CRUISER LYING AT AN ANGLE BETWEEN PIERS.

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

CRUISER LYING AT AN ANGLE BETWEEN PIERS.

PORT NO LONGER REFUGE FOR FLEEING-LIGHT CRAFT. Reuter. (Received 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. It is now disclosed that the previous attempt to block Ostend failed because the enemy had just previously moved a buoy a mile out of position. It is stated that there is no shadow of doubt about the present position of the Vindictive. She lies at an angle of 40 degrees between the piers about 200 yds inside the entrance. This has been photographically confirmed. She does not effectively block the channel, which is 20ft 'wider than her length, but a partial and most serious blockade has been achieved, which will certainly tend to increase under the conditions of the tide and the rapid silt prevailing along this coast. What is very important is that German light craft, when chased by our vessels, will be unable, as hitherto, to rush at full speed to shelter. The small number of British casualties indicates that the enemy was surprised.

It has been ascertained that silt at Zeebrugge is collecting very fast, despite dredging. The blocking cruisers are so placed that any attempt to blow them up is fraught with danger to the neighbouring permanent structures.