THE NAVAL WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17788, 13 May 1918, Page 5

THE NAVAL WAR.

OSTEND CLOSED

ANOTHER DARING EXPLOIT.

VINDICTIVE SUNK BETWEEN PIERS.

A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Reutor. LONDON, May 10.

Tho Admiralty reports that tho operation designed to closo tho ports of Os tend and Zcebrugge was successfully, completed on the night of May 9, when tho obsolete cruiser Vindictive was sunk between tho piers, and across tho entranco of Ostend Harbour. Since tho attack on Zcebrugge, on April 23, tho Vindictive has been filled with concrete and fitted as a blockship. Our light forces returned to their base with tho loss of a motor launch, which was damaged, and was sunk by tho VicfeAdmiral’s orders, to prevent her falling into tho enmy’s bands. Our casualties were light. NEW YORK, May 10. Mr Mason, tho United Press Naval Expert, says that the Ostend affair was a brilliant exploit, and took the Germans completely unawares. Tho result forces U-boats to use the home bases. The affair suggests a. condition of demoralisation in tho Gorman Navy, while tho British are fulfilling the best traditions of Drake and Nelson.

ZEEBRUGGE BASE STILL BLOCKED.

LONDON. May 10.

Although tiiero is no official confirmation of tho statement from Switzerland. that submarines were compelled to retreat to German bases, instead of Zcebrugge, a High Naval Authority reports that Zeobruggo is still blocked. Considerable aerial activity was maintained there, oreventing tho enemy’s clearing operations.

THE RAIDERS’ RETURN. LONDON, May 10.

There were great rejoicings at Dover, to which port the raiders returnedHeavy gunfire was heard at 1 a.m., 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. It was a brilliant night- Vice-Admiral Keyes directed tho operations.

REPORT OF CAPTAIN LYNES. GALLANT WORK IJY LAUNCHES. (Received May 12, 5.5 p.m.) ' LONDON, May 11. Captain Lynes, reporting on the affair, warmly praises the gallantry of all engaged'. He says that tho sea on the outward voyage could not have been more suitable for small craft. Visibility was good and there was no interference from enemy vessels. The small craft went to their stations with destroyers in support. The enemy was quiet until 1.45 a.m., when ho opened a heavy fire. Our star shells showed how our smoke screens were progressing, and then the sky, hitherto unclouded, became obscured. Tho sea fog was so dense that it stopped our air attacks, and even searchlights were invisible. Tho fog lasted an heftir ■ and then tho air attacks weno resumed. The enemy’s fire, assisted by searchlights, lasted an hour. Ono motor launch, showing especial gallantry, ranged alongside the Vindictive, taking off an officer and two men who were left behind when tho others escaped. Two launches gallantly searched the shore despite heavy fire, but found nobody. Tho retirement began at 2.30 a.m. according to programme, tho inshore forces gradually closing on tho destroyers. Two hundred shells feu round tho British monitors, but there wore no hits or casualties

POSITION OF THE VINDICTIVE. Rcutor's .Telegram* (Received May 12, 5-5 p.m.) LONDON, May 11.

It is now disclosed that the previous attempt to block Ostend failed because tho enemy just previously had moved a buoy a mile out of position. It is stated that there is no shadow of doubt about tho present position. Tho Vindictive lies at an angle of forty degrees between tho piers, about two hundred yards inside the entrance. This has been photographically confirmed. She does not effectively block the channel, which is twenty feet wider than ho." length, but a partial and most serious blockage has been achieved. Certainly it will tend to increaso under the conditions of tide and rapid silt prevailing along this coast. What is very important is that the German light craft, when chased by our vessels, will be •unable as previously to rush full speed to shelter. The small number of the British casualties indicates that tho encmv was surprised. It has been ascertained that tho silt at Zeebrugge is collecting very fast, despite the dredging. Tho blocking cruisers aro so placed that any attempt to blow them up is fraught with dangov to tho neighbouring permanent structure.

DETAILS OF THE RAID

THE GERMANS SURPRISED. (Received May 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May U. The rescue of the Vindictive’s crew* was a very gallant operation, carried out under heavy fire. A great naval air raid accompanied tho Vindictive’s raid. British monitors also bombarded Ostend.

The Vindictive sank obliquely off the pier 150 or 200 yards from it. Monitors, destroyers and smaller craft procetied the Vindictive to tho entranco of Ostend About two o’clock the weather suddenly thickened and the Vindictive cruised for twenty minutes before she sighted tho pier. Her commander ramjjjed the vessel’s stem agaihst tho pier, iho Vindictivo grounded and trio charges were exploded. Vice-Admiral Iveyes was present throughout the operations at Ostend aboard a small cratt, which was the last vessel to leturn to Dover.

Hie flotilla of attackers afforded a splendid spectacle leaving Dover. It was a calm, clear night. The Vindictive Was heavily sandbagged, and Having tho place of honour she travelled slowly to Dunkirk and thcnco to Ostend, which was brilliantly lighted by a powerful searchlight, hut tho sea haze and artificial fogs concealed tho British purpose until the Vindictive was within a quarter of a mile of the entranco to tho Osteiul harbour gates. Then tho Germans sent up a regular pyrotechnic display of star shells and the guns on all sides Opened fire and .continued until tho Vindictive was sunk 150 yards inside the piers- Throughout four great monitors steadily bombarded tho shore, while aeroplanes caused many fires. 'I lie Vindictive’s success was secured despite the fact that the Germans had heavily mined the seaway and were expecting another attack. The silt will materially assist the completion of the blocking up of the channel. Monitors, destroyers, motor launches and coastal motor-boats, at Captain Lyne’s disposal by Vice-Admiral Keyes, assembled at the entrance to Ostend at 1.45 n.m., fifteen minutes before tho Vindictive was due. Tho weather conditions were all that could be desired, there being ,a calm sea and a light wind, but before the Vindictive arrived tho sea fog drifted towards tho shore, reducing visibility to between 300 and 400 yards. The Vindictivo therefore found it extremely difficult to locate the entrauco and was obliged to cruiso backwards and forwards for twenty minutes seeking the entrance. Meanwhile the enemy detected her presence and the shore batteries opened a heavy fire. Tho Vindictive suffered a number of casualties beforo the piers were suddenly sighted almost alongside. There was an intense fire from tho guns, which with tho machine-guns were now concentrated against tho Vindictive.

•Tho Vindictive, with a crew of fiftytwo, swung into tho channel and ran her stem against the east pier in order to swing the ship athwart tho channel. Tho Vindictive, grounded and the stern would not swing, so tho commander ordered all below to come on deck while lie prepared to blow the charges. The crew mado their escape in motor launches, which gallantly ranged alongside the Vindictive to save tho crew, despite the heavy fire. The gallant rescuers were severely punished, one launch being sunk. The charges went off and tho Vindictive settled down. During tho raid not a single, enemy vessel was sighted. Tho Vindictive’s crew consisted of volunteers drawn from ships of tho Dover patrol. At 3.15 a.m. a rescuing motor launch was picked up by the Warwick, which was Vice-Admiral Keys’s flagship. From it thirty-eight of tho crew were taken aboard. One died later. Aircraft which flew over Ostend today report that half the channel is blocked. It is possibly usable bv destroyers and submarines, but useless for cruisers. Naval men who participated in the raid, returned to Dover in the highest spirits. They looked thoroughly worn out after their sleepless night, but. wore thoroughly delighted with their success. They stato that the programme was carried out admirably. The small craft performed their task magnificently and the smoke screen could not have been better. The Vindictive in striking the harbour had the. luck which was denied the Brilliant cn the former occasion. It is evident that the men behaved splendidly, all being as keen as mustard.

AMERICAN PRAISE. (Received May 12, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 10. , New York newspapers accord much praise to tho British Navy in bottling up Osbond. \ THE GERMAN VERSION. BRITISH EFFORT A FAILURE. A. and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. (Received May 12, 5.5 p.m.) i LONDON, Mav 11. Tho German official version "of tho Ostend exploit states:—Enemy ships, protected by artificial fog, tried to force their way into the harbour, lmt were driven off by coastal batteries. The report also assorts that the Vindictive, which was entirely battered to pieces, lies aground beforo the harbour outside tho navigation channel, and that tho entrance is quite free. A fuller wireless German, official message says: — the splendidly directed fire of our coastal batteries repelled several enemy vessels which were ..endeavourißg

to penetrate Ostend harbour. An old ertitwr lies, completely battered by shells, aground outside the channel. The whole of. the entranco is quite clear. Two Survivors who jumped overboard were taken prisoner. The attempt to block the port was completely frustrated. Wo sank two motorboats and 1 badly damaged a monitor. NEW MINEFIELDS. BLOCKING THE SUBMARINES. (Received May 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. “The Times” naval correspondent states that submarines using tho Belgian ports have certainly been deprived of much freedom of movement. They have been wirelessly instructed not to return to Zcebrugge or Ostend, because if they do so they will find the passage impeded by tile new North Sea minefields. It is hoped beforo long that 'the fulfilment of other plans will cause a decided shrinkage in the tonnage sinkings. United Service. (Received May 12. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. The “Daily Mail” says Tho now minefields comprise one of tho most important .undertakings of the war and complete the barrage of both ends of the North Sea. Submarines are able to .penetrate to the Atlantic only by using the edge of the Norwegian waters, where the Admiralty presumably is taking special measures to deal with an unavoidable gap. SHIPPING LOSSES. , HALVED* DURING YEAR. WASHINGTON, May 10. French .figures show that the Allied losses of shipping during April were l half those for April, 1917. (Received May 12, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK. May 10. Official statistics from France state that the total submarine losses sustained by the Allies and neutrals in April were 381,631 tons, as against 634,085 tons in April, 1917.