THE HELIGOLAND ENCOUNTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 177, 1 September 1914, Page 5

THE HELIGOLAND ENCOUNTER.

SUBMARINES GOOD WORK. ARKTHFSA PLAYS PRINCIPAL PART. •The High Commissioner reports:— 1 LONDON, Afigust .Tl. The Admiralty, -reports that in the action on the 28th, off' Heligoland, the light cruiser Arethusa, and not the Amethyst, played the principal part. The principle of'the operations was a scooping movement by a strong force of destroyers headed by the Arethusa, to cut the German light craft from its home, and engage it at leisure in the open sea with the battle-cruiser squadron when the opportunity occurred. Intercepted German signals confirm the sinking of a third German cruiser, the Ariadne. British destroyers exposed themselves to considerable risk in saving German sailors. British officers vouch for it as a fact that they observed German officers shooting their ®wu men in the water. The complements of five German vessels known to be sunk numbered twelve hundred, all of whom, with the exception of 330, perished. The total British casualties were (59. * ■ The success of the operation was" due to the i uformation brought to the Admiralty by submarine officers. HOW THE FIGHT WENT ON. THREE THOUSAND YARDS RANGE ANOTHER GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION LONDON, August 31. ' The, Bureau. haa issued, a , state - meut about the Heligoland battle. The Arethusa was only .commissioned a few days before the war, as an emergency ship. The officers and crew did hot know each other. The fight indicated ! the fighting qualities of the Arethusa class of light, very fast cruisers of 3750 tons, of which a large number will join the Fleet in* the next; few months. Two German cruisers first attacked the Arethusa and the fight -lasted thirty-five minutes at a range of three thousand yards. The Arethusa was damaged, but drove off the Germans, < one of which she seriously injured with! her two six-inch guns. Later, on in the morning the Arethusa engaged two other vessels encountered in the confused fight, in company with the Fearless and :< the First Light Cruiser Squadron. During the fighting, the Arethusa assisted in the sinking \)f the. Maintz. Her speed was reduced to ten knots, and many of her small guns were disabled. At one o'clock she was about to be attacked by two other cruisers of the Town class, whtm the battle-cruiser squadron opportuneli- arrived and sank the Arethusa '■&-:, new antagonists. Only two German destroyers were actually se.en sinking, but most of the eighteen or - twenty boats rounded up were well punished, and only saved themselves by a scattered flight. The superior gunpower and strength of the British, destroyers, ship for ship, was conclusively demonstrated. The Laurel and Liberty were knocked about in the process. . The British destroyers exposed them-1 selves to considerable risk in endeavouring to save.as many drowning Gernians \ as possible. • The destroyer. Defender was picking up wounded when she was driven off; by a German cruiser, and obliged to leave two boats,' crews behind. , Fortunately, they were rescued by submarines. As it was! impossible to take the thirty German, survivors aboard the submai'ines they Were allowed to go in the boats. All the British ships injured will bg, fit for service in a week or ten days.