VINDICTIVE RUN INTO OSTEND UNDER TERRIFIC FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16848, 13 May 1918, Page 5

VINDICTIVE RUN INTO OSTEND UNDER TERRIFIC FIRE.

SHIP REACHES AND RAMS HEAD OF EASTERN PIER.

ESCAPE OF THE CREW IN SUPPORTING MOTOR-BOATS.

GALLANT WORK DONE BY AUXILIARY FLOTILLA.

Australian and N.Z. (Received 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. The successful sinking of the obsolete cruiser Vindictive across the fairway m the early hours of Friday morning was a daring piece of work. The rescue of the crew was a very gallant operation performed under heavy fire, A great naval air raid accompanied the Vindictive s raid. British monitors also bombarded Ostend. The Vindictive sank obliquely off the pier, 150yds*or 200 yds from it. Monitors destroyers and smaller craft preceded the Vindictive to the entrance at Ostend. About two o'clock the weather suddenly thickened The Vindictive cruised for twenty minutes before she sighted the pier he commander rammed her stem against the pier. The Vindictive grounded and the charges were blown up. Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes was present throughout the operations aboard a small craft which was the last vessel to return to Dover. The flotilla of attacking vessels afforded a splendid spectacle leaving Dover. It was a calm, clear night. The Vindictive was heavily sand bagged, having the place of honour. She travelled slowly to Dunkirk, and thence to Ostend, which was brilliantly lighted by powerful -searchlights, but a sea haze and artificial fogs concealed the British purpose until the Vindictive was within a-quarter of a mile of the entrance to the Ostend Harbour, when the Germans sent up a regular pyrotechnic display of star shells. Guns on all sides opened fire and continued until the Vindictive was sunk 150 yds inside the piers. Throughout four great monitors steadily bombarded the shore, while aeroplanes caused many fires. The success of the Vindictive's attempt was secured, despite the fact that the Germans had heavily mined the seaway, expecting another attack. Silt will materially assist the completion of the blocking up of the channel. # GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. Monitors, destroyers, motor-launches, and coastal motor-boats placed at Captain Lynes's disposal by Sir Roger Keyes, assembled at the entrance to Ostend at 1.45 o'clock in the morning, fifteen minutes before the Vindictive was due. The weather, conditions were all that could be desired, there being a calm sea and light wind, but before the Vindictive arrived a sea fog drifted towards, the shore, reducing visibility to between 300 yds and 400 yds. The Vindictive, therefore, found it extremely difficult to locate the entrance, and was obliged to cruise backwards and forwards for twenty minutes, seeking the entrance. Meanwhile the enemy detected her presence, and the shore batteries opened a heavy fire. The Vindictive suffered a number of casualties before the piers were suddenly sighted almost alongside. There was an intense fire from the guns, which, with machine-guns, were now concentrated against the Vindictive. The Vindictive, with a crew pi 52, swung into the channel, and ran her stem against the east pier in order-to swing the ship athwart the channel. The Vindictive grounded astern, and Would not swing, so the commander ordered all below to come on deck, while he prepared to blow the charges. The crew made their escape in motor-launches, which gallantly ranged alongside the Vindictive to save the crew, despite heavy fire. The gallant rescuers were severely punished, one launch being sunk. The charges went off and the Vindictive settled down. During the raid not a single enemy vessel was sighted. The Vindictive' crew consisted of volunteers drawn from ships of the Dover patrol. At 3.15 o'clock the rescuing motor-launch was picked up by the Warwick, which was Sir Roger Keyes flagship. From it 38 of the crew were taken aboard. One died later. Captain Lynes, reporting on the affair, warmly praises the gallantry -'of all engaged. The sea in the offing could not have been more suitable for small craft. Visibility was good and there was no interference fijojn enemy vessels. The small craft went to their stations with" destroyers in support. The" enemy was, quiet until 1.45 a.m., when he opened a heavy fire. Our star shells showed our smoke screens were progressing. Then the sky, which had hitherto been cloudless, became obscured. A sea fog arose which was so dense that it stopped our air attacks. Even the searchlights were invisible. The fog lasted an hour, after which air attacks were resumed. The enemy's fire, assisted by searchlights, lasted for an hour. One motorlaunch, showing especial gallantry, ranged alongside the Vindictive, taking off an officer and two men who were left behind when the others escaped. Two launches gallantly searched the shore, despite a heavy fire, but found nobody. , MONITORS ESCAPE SHELLS. The retirement began at 2.30 a.m. according to programme, the inshore forces gradually closing on the destroyers. Two hundred shells fell round the British monitors, but there were no hits or casualties. Aircraft which flew over Ostend to-day report .that half the channel is blocked. It is possibly usable by destroyers and submarines, but useless for cruisers. The naval men who participated returned to Dover in the highest spirits. They looked thoroughly worn r;t after a sleepless night, but were thoroughly delighted with the success. They state the programme was carried out admirably. The small craft performed their task magnificently. The smoke screen could not have been better. The Vindictive, striking the harbour, had luck which was denied the Brilliant on the former occasion. It is evident the men behaved splendidly, all being magnificently keen. There were great rejoicings at Dover . when the British raiders returned. Heavy gunfire was heard at one, two, and three o'clock in the morning. Australian and N.Z. and Keuter. LONDON, May 10. The Admiralty reports that the operation designed to close the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge was successfully completed on Friday morning, when the obsolete cruiser Vindictive was sunk between the piers and across the entrance of Ostend Harbour. Since the attack on Zeebrugge on April 23 the Vindictive had been filled with concrete and. fitted as a blockship. Our light forces returned to their base with the loss of a motor-launch, which was damaged, and was sunk by the'Vice-Admiral's orders to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands. Our casualties were light.