Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-27
TWO WARSHTPS LOST
BY AIDING DROWNING
Sinking of Hogue and Cressy
Occurred Because Stood By
Shattered Aboukir.
VIOLATED NAVAL WAR RULE
Admiralty Issues Statement Dis
closing that ships stopped and
Thus Made Excellent
Targets.

LONDON. Sept. 8-The facts con-
corning the sinking OF the British oruis-
ers Aboukir, Hogue and Greasy by a
German submarine or submarines, in the
North Sea with a loss of nearly sixty
officers and ], 400 men, are contained in
an admiralty statement issued tonight.
The reports of Commanders Nicholson
of the Greasy and Norton of the Hogue
state that the Aboukir was hit by one
torpedo and sunk in thirty-five minutes.
Three torpedoes were fired at the Greasy.
one of the explosives missing narrowly.
It lasted from thirty-five to forty-five
minutes. The Hogue was struck twice
ten to twenty seconds elapsing between
the torpedoes. and went under in five
minutes