THE NAVAL RAID ON FLANDERS COAST

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13752, 27 April 1918, Page 5

THE NAVAL RAID ON FLANDERS COAST

GERMANS CLAIM THAT OPERATIONS WILL NOT IMPEDE THEIR ACTIVITIES. (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) Received April 26, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, April 25. A Oerman official message states that the naval warfare operating from the Flanders coast will not be disturbed by the British attacks on Ostend and Zeebrugge on Tuesday. DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS DISCLOSE MANY INSPIRING INCIDENTS. CALMNESS AND GALLANTRY OF THE COMMANDER OF THE VINDICTIVE. HOW THE SUBMARINE BLEW UP THE VIADUCT. CAPTAIN FRYATT'S OLD STEAMER TORPEDOED. (United Press Association.) Received April 2G, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, April 25. Details of (he raid disclose many inspiring h-cldents. An officer said that some of the landing paiiy were satisfied when the job was done, but others with their blood up wanted to go to the mainland and fight the German batteries. All testify to the gallantry of the commander of the Vindictive. Soon after the German batteries opened fire the Vindictive's bridge was blown away with everybody thereon except the comfander, who continued to navigate the ship with the greatest calmness. Enco iiiuins are lavished on the crewpf the submarine, which was blown up under the viaduct. An officer on the motor-ooat accompanying the submarine said the submarine attacked the outer side of the mole. The Germans apparently thought she had lost her way, and they sent up star-shells, assisting her to reach her goal. Those aboard saw 200 Germans dancing on the bridge connecting the mole and the shore, thinking they were going to entrap the submarine, when it was exploded beneath the bridge. One could imagine the damage from the fact that some time afterwards fragments of debris and Huns continued falling on us. As a destroyer then turned her searchlight on us we torpedoed and sank her. Another motor-boat officer said his boat torpedoed a destroyer alongside tin: wharf, and a second destroyer was torpedoed by another boat. A third was rammed and sunk. His boat also torpedoed Captain Fryatt's old steamer, the Brussels, which the Germans had been using as a torpedo training school. The crews of the blockships stayed aboard till they were almost down to the waterllne. Then they scrambled aboard the motor-boats and returned to their ships—just in time, as the vessels touched the boom as they left. ZEEBRUGGE MOLE NOW ENTIRELY SEPARATED FROM THE SHORE. GERMAN LOSSES UNDOUBTEDLY HEAVY. GREATEST CONSTERNATION AND MORAL EFFECT IN GERMANY. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received April 26, 9 p.m. AMSTERDAM. April 25. The Te'egraaf's frontier correspondent states that Zcebrugge mole fifnow entirely separated from the shore, the breach being at least 25 yards. The breach is near the coasl proving that, the submarine, despite net's and oilier obstructions, penetrated far into the harbour. On the shore side lies the wreck of a two-funnelled torpedo-boat. The German losses were undoubtedly great. The entire garrison was called up, and the blowing of sirens and the ringing of bells frightened the inhabitants, who lied. The raid created the greatest consternation and lias caused a big moral effect in Gennanv. ENEMY SUBMARINES WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER EXIT. CHANCE OF WIND INTERFERES WITH OPERATIONS AT OSTEND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received April 26, 11.20 p.m. LONDON, April 26. Naval experts believe that the entrance to the Bruges Cannl is effectively blocked, compelling the enemy submarines to find au exit by the Ostend Canal. Although this will bring the U-boats nearer the entrance to the Channel, it will give the navy a greater chance of dealing with them. An inopportune change of wind upset the operations off Ostend, dispersing the smoke screen and giving the enemy an opportunity of destroying the means previously devised: to enable the block ships to make the entrance to the Canal.