NAVAL BATTLE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11718, 7 June 1916, Page 1

NAVAL BATTLE

FURTHER ACCOUNTS. " ARE WE DOWNHEARTED?" Times " a.nd Sydney " Sun " Services. (Received June 7, 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. " The Times " correspondent at Edinburgh states that three trains passed filled with cheering bluejackets, a torn and stained naval ensign -waving from a ■window. A seaman shouted: " Are we downhearted?" and a defiant cry of "No" arose from the assembled crowd as the trains stopped. The bluejackets' caps revealed the survivors. The Warrior's sailors would) not hear a word about a reverse. They said that the Tiger sank six destroyers and the Warrior sank two, the light cruisers and destroyers firing at a range of 5000 yards at six o'clock, and every shot weut home. TITANS AT GRIPS. The correspondent says that the Germans adopted concentrated fire to the full might of the German fleet, and directed this alternately at tho Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible and Defence. The Qneen Mary blew up with an appalling roar, a shell reaching the magazines. Tho survivors of the ill-fated, ship were four midshipmen and a few men. The Indefatigable blew ut> with thfc / same dreadful suddenness. There was no quarter, and the guns fought until destroyed. The ship sank with tho flag flying proudly. Before Sir John Jellicoe arrived Admiral Beatty's squadron sank a battlecruiser and other ships. The Warrior had a fierce half-hour's fighting, engaging the enemy at thirteen thousand yards, rapidly lessening the distance until six German ships were making hex a target. Tho Warspito came to her assistance and screened the crow to some extent. At six o'clock, when tho enemy were preparing to run. the Warrior dropped out of the battle badly holed below tho water-line. The engines were useless, though the . big guns were intact. A SEAMAN'S ACCOUNT. A seaman describing tho battle said: "For five hours ive were at it hammer and tongs. Most, of the fighting was done at a. range of nine thousand yards and was deadly. The Germans outnumbered us. and they had also the benefit of position for a good part of the battle. The sun mad© it, difficult to sight the guns, and while their ships could see us. we cculd hardly see them. Shells hailed rouud us. some hitting, some doin? no damage, gun? were put out of action, and several badly dented tho armour without, breaking it. Gas shells sent out poison gas. densely clouding rh« ntmcsphere." i A THEORY. " The Times " Ef.it Coast correspondent s;;y> thai nnuing many theories current here the likeliest seems to be th:;i Admiral 15cany, finding tho Ger:non fleet out. trkd to cut it off from i: o l.pte and bo'd it until the battlo ft-s-.z arrived. T'u;_-. ai-urning that tho ft:ex. encountered the Germans on the north e.oost of Jutland, it got between them ; nd 'he -v,-stern shores, and this would explain tho repeated utatenient that our gunners were handicapped by fighting with the sun in their eyes.