The Daily Missoulian., 1914-08-31
MOSQUITO FLEET
PLAYS NOBLE PART
Continued From Page Omen

without Significance and as All occur
renee which cannot affect tho general
situation. The fighting took place APP
parently within range OF the Heligo-
land forts, which however, were unable
to use their guns owing to the thick
weather."
An official statement issue tonight
describing the action between the
British and German warships of
lIIeligoland says:
How They Did It
"The principle of operation was d
scouting movement by a strong force
of destroyers to cut off tho German
light craft from home and engage
them at leisure in the open sea-
| After briefly describing the sinking
of three German cruisers the Mainz,
Coelen and Ariadne-the statement
continues
Although only two or the enemy's
destroyers were actually observed to
sink. most of the other Is or 20 boats
rounded up and attacked were well
punished and only saved themselves
by scattered flight.
British Ships Superior
"The superior gun power and
strength of the British destroyers ship
for, ship, was conclusively demonstrate
ed. The destrpyefs themselves did
rot hesitate to engage the enemy's
cruisers, both with guns and ttorpe-
does, with 1ardihood, and two of them
got knocked about in the process.
Intercepted German signals anf
other Information from German
sources confirms the report of Ad-
miral Beatty as to the sinking of the
third German cruiser, which now ap-
pears to have been the Ariadne. The
British destroyers exposed themselves
to considerable risk in endeavoring K
save as many as possible of the Ger
man crews. British officers present
Vouch for the fact that German Of
ficers were firing at their own mer
in the water with pistols and that sew.
eral were shot before their eyes.
.ITnder these peculiar circumstances
destroyer was actually picking III
wounded with her boats when she wai
driven off BY the approach Of another
German cruiser and, had to leave tive
Of her boats containing one officer ant
nine men behind. 1T Vas feared thai
these would be made prisoners. bu,
happily d Submarine arrived ant
brought the British party home.
Liberty Hit Hard
+ The Liberty, one Of the British de
stroyers. was hit by n shell whicl
shattered her mast and tore ava,
part Of her bridge first of all, anG
then sinasted her searchlights ant
killed her commander, Lieutenant
Commander Barteliot, and William
Butcher, his signal man.
Accounts of the battle say n was
perfect III execution as well as III plan
Led at dawn in fun detachment thu
destroyers crept within the German
lines between Heligoland ana the
German coast An 1eropiane sighted
them first and gave the signal toS The
Germans whose destroyers then earn,
out. The British destroyers iured tht
Germans I'd the open sea where otflel
destroyers were waiting, spread out ii
fan shape. ss
Enter tho Cruiser.
s ~ +
a small engagement followed ant
then German cruisers came out. The
|. British light cruiser Arethusa, aftel
q sighting. shot, got her range splen-
didly and hit the foremost gun Of ons
OF the German cruisers; demolishina
it.
The Arethnsa then fired q few
broadsides at the enemy. Her practice
was excellent. She hit German
cruiser. which af once burst int
smoke and flame, but soon afterwart
a German shot did some damage Il
the engine room or the Arethusn.
! The destroyers Liberty and I.aerte,