THE GERMAN SHIPS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9371, 9 June 1916, Page 5

THE GERMAN SHIPS

SEVENTY-NINE VESSELS SEEN A CAPTAIN’S COUNTIlj Telegraph—Preas Association— Copyrlea • ROTTERDAM, Juno 7. A captain of a'Dutch trawler saw seventy-nine German warships of all classes steaming towards- the scene of Wednesday’s battle. THE ENEMY CASUALTIES. COPENHAGEN, June 6, An unofficial estimate from Kiel eives the German losses m the naval battle at eight hundred killed and four thousand missing, and fourteen hundred wounded. A shipbuilding expert, who, saw the damaged ships, says it will take at least six months to repair them. GERMANS LEARNING THE TRUTH. '■Times" and Sydney "Bun” Benlcee LONDON, June 7. Tho tone of the German press is showing a marked change. There is a subdued reserve, indicating a growiug knowledge of the real extent or tho German losses. A MIDSHIPMAN’S STORY SINKING OF THE QUEIEN MARY. By ToleffrapU—Preaa Association— Copy rrz tl LONDON, Juno A midshipman, a survivor from too Queen Mary, says that a German salvo set the whole quarter-deck afire. The after-guns were thrown out ot action, and apparently the whole turret unseated. A few minutes I* l *® l there was a terrible explosion in the second magazine. The ship was lying on her side, broken amidships, her bow and stern sticking out of the water at an acute angle- The stern was afire and red hot. Ariother explosion blow the whole bow out of the water and threw tho midshipman into the sea Tho magazine aft next exploded, and the vessel sank in a minute. The Tiger, which was steaming behind, passed over the spot. A boat from a destroyer picked up the midshipman. MIDSHIPMEN BRING THE ONSLAUGHT TO PORT. LONDON, June 7. There were 1262 petty officers and men lost aboard the Queen Mary. All the officers of the destroyer Onslaught were killed in the conning-tower, which was wrecked, and the charts were destroyed. Midshipmen and seventeen of tlie crew piloted her out of action and brought the vessel to port. DEPRESSION THROWN OFF ADVERSE COMMENT ON ADMIRALTY’S FIRST REPORT. "Times” and Sydney "Sim” Service* LONDON. June 7. “The Times’s” city editor declares that, owing to the more favourable battle accounts, the early depression has been completely thrown off. Markets are firm, and business is practically equal to that of last Monday, and it is believed even Saturday s small reaction would not have occurred if the first announcement had been differently compiled. . ... The whole press adversely criticise the Admiralty’s first report. The “Evening News” describes it as depressing and apologetic. It had a bad effect here, as well as in France. The “Star” suggests more able management of the Admiralty Publicity Department. It describes the official issue of Colonel Churchill’s statement as a bad blunder. The “Westminster- Gazette” states that the Admiralty’s first chilly announcement enabled the great German bluff to go uncontradicted around the world.

“ADMIRALTY OF ATLANTIC IS - UNCHANGED.” and Sydney “Sun” florrloea LONDON, June 7: The comments in the press of other ■countries indicate com piety . reassurance by the later news. . M. Laneshan. ex-Minister for Marine, writing in the “Petit Parisien,” says the German Fleet was absolutely powerless before the British Fleet. Von Tirpitz had correctly decided to confine the work of the navy to the cowardly submarines. M. Herbette, ill the “Echo da Paris,” says the Germans’ effort to break the blockade was unsuccessful. British bravery and the German flight has strengthened the blockade by sacrifice and victory. In the Russian Admiralty, the opinion is held that the strategic advantage of victory was wrested from the British. The “New York Tribune” says theGermans avoided a general action. The “Admiralty of the Atlantic” remains unchanged. (This is evidently a jibe at the Kaiser’s gratuitous assumption of the title “Admiral of the Atlantic.”! THE KAISER ONJIIS "VICTORY” “BRITISH FLEET BEATEN AT FIRST BLOW.” By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisbl AMSTERDAM, June 7. The Kaiser, aboard a flagship at Kiel, addressed detachments from the vessels which participated in the battle. The Kaiser said: “While my army was conquering enemy after enemy, the fleet waited vainly for a fight. Numerous isolated deeds manifested the heroic spirit of tho navy, but its hour had not struck. “Proposal after proposal was vainly made to bring the enemy into the field. Finallv ‘The Day’ came. The gigantic fleet of . Albion, which since Trafalgar had imposed on the world the ban of sea tyranny, and surrounded herself with the nimbus of invincibility, came into the field. Its Admiral, almost more than anyone, enthusiastically admired the German Fleet. Ho. its brain and leader, leading splendid material, the bravest veteran sailors of tho British Armada, approached our fleet and engaged it. “What happened? The British Fleet was beaten by the first great hammerblow struck, and the nimbus of British World supremacy disappeared. The news rushed round the world like an electric spark, causing unprecedented jubilation wherever German hearts bea' and among our allies. “You have opened a new chapter in the history of the world. The German Fleet defeated a superior British fleet. God Almighty steeled your arms and kept your eyes clear, but I, your supreme War Lord, thank you from the bottom of my heart in the name of tho Fatherland- The Army of Verdun had begun to collapse, and our Allies were driving the Italians from" mountain to mountain; the world was prepared for almost anything, but not a German victory over the British Navy. “A start has been made, and fear will creep into the enemy’s bones. Yon have done this so that Die Fatherland may for all time have a free way on the seas for its industry and strength.” IRRESPONSIBLE CRITICISM GRAVE INJUSTICE TO GALLANT OFFICERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright "Times" and Sydney "Sun'* Service* LONDON, June 7. Tho Press Bureau, in view of the irresponsible criticisms of British Admirals in the battle and of the Admiralty, pending Admiral Jelliooe’s report, deprecates sUch aspersions as inflicting a grave injustice on able and gallant officers charged with the fighting and command of His Majesty’s ships. JAP. COMMANDER LOST ABOARD THE QUEEN MART. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 8, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. The Admiralty announce that Commander Chiusuke Shioomura, of the Japanese Navy, perished aboard the Queen Mary.