AN EYE-WITNESS NARRATIVE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14195, 6 June 1916, Page 5

AN EYE-WITNESS NARRATIVE.

NOT A SAILORS' BATTLE

A THRILLING AND AWFUL

EXPERIENCE.

(Received June 5. 10 p.m.) London, June 5. The "Scotsman" publishes an eyewitness's narrative.

• He says:—"We fought what in its way was a great fight, although it was not a sailors' battle. Both the grand and the terrible were present in an almost overwhelming degree. As a spectacle it was magnificent and awful, how awful it was impossible to say until the fever of action surging through every nerve and fibre of the body had subsided, and until the guns were silenced and the great ships, some battle-scarred, others absolutely untouched, commenced to plough their way home. I shall never forget the thrill that passed through- the ships of the Grand Fleet when the inspiring message came from the Battle-cruiser Squadron: 'I am engaged with heavy forces of the enemy.' The effect was electrical. Eagerness, siippressed excitement, and absolute confidence could be read as the men went about their duties with the vigour born of new hope. The great ships swung into battle order, doing all the speed they knew, and raced for the enemy Avaters, the men at their stations grim and silent and the guns pointing menacingly ahead. j "It A\as a blessed relief when our guns gave tongue, and the ships went I into action as if in manoeuvres. From every yard-arm the White Ensign flew. We passed a long line of German ships some miles away, and fired broadside after broadside. The air Avas heavy with the masses of smoke, black, yellow and green, hiding sometimes a friend and sometimes a foe.

"The enemy ships were firing very fast, but their shooting was decidedly erratic. Repeatedly salvoes of shells fell far short of their mark, and wero followed by others which screamed past high in the air.

"I watched the ' Iron Duke swing through the seas, letting off broadside after broadside, wicked tongues of flame leaping through. clouds of smoke tiue to the battle. It was stunning aiid stupendous. As hundreds of tlie heaviest guns in the world gave tongue simultaneously,'.'great masses of water rose like water spouts mast high. Now and then the enemy shells found their mark. One of the many sad Rights was that of a destroyer half a mile away badly hit; She sent a message: 'Am in a sinking condition,' but there was no help. .

"It was impossible to see what was happening to the enemy, but occasionally the wind lifted the, smoke cloud. At one time I saw two, vessels red with fire, and a fellow-officer remarked, •Those beggars are done for, anyhow.' I YVe knew our own losses with some exactness, but even,these were tracer ■tain. "At one time I thought the Lion |.was lost, as she failed to answer the. call. It transpired that her wireless jhad been destroyed.

"With dusk came the ■.mosquito crafts' opportunity, and both sides used it to, the full." One of o^^r destroyers dashed for the enemy ships and loosed her torpedo tubes with deadly effect against a German battlesliip. The vessel bank, and the dostroyer raced to safety. The commander and his officers on the bridge were indulging in congratulations when a shell hit the bridge with dreadful effect.

"It was curious to note the effect on the sea. J.t was calm ab the beginning, but the water soon looked as if a gale was blowing, so great was the turmoil caused by the ploughing of the leviathan ships. The water also seemed to be stiff with fish killed by the bursting shells, thousands floating listksslv everywhere."'

CABLE NEWS.

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