LATEST NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1916, Page 5

LATEST NEWS

TERRIBLE DEATH ROLL. CONFIRMED BY ADMIRALTY, Received June 4, 11.5 p.m. London, "June 3. The fears of a terrible death roll are confirmed. The Admiralty's first list is one of officer casualties. All the Queen Mary's were lost, except four midshipmen. All of the Invineiblc's were lost, except Commander Dannrcuther and one lieutenant; all the Indefatigable's, .Defences, and Black Prince's were lost. All the officers of the Warrior were saved, except one. Admiral Percy Scott's eldest son, John, who was a midshipman on the Defence, was drowned. THE SHARK'S GALLANT FIGHT. The survivors of the destroyer Shark state that the ship was torpedoed in the oil tanks and her steering gear was damaged. The helpless vessel was swept by gun fire until only one gun remained, which ■ the commander and two men worked to the last. One of the commander's leg was' blown off; and he went down with the ship. The steamer Vidar reports that she passed the wreck of a German warship with its bow above, water. DISMAY GIVES WAY TO ELATION. SEEKING THE FIGHT. ADMIRALS' LATER REPORTS. Received June 4, 11.5 p.m. • London, June 4. The same agency learns from the Admiralty that Admiral Jellicoe's, and Beatty's latest reports have caused a feeling of elation. They may be summarised as follows: "We went out within the enemy's waters seeking a fight. Our inferior fleet engaged the entire German battle fleet and forced them to return to harbor and abandon any enterprise they may have contemplated." It js widely commented that the London and Berlin communiques have not mentioned the loss of the Elbing. A NAVAL MAN'S STORY. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S SQUADRON 1 ENGAGED. Received June 4, 11.20 p.m. London, June 4. The Star states that a brief story of the battle, is told by a British naval man, who says: "Part of Admiral Beatty's battle cruisers' on Wednesday afternoon -sighted the German' battle fleet, with cruisers and lighter vessels, off the Dogger Bank, presumably making for the English coast. Admiral Beatty engaged the enemy, and Admiral Jellicoe meanwhile set out under cover of the fog and steamed down the Norwegian coast. "Admiral Beatty's squadron was in great danger, the Germans being discovered to be of great strength. Admiral Jellicoe appeared on tho scene and a battle on a gigantic scale enßued." The estimates of the Germans losses are varying and indefinite, but are all high. Zeppelins are said to have played a serious part in tho British casualties. MR. CHURCHILL'S VIEWS. COMPARISONS OF LOSSES. Received June 4, 11.10 p.m. London, June 4. Mr. Churchill, commenting on the battle, said: "I had an opportunity'of examining the Admirals' reports, and considering the information in the Admiralty's possession, and the following facts seem to me to bo established. Firstly, that the naval supremacy of tho British fleet in capital ships depends Upon the, super-dreadnoughts that are armed with 13.5-in. and 15-in. guns. These are sufficient by themselves to maintain control of the seas, being vital units of the first rank. The Queen Mary alone of this class was lost, and it appears undoubted that the Germans lost at least one comparable ship. If this was the Lutzow or Derfl'linger that vessel would be a heavier loss to them actually and relatively than the Queen Mary to us. "Secondly, coming to vessels of the second order the Indefatigable and Invincible were entirely different from super-dreadnoughts, and though valuable did not rank as primary units at the present time, and the dreadnought battleship Wostfalen, type would be a loss comparably to either. '"We have very large superiority in the third order of ship\, to which* the Black Prince, Defence, and Warrior belong. The sinking of tho brand new light cruisers Wiesbaden and Elbing is a more grievious loss to the enemy than all those vessels. "The most serious feature is the loss of the splendid and irreplaceable crows. The defrayers' casualties are about equal, and we being the stronger are the gainers. Our flotillas had long sought such opportunities. "Thirdly, our margin of superiority is in no way impaired. Tho clespatch of troops to the Continent should continue with the utmost freedom, as the battered German fleet is an additional security to us, "Fourthly, the hazy weather, tho fall of night, and the retreat of the enemy alone frustrated the persevering efforts of those brilliant commanders, Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty, to force a final decision. Although it was impossible to compel the German main fleet to accept battle, the conclusions reached at are of extreme importance. .When all classes of vessels on both sides now meet we know that there will be no surprises or unforseen features. An accurate measure can be now taken of tha strength of the enemy, and the enemy's definite inferiority has freed any elements of uncertainty. The fast division of the Queen Elizabeth's class scorns vindicated, and all hopes are reposed In ,tnem. "I cannot record these facts without expressing profound sympathy with those who have lost their dearest "ones. Many of the most gallant sailors our island ever nurtured and some splendid officers have gone, but they died as they would have wished, in a blue water action which, as studied, will more and more be found to be a definite step towards complete victory,

FURTHER PARTICULARS..

