JUTLAND ANNIVERSARY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16811, 1 June 1926, Page 4

JUTLAND ANNIVERSARY.

It is ten years ago since the Battle of Jutland. * Visitors to the Waikalo Winter Show on that memorable Saturday, June 3, 1910,'well remember the thrill they experienced when the news first came to hand that the longexpected naval battle had been fought and that the British fleet had emerged victorious. This was folio-wed by a feeling almost of despair, for after the first brief message the succeeding cables told of our losses, and us ship after ship was added to the list it was felt that the victory hail been dearly bought, and there were those who seemed disposed to doubt Lho veracity of the first message. However, events proved that it was indeed a great victory; for if the German fleet was not completely sunk, as some armchair admirals declared it should have been, it was driven back to its fortified haven, and it did not again emerge until its ignominious voyage to Soapa Flow, when it surrendered li; "ic British. 11 was an inglorious end for the navy of the Admiral of the Atlantic. On the morning of May 31, I'JiG, the

German High Sea Fleet-left its anchorage and advanced towards Skagcr Rak, upon what the Germans termed "an enterprise directed northward." At 2..'17 p.m. on that day tho British Battle Cruiser Fleet, under Sir David Bcatty, received reports indicating the presence of enemy vessels, and changed his course to place his force between the encrny and the hitter's base. The cruisers on both sides engaged at long range, and at 3.30 the Baltic Cruiser Fleet sighted the enemy battle cruisers. At 3.48 bolh forces opened fire simultaneously al 18,500 yards range, which decreased to J 1.500 yards as the vessels ran lo the southward. After the action became general, the battle cruiser indefatigable was sunk. Shortly after -i the Fifth Hal lie Squadron (four fast battleships} came info action astern of the cruisers, opening fire on the enemy at a range of 20,000 yards. The Queen Mary was sunk, and about this time twelve British destroyers attacked the enemy anrl were met by fifteen destroyers and a light cruiser. Two German destroyers and the light cruiser were sunk, also two of the British destroyers. A! i.l'2 the enemy's battle fleet was sighted, and the German battleships turned, the action continuing on a northern course. •From 5 to 0 p.m. Sir David Realty drew ahead, gradually turning lo the northeast, keeping the enemy at a range of l-i.OOO yards, which he subsequently reduced* to 12,000 yards, after proceeding at his utmost speed. At 0.25 the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron—the Invincible, Inflexible, and indomitable —under Rear-Admiral Hood, was only 8000 yards from tho enemy's leading ship. ■ The action between the battle fleets lasted intermittently from 6.17 lo 8.20 p.m., between which period the Defence, Black Prince and Warrior, of the First Cruiser Squadron was disabled and sunk. Tho enemy constantly turned away, and by 0 p.m. was entirely out of sight. At daylight on the morning of June 1 the British Fleet cruised to the northward to meet the German Fleet, but it could not be found, and at 1.15 p.m. shaped its course for home. The losses claimed on cither side were as follows: —Three German battleships, a battle cruiser, five light cruisers, seven destroyers, and one submarine sunk; and a battleship and a battle cruiser severely damaged. The British ships put out of action were three uruiscrs, three armoured cruisers, and el-ht destroyers. No battleships or Ij'-bt cruisers were sunk on the British