LATE WAR NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16115, 25 April 1918, Page 7

LATE WAR NEWS.

ON THE HIGH SEAS. THRILLING STORY OF THE ZEEBRUGGE ATTACK. GERMANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.— -Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received April 25, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 24 Vice-Admiral Keyes states that the dramatic exploit at Zeebruggc ms thrilled the nation. It. recalls the pluckiest of old time cutting out expeditions. . The gun-fire was heard on the British coast during the greater part or the night. Intense excitement prevailed in Dover and Deal when the snips returned and the survivors told their tale. They were. strange-looking objects, many black as niggers, others half naked, owing to the loss of their kits, limped along with limbs roughly bandaged during the hurried escape after the expedition has been completed. The survivors state that they completely surprised the Germans and reached Zcebruggo harbour almost unobserved. AN ENTRY FORCED. The first cruiser to enter rammed a German destroyer which was attempting to slip out at high speed. The. destroyer was cut iu half amidships and sank like a stone. Meanwhile the slmte batteries caught glimpses of the Vindictive and up went the star-shells, making the night like broad daylight. Every battery concentrated its fire on the attackers. There were shells ft all calibres, including 17 inch. The Vindictive, got inside the uv° and was chiefly damaged above uio waterline, owing to the protection from the mole. When the British marine* and sailors landed the Germans, almost with one voice, shouted “It’s Americans; It’s Yankees.” The Germans bolted en masse from the nearest batteries, leaving the guns to the British. DESTROYERS CAUGHT NAPPING. Some British boats hoarded German destroyers anchored in the harbour. Those also were surprised. Some Germans hurried up the gangways wearing nightgowns but ‘‘before they could reach the decks we tapped them on the heads with sticks which we carried in addition to rifles.” The Gorman guns on the decks were still covered with tarpaulins. The sailors and marines on the moles quickly destroyed the guns, while the flame-throwers attacked the sheds and munition stores. Meanwhile the concrete-laden cruisers reached the harbour and were sunk.

ESCAPE OF THE VINDICTIVE. Then the Vindictive picked up the landing parties and tried to leave the harbour. The escorting ships scarcely believed it possible that a vessel so damaged could keep afloat, but the stokers were so energetic that the Vindictive came back throwing ten foot flames from her funnels and in perhaps the fastest time over accomplished. The German batteries fired a thousand shells in the hope of hitting the escorting ships, which did not reply in order not to reveal their whereabouts. LOCK GATE BLOWN UP. The survivors believe that the raid also resulted in the blowing up of the lock gate at the entrance to tho Bruges Canal. The artificial fog screen used was invented by Wing-Commander Frank Brock, son of the well-known fireworks maker, who was killed during the raid on Zeebrugge. The seamen engaged state that two destroyers blew up the Zeebrugge dock gates and they saw the water in the Bruges Canal running out and the ships in tho docks straining at their hawsers. EXPERT OPINION ON THE WORK. Experts think that the Bruges Canal is effectively blocked. The entrance is 508 feet wide and two ships each 300 feet long have been sunk broadside on and the sea water will quickly turn the cement into a solid concrete wall which will take skilled underwater workers with special plants many weeks to remove. A naval correspondent expects lessened shipping losses owing to Ostend and Zeebrugge being temporarily sealed up. British airmen will photograph damage and delay and obstruct the repairs by bombing raids. NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES. TO THE SUCCESSFUL RAIDERS. (Received April 25, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. The newspapers, not merely pay a. tribute to the initiative, resource and daring displayed in the raid, but to tho elaborate preparations, including rehearsals for weeks. The men state that during tho hour they were ashore they were subjected to terrific machine-gun fire, which they returned with interest. A Gallipoli veteran said that, while it lasted, it was much hotter than the Dardanelles landing. When the men returned to the cruiser they found the decks torn up by the enemy fire, aml that few of tho crew had escaped injury. Experts believe that the results are of paramount importance, not merely on account of,the sealing of tho Zeehrugge hornets’ nest, but probably hacause it has a connection with a contemplated greater; opera tioa*

THE ZEEBRUGOE RAID. BEGINNING OF ANTI-SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. (Received April 25, 1.55 p.m.) NEAV YORK .April 24. Nary officials, commenting on the bottling up of Zocbrugge, express the belief that the Allies iia.ro begun an offensive against submarines winch will include the blocking of the German, bases, increasing the mine fields, also new detection devices and the increased utilisation of aircraft. ATLANTIC TRAFFIC. GROWING MUCH BRISKER. (Received April 25, 1.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 24. Seventeen liners from European ports arrived here recently. This is a record since America’s entry into the war. and indicates decreased Üboat efficiency.