THE JUTLAND BATTLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 944, 19 February 1917, Page 8

THE JUTLAND BATTLE.

FATE OF THE LUTZOW. GERMAN SEAMAN'S STORY. Australian and X.Z. Cabin Association. AMSTERDAM, February 17. The "Tclegraaf" publishes a remarkable narrative told by a German seaman who won the Iron Cross at the Battle of Jutland, and afterwards deserted "from the German Navy owing to bad food. The man states that he was on board the battle-cruiser Lutzow, which had a crew of 1000, of which 1000 were saved. Three hundred wounded men were drowned when the admiral ordered the Lutzow to be sunk to prevent her falling into the hands of the British. Describing the battle, the seaman slates that the Lutzow was torpedoed at 8 o'clock in the evening. Many of the crew were killed or wounded by the first explosion. Later the warship received four hits from loin shells, and her speed was reduced to three miles an hour. A thousand men were taken olf by four destroyers at 3 o'clock in the morning, when live English destroyers and two small cruisers were threatening the Lutzow. One rescuing destroyer was sunk, and finally another destroyer was torpedoed. The Lutzow sank in a few minutes, with 300 wounded, who were sacrificed to prevent the enemy from capturing the vessel. The English closed in upon the sinking Lutzow, enabling the three destroyers to reach Wilhelmshaven. Many German ships, severely damaged, proceeded homewards, and have since been repaired.

The same German seaman states that the" German dockyards arc now exclusively constructing submarines and large cruisers; but the Hindenburg and Baden arc completed ami will enter upon active service in March; also a new Emden and Karlsruhe. It is estimated thai Germany has 2(10 submarines on active service out of a total of (i'.O. Mosl of these submarines are not expected to return from cruises. More submarines have been lost than any Germans have dared to admit. The crews are receiving only six weeks' training, and many accidents occur during trials.