NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 9 June 1916, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.

A SPECIAL NARRATIVE

PLAYED HER PART RIGHT WELL

ALMOST A CHARMED LIFE

ESCAPES

NUMEROUS AND

■^ Lhe bcotsman publishes a special nargP srative about the New Zealand's share in one of the greatest sea fights in history. She flew Admiral Pakenham's flag, in the absence of the Australia. The • New Zealand thus in a double sense re-;

„. . _ . LONDON, June 8. I presented the patriotism of the overseas clominions. It is notesvorthy that when she fought at Dodger Bank she also carried an Admiral's flag. The New Zealand failed into t*e Jutland battle flying the White Ensign, the Union Jack presented by New Zealand women, and her Maori emblem on the forward turret. This was practically during the action, though the. New Zealand hen-self received plenty marks. The entire crew were itching for a scrap. The New Zdalanders in the etokehold worked like Trojans to get . -every ounce and more out of the ship. She was not expected to produce a capacity equal to her battle companions, tmt she surprised her officers with her \ «peed, and broke her Dogger Bank re-. "*" «ords. There was no difficulty in holding ; her placf in the line, and this fact is ■a, splendid compliment to the gallant fePows below. When the 'conflict commenced the Tfew Zealand engaged the enemy at a j range of ten miles. A few minutes af- J ter the -opening there was deadly work, j heavy damage being done by the guns 1 on both sides. The sinking of the Inde- ■ fatigable left the New Zealand the rearmost ship of the line, and the disappearance of the Queen Mary made the Kew Zealand's position one of danger, -as well as oh« of honor. In arranging the battle position with the oormnsr reinforcements the New Zealand held the plu«e nearest the enemy. There was a. pai-tfcularlv hot spell at this time. The film*? of the Germans sras concentrated ant? x intense. The particular .turn ing movements . that were then,carried out left ilud New\.Zea-

land with a windy corner, s^cLthe.fall 4i of prdi^ijlefe-^va& fast : ancl fiii:io^s, 'it was an anxiotis moment for the daring

, cruiser, but it was allayed by the welcome view of ships behind racing to the fray. A tornado of shells churned j the sea and splinters pattered the New I Zealand's side like hail, but she played , her part right well. ' She had almost a charmed life. Her escapes were numerous .and narrow, while the damage done was of the slightest. The casualties were negligible, only two sailors being wounded. . Moreover, she gave a great deal more ! than she received. The -lire of the Gerj man unit engaging her lost both rapid- ' ity and accuracy after ten minutes' lighting, and the slackening fire told its own tale, despite the fact that the light was all in favor of the enemy, whereas the conditions were exceedingly difficult for the British, The immovable conviction among the .New Zealand's crew is that the Germans were beaten. Their torpedo attack was an absolute failure, and was frustrated in the clever- i est iasnion." Our light cruisers rushed j in to the fight in a moment, and easily countered the attack. This was j>o smartly executed that it might have been manoeuvres. Germany's refusal Ito fight it out deprived- us of the fruits 'of victory, but the New Zealand's men look forward to another chance, when they will add further glory to a record of which the people of New Zealand may be justly proud. j I .-* WELLINGTON, June 8. i The Governor has received the following from the Secretary of State: —"The , battle-cruiser New Zealand was in the thick of the naval battle of May 31. The Admiralty desires once more to place on record the debt of the Mother Country j Ito New, Zealand and the generosity which has enabled the navy to place so ' . valuable a unit in the fighting line." i ' i