GERMAN SQUADRON NOT SEEN FROM LOWESTOFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16215, 28 April 1916, Page 5

GERMAN SQUADRON NOT SEEN FROM LOWESTOFT.

ENEMY MAKES HURRIED DASH ALONG THE COAST. PEOPLE FLOCK INTO THE STREETS AT YARMOUTH. FIVE BATTLE-CRUISERS IN GERMAN SQUADRON. (Received April 27, 11 D.m.) London, April 26. Reports show that the German warships which bombarded Lowestoft were not seen. They must have fired at long range. They appeared to dash along the coast from north to south, firing as rapidly as possible in view of the short time at their disposal. At Great Yarmouth the people flocked into the streets, regardless of the danger. There was even a scramble for souvenirs in the form of pieces of shells during the bombardment. It is officially stated that the bombardment of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth began at four o'clock in the morning, and lasted for half-an-hour. Despite, the fact that the enemy were using heavy guns, the damage was relatively slight. A convalescent home, the swimming bath, the pier, and 40 dwellings were extensively damaged. Two hundred dw -llings were slightly damaged. Two men, a woman, and a child were killed, three seriously and one slightly injured. The enemy bombarded Great Yarmouth simultaneously, one large building being ignited and seriously damaged, and another slightly damaged by shell fire. Experts are of opinion that the battle-cruisers consisted of the Derfflinger, Lutzow, Moltke, Seydlitz, and Hindenburg, and light cruisers of the Emden class. The raiders came from Cuxhaven and Borkum. There was some public speculation en the possibility of Admiral Jellicoe cutting off the raiders before they finished the. 12 hours' return journey, but the Germans had a great advantage in the large fleet of Zeppelins acting a-3 scouts. The raiding squadron of warships was seen from the island of Vlieland, North Holland, on Tuesday morning, steaming east. The ships were preceded by Zeppelins. Twenty ships were counted. Heavy firing was heard to seaward. A destroyer which previously played a prominent part in the North Sea was in the thick of the Lowestoft fight. A shot penetrated her engineroom, and four of the crew were scalded. So far the British casualties approximate 20. The Derfflinger, Lutzow, Moltke, and Seydlitz are all battle-cruisers of from 20,000 to 30,000 tons displacement, and were completed between the years 1910 and 1913. The armament of the two former consists of eight 12in guns, twelve 5.9 in guns, and twelve 3.4 in guns. The armament of the two latter ships is similar except for the fact that the 12in guns are replaced by llin guns. The Hindenburg, which has been completed since the outbreak of war, is believed to be armed similarfy to the Derfflinger. . The light cruisers of the Emden class have a displacement of from between 3000 10 4000 tons, and are armed with ten 4in and four 2in guns. Of the battle-cruisers mentioned, the Seydlitz, Derfflinger, ( and Moltke took part in the Dogger Bank fight on January 24, 1915.