THE RETURN HOME.

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 5

THE RETURN HOME.

VINDICTIVE'S TREMENDOUS RECEPTION. DETAILS OF THE ACTION. "DASHED FINE ADVENTURE." THROUGH A TERRIFIC FIRE. A RINGING BRITISH CHEER. STRIKES TERROR INTO FRITZ. "WELL DONE, VINDICTIVE." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 10.45 a.m. LONDON, April 25. The ships returning from the raid had a tremendous reception. The Vindictive arrived with her masts gone and her sides all streaked with white where the high-explosive shells had struck. All the participators have been granted special leave. Vice-Admiral Keys had a great reception at Dover.

Further details show that the action at the mole began with a shot from the Vindictive, which waited until the lighthouse's beam came round. The shot destroyed the lighthouse. The British before quitting the mole hoisted the Union Jack, which they left flying.

Two officers, who miraculously escaped from Zeebrugge, graphically describe the raid, praising the conduct of all ranks. They declared ii ws "a dashed fine adventure, carried out with daredevil pluck." After approaching Zeebrugge in a black smoke fog, which extended from Zeebrugge to Ostend, the Huns suddenly discovered the attacks, and ,b, re was no alternative but to go ahead through the smoke. Then We Got Unadulterated Hell.

All the Vindictive's men were,on the deck, and the Germans shelled them incessantly for 20 minutes. The men carried on, notwithstanding the terrific fire. When alongside the mole it was found that only two gangways out of ii were serviceable, the remainder having been shot away. With a ringing cheer, amid cries of "Over you go, Royals," the stunners landed on the first ledge of the mole. They lost heavily in landing from a hail of shells, and then found themselves faced with a drop of 20 feet leading to the second ledge, which it was necessary' to negotiate before coming to grips with the enemy. Heavy rain only made matters worse, but the raiders were undaunted. They lowered rope!& and ladders and swarmed down, while three German destroyers on the further side of the mole kept up a vicious fire at short range. It was necessary to silence these first, and the British Rushed to the Attack with a cheer. The Germans swarmed out to meet the attack, but the cheer seeme'd to strike terror into Fritz, and he bolted. The raiders cleared a space and then dashed on Uie nearest destroyer, lobbing 50 hand-bombs aboard. Loud explosions followed, and the attackers then passed on, leaving her afire and sinking. The raiders formed up in line and proceeded along the mole with bayonets fixed. They charged the crew of a gun ashore, killed a number and scattered the remainder, capturing the gun.

Meanwhile all around there was an incessant din of cannonading and the cries of the wounded. It was ghastly, but the British behaved magnificently. The Vindictive was a target for the concentrated fire of guns in every direction, but she kept up a most gallant fight with the shore batteries until her siren signalled "Withdraw," after the blockships had been sunk. When she returned the poor old Vindictive was a terrible sight. She had already lost three successive crews of the forward gun before the landing was effected, but other gunners Stuck It Like Britishers.

Throughout the raid the Vindictive's captain was fully exposed on the bridge, but he gave his orders with absolute coolness and skilfully manoeuvred the ship seaward. As she steered down the channel homeward bound at daylight, she met Vice-Admiral- Keyes aboard a warship. The Admiral signalled, "Well done Vindictive," and the vessels' crews cheered themselves hoarse in passing. Received April 26. 11..10 a.m. LONDON, April 25. 1 The Vindictive's survivors state that our two submarines got under the viaduct at Zeebrugge, exploding 20 tons of explosives under the shore end, blowing it up completely.

THE EFFECT ON HOLLAND. MAY FORGE DRASTIC GERMAN ACTION. TO SAVE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 26, 12.'j5 p.in WASHINGTON, April 2,".. Officials believe that Holland will not accept the German demands. If the British have* succeeded in bottling up Ostend and Zeebrugge, they believe that the Germans will feel forced to take drastic action towards Holland to save the submarine campaign. BRUGES CANAL COMPLETELY BLOCKED. MONTHS TO CLEAR A PASSAGE. (The Times.) Received April 26, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, April 25. Officers state that the old cruisers were sunk right across the mouth of the Bruges Canal, and it will take months to clear the passage.