GERMAN SEA "VICTORY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15930, 29 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMAN SEA "VICTORY."

SANK THEIR OWN WARSHIPS.

A Russian correspondent records the fact that for the first time cinco the beginning of the war, the Russian Admiralty has issued a review of the operations of the Baltic Fleet.

The statement shows that the Germans usually ran away on the approach of Russian ships. But one exception is recorded. Seeing nothing more formidable than a torpedo flotilla the Germans decided to give battle. When they had destroyed eight of the little craft they made the startling discovery that they were their own ships, which, says the. reporot, "the enemy in the dark mistook for Russian vessels."

Towards the middle of August the German .ships ventured inside the Russian minefields, but the adventure cost them the cruiser .Magdeburg, which went aground in a fog and was destroyed. Having found the Russian, Navy too vigilant and active, the Germans, about tho middle of October, altered their tactics and started a series of undcr-water attacks which must lave proved a bitter disappointment to them.

The Russian official, review fransly details all the German submarine attacks on the Russian warships (19 in all), and these arc the net results:—Only one of them proved successful, resulting in sinking the cruiser Pallada; in nine cases they were repulsed by Russian destroyers, and in nine oilier cases the German submarines failed to discharge their torpedoes. During the attacks the Germans lost five submarines. One of them was destrooyed by the guns of the cruiser Bayan; one wis rammed by the Russian destroyer Letuteny; one was blown up by a Russian mine, and two others must have met with a similar fate.