JUTLAND FROM GERMAN VIEWPOINT

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 1872, 13 February 1920, Page 7

JUTLAND FROM GERMAN VIEWPOINT

BATTLE WAS RESULT OF ACCIDENT ENCOUNTER WITH BRITISH FLEET NOT ANTICIPATED NIGHT SAVED ENEMY FROM COMPLETE ANNIHILATION By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & N.Z.) (Bee. February 13, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 11. Commander von Haase. senior gunnery officer of the battlecruiser Derfflinger, has published a book in Berlin, giving details of the Jutland Battle, which, he says, was entirely fortuitous. The High Seas Fleet went to sea to cover a big raid on British shipping, and unexpectedly found the Grand Fleet at sea. The Derfflinger concentrated her fire on the Queen Mary. When the range opened to 19,000 yards, the German guns were outranged, but, when the fleets closed in, the Indefatigable was blown up by the fire of the von der Tann. The writer pays a high tribute to the Queen Mary's superb gunnery. She was firing full salvoes at a fabulous speed till she blew up under the Derfflinger's salvoes. Then four battle-cruisers of the Queen Elizabeth type arrived. Their 15-inch guns had a tremendous effect. These four vessels at one time engaged the whole German Fleet. Twilight found the Germans semi-circled by the British, so the battle-cruisers and destroyers were ordered to charge the enemy, and to cover the retreat of the rest of the fleet. The Derfflinger, which was leading the battle-cruisers, met a veritable tornado of fire. Shell after shell crashed into the Derfflinger. and the flames penetrated the ammunition rooms. The cartridges only burned, and did not explode, which proved the ship's salvation. Darkness saved the battle-cruisers from absolute destruction. Commander von Haase adds:— There was great relief when, next morning, the enemy was not sighted, for, with our battered ships, and our ammunition almost gone, we could not have fought victoriously. The Derfflinger alone had 200 killed.