TRIBUTE TO BRITISH GALLANTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16741, 8 July 1916, Page 10

TRIBUTE TO BRITISH GALLANTRY.

0 F PTC El IS C (All >LI.M EN TED. LONDON, July 6. Admiral Jellicoe concludes his despatch : " 1 deeply regret the hn-s of the Queen Mary and the ships ahoady reported, and the deaths of such officers as Rear-admirals Arbuthnot. and .Hood and six captains— K'Owcrly, i'roitse, Cay, Bonham, Wintour, and Ellis. They led officers and men who were equally gallant, and whose deaths are mourned by their comrades. They fell doing their duty nobly, and met the kind of death which they would be the first to desire. j "The enemy fought with the gallantry | which we expected of them; We particu- | larly admired the conduct of a disabled | light cruiser which -passed down the Bri-j | tLs'.i line shortly after deployment under heavy fire, and which returned the fire j bv tho only gun she had left in action. j " The conduct of our officers and men was beyond praise. They were cool and determined, showing a. cheeriness which wo\ild have carried them anything. The heroism of the wounded was the admiration of all. " I cannot adequately express the pride with, which the spirit of the fleet filled rne. The work of tho engine-room depart- | ment was excellent, and failures in material were conspicuous by their absence. " I would draw special attention to Admiral Burney's and Admiral Evan Thomas's services. Admiral Beattv again showed his fine qualities of gallant leadership, firm determination, and correct strategic insight. He appreciated all situations immediately. I fully sympathise with his feelings when the evening mist and failing light robbed our fleet of that complete victory for which he manoeuvred and for which his ships had striven so hard. Vice-, admiral Madden's work as Chief of Staff was of inestimable value." Sir David Beatty's report, appended to tho above, adds: "It is impossible to give a definite statement as to the losses inflicted oti the enemy, but th'ey "were considerably greater than we sustained, despite their numerical superiority. Our control and drill remained undisturbed throughout, and our superiority to the enemy in this respect was .very marked. Their efficiency became rapidly reduced under punishment, while ours was maintained throughout. "The behaviour of our ships' companies under the terrible conditions of a modern sea battle was magnificent. As an instance, John Travers, aged 16, aboard the Chester, was mortally wounded early in the action, yet he remained alone at a most exposed post, waiting his orders, with the gun's crew lying dead all around liim." !