THE WARSPITE SAFE. Received June 4, 11.10 jkbl London, June *J '*■ . The Admiralty denies the Oenoii '; statement that the Warspke *M Acasta were lost. Both ships returned' to harbor. ; The list of the eight destroyers lost ■, is completed by the names of thft Nomad, tlic Nestor, and the Shark. A statement that a submarine tof ■ pedoed three German merchantman without warning is officially described •• being without foundation. There are distressing scenes at DUT' English ports. At least six of the loft , ships were commissioned at Ports'* mouth, to which town about three thou* sand men aboard them belonged. One account states that when the Qtu mans divided forces the "British squadron got between the enemy battle fleet* and the smaller vessels, forcing the latter into a German minefield when tit* majority were lost. QUICK WORK. FLEET REFITS IN A FEW HOOHty Received June 4, 11.5 p.m. London, June 4. " The British Admiralty has informal the American Associated Press that the " entire British battle fleet, except th# Marlborongh, coaled and refitted for •» service within a few hours of their xe» turn to harbor. i ! THE KING'S SORROW. ', I V ( MESSAGE FROM ADMIRAL JELLICOE. Received June 5, 12.46 p.m. London, June It On the occasion of his birthday, Mi < miral Jellicoe sent the King the Grand Fleet's humble duty and good wiihes, with the hope and determination that through victory the blessings of peace may be restored. The King replied: "I am deeply touched Dy the message you sent me on behalf of the Grand Fleet. It reaches me on the morrow of a battle which has once more displayed the splendid gallantry of the officers and men under your command. I mourn the lots of brave men, many of them personal friends of ray own, who have fallen in* their country's cause. Yet even more , ,1 regret that the German High Seat Fleet, in spite of the heavy lowa, were enabled by the misty weather t* evade the full consequences of an en» counter which they always professed (*> desire, but for which, when .the oppom tunity arrived, they showed no inclina* ■ tion. Though the enemy's retirement immediately after the opening of general engagement robbed us of the opportunity of gaining a decisive victory, tha events of last Wednesday amply Justify my confidence in the valor and mdeaßJf of the fleets under your command." NO NEED FOR PESSIMISM, FURTHER PRESS COMMENT, 'jReecived June 5, 12.43 p.m. London, June 4, "' The Pall Mall Gazette points out tha*'', the subdued tone of earlier press oom«->> ment on the battle was due to tU'tflf'-V sence of Admiral Jellicoe's second oomM '» munique, which was issued ' after daeV ' o'clock in the morning. The paper addst! "When both are compared with the Oew ■ man version there is no ground for de« Jj pression respecting the general situation." The Oberver and Weekly Despatch dw ■' mand Lord Fisher's return. THE QUEEN MARY. " BLOWN UP BY GUNFIRE SINKS IN TWO MINUTES Received June 5, 12,50 a.m. ' ; London, June 4V - i The Queen Mary was sunk by gun- : ■ fire, which capital ships concentrated upon her magazine. This exploded with 4 terrific force, her forepart was blown .1 away almost bodily, and she sank in ' two minutes. ~' A VICTORY CLAIMED. TWO ADMIRALS LOST.\ Wellington, Last Night. ''.' The High Commissioner reports: London June :t, 11.50 li.ii).: The King to-d • .nt a touching mes- '! sage to Admiral . dlieoe and the Grand ' Fleet, mourning rlic loss of brave men ,' and many personal friends, and ra-, '■ grctting that the German High Seas ■, Fleet, aided by misty weather, evaded \ the full consequences' of the encounter '■ they professed to desire, and robbing us ■•; of a decisive victory. Wednesday's .' events justify our confidence in the valor >'i and efficiency of the fleets. Add the names of the Nomad and the > Nestor to tl le list of British destroyera. ,' lost. , .; All officers were lost on the Queen - \ Mary save four midshipmen; all on the : Invincible, save the commander and four ':• juniors; and all aboard the Indefatig-'"j able, Defence, and Black Prince were •< lost. All tho Warrior's officers wera ■". saved. Admirals Hood and Arbuthnot wer» '. lost. ' J Mr. Winston Churchill, interviewed, j argued that it is a British victory, and ,\ Admiral Beatty makes the same claim, >a TERRIBLE TOLL OF •"3 OFFICERS. i. J HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPOBT. -jl Wellington, Yesterday. ■ .p The High Commlsisoner reports, £om<4| don, June 3, 5.35 p.m. • J The Admiralty reports that all ofileewf'i wero lost on the Queen Mary, excenfc'J four midshipmen; all on the Invi^laVf except five; all on the Defence excapl? one; and all on the Black Prince. <g| All on the Warrior, except one. ira(i|j saved. .■' ADMIRAL BEATTY SAFE, * | Admiral Beatty i. -*. .^ lft Mfjjb lieved, \in>|nnod- ' """' - "'lll