THE NAVAL RAID

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 5

THE NAVAL RAID

ENEMY COMPLETELY SURPRISED

SOME DETAILS BY SURVIVORS.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 24.

Vice-Admiral Keyes’s dramatic exploit has thrilled the nation. It recalls the pluckiest of the old-time cut-ting-out expeditions. The gunfire was heard on the British coast during the greater part of the night. There was imeuso excitement .at Dover and Deal when the ships returned, and the survivors- told choir tale. They were strange-looking objects. Many were black as niggers; ottters, hail-naked, owing to the loss of their kits, limping along, their limbs having been roughly bandaged during the hurried escape after tho expedition had been completed. "•■Survivors state that they completely ■surprised tho Germans’.’The expedition reached Zcehruggo harbour almost unobserved, though the first cruiser to enter rammed a German destroyer, which was attempting to slip out at high speed. The .destroyer was cut ■ amidships, and sank , like a stone. ./Meanwhile,’ the ' shore batteries caught a glimpse of the Vindictive, ■ and sent up star shells, making the ■ night appear as broad daylight. Every battery concentrated its .tiro on the ■ attackers. The shells wore of all •calibres, including 17-inch. The Vinidictive got inside tho mole, and she was chiefly damaged above the ..waterline, owing to the protection from the mole. ‘ _ , .When the'British .marines, and sailors landed, the Gutmans,.-with almost ono voice, shouted; .. “dt.’s, the Amori-. cans! .It’s the Yankees!” ; '.The. Germans bolted en masse from the nearest batteries,’leaving the guns to the British. Some., of .tho .(British boats boarded the German destroyers . anchored in .the harbour.. These were also surprised. Some of the Germans hurried up the, gangways wearing their nightgowns. , Beforfe they could reach the decks, they were tapped on tthe heads with stout sticks, which the inien ; carried jn addition to their rifles.; Tho German guns ,on the decks were still covorcd by tarpaulins. The sailors arid marines on theriioles quickly destroyed the gun's, while’ the flame-throwjrs attacked -the sheds and ■munition stores. Meanwhile, the laden cruisers reached ■ the -harbour, and wore sunk. ■ Then the Vindictive picked up the landing- parties and tried to leave the harbour. Tho escorting ships scarcely believed it was possible for a vessel so damaged to keep afloat. The stokers were so energetic that the Vindictive came back throwing 10ft flames from her funnels, and perhaps in the fastest time she ever accomplished. Tho German land batteries fired thousands of shells, inr the hope of hitting 'tho escorting ships, which did riot reply, in order not to reveal their whereabouts. Some of the survivors believed the raid also resulted in the blowing up of the lock-gates at the entrance to the Bruges 1 Canal. The artificial fog screen used was invented by Wing-Commander Frank Brock, a son of the well-known’ fireworks maker, who was killed during the raid bn Zeobrugge. zeebruggeTocklgates blown' UP. Published in "Tfio Times.’' LONDON, April 24. Some of tho seamen engaged in the raid state that two destroyers blew Up the Zcebrugge look-gates. They saw the water in Bruges Canal running out,' and the ships at the docks wore straining at their hawsers. Experts think the Bruges Canal has been effectively blocked. The entrance is 508 feet wide, and two ships of 300 feet each wore sunk broadside on. Tho seawater trill quickly turn the cement into a solid concrete wall, taking skilled underwater workers with special plants many weeks to remove. The naval correspondent of “The, Times”, expects lessened shipping losses, as Ostond and Zeehruggo are temporarily sealed up. British, airmen will photograph tho damage, and delay and obstruct repairs by bombing raids. sußvivo^rTroßY Aons-alian and JT.Z.riaMe Assoels (Received April 25, 7.15 p.ni.l LONDON, April 24. Participators in tho raid state that tho concrete-laden, ships, when anchored at tho entrance to the harbour, . swung round .vnd: sank within twentythroo minutes of being anchored. . Other survivors state that before destroying tho guns on the mole tho landing party turned them against the enemy’s fortifications. The Vindictive left a number of men on ilia mole. Some of those were subsequently taken off by patrol boats, and launches. Others i ernairied and completed the task of destruction, knowing " they would be killed or taken prisoner. •’■ ’ " Tho British destroyer which has been reported as lost received a salvo of guns in tho engine room; dashed to-' wards shore in a sinking condition, arid wa: ultimately beached. Another destroyer took off the survivors and then blew up the stranded (vessel. There are conflictinog stories of enemy losses. Some of the survivors state tha in addition to a destroyer rammed two destroyers sunk ill the harbour, ono was sunk alongside the mole. Other swallei 1 craft,.including submarines, are reported to liavo been sunk.

ZEEBRUGGE HORNETS’ NEST SEALED

. Keuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, April 24. The newspapers' do not merely pay a tribute to the initiative, resource, and daring displayed in the raid, but also to . the elaborate preparations, which included rehearsasls for weeks. The men state that they were an hour ashore, and were subjected to terrific machine-gun fire, which they returned with interest. A Gallipoli veteran said that while it lasted it was much hotter than the Dardanelles landing. When the men returned to their cruiser they found her decks torn up by the enemy fire, and that few of the crew had escaped injury. Experts believe that the results will be of paramount importance, not merely in sealing the Zeebrugge hornets’ nest, but probably because of its connection * with a contemplated greater operation. OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE SUBMARINES. WASHINGTON, April 24. Navy men are overjoyed over the Ostend and Zeebrugge raid, which is taken as indicating the possibility of a naval initiative by the Allies, Navy officials, commenting on the bottling-up of Zeebrugge, believe that that. the Allies hare begun an offensive against submarines which will include the blocking of German ' bases and increasing the minefields They also believe that new detection devices will bo used, and that an increased use -will be made of aircraft. PRQMOTIONJIF OFFICERS EFFECTIVE WORK DEMONSTRATED. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Aean. and Renter. (Received April 25, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. The Press Bureau states > that ViceAdmiral Keyes has been promoted to Commander of the Bath, in recognition of his services at Zeebrugge. Commander Carpenter, of the Vindictive, has been promoted to he captain. The Admiralty is following up yesterday’s operations. Aircraft carried out observations and bomb attack. Owning to clouds the machines descended' to 60 feet and observed a clear break .of " 20. yards in the side of the inner :end of the Zeebrugge mole. A sunken object was seen lying between the piers at Ostnd’ blocking the greater part of the fairway. Numerous bombs were dropped on objectives on shore GERMAN VERSjON OF EXPLOIT Ao». and N.Z, Cable A«an. and Renter. (Received April 25, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. A German official message, referring to the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend on the 23rd, says: The enterprise, which was crucerved on a large scale and planned regardless of sacrifice, was frustrated. Small cruisers were escorted by numerous destroyers and motor boats, and after a violent bombardment they pushed forward under a vdi 1 of artificial fog near Ostend and Zeebrugge to quite near the coast with the intention of destroying the locks and harbour work. Only forty marines got on the mole. These fell into our hands—come alive, some dead. Both parties fought on the narrow high wall with the utmost fierceness. The Gorman message adds: The Intrepid and Sirius and two other vessels of similar construction were sunk close to the coast, while three destroyers and a considerable number of torpedo. boats were also sunk by our artillery firo. Only a few of the crews could bo saved. Beyond the damage done to the mole by a torpedo the harbour works and coast batteries are uninjured. One of our torpedo boats suffered slight damage. Our casualties are slight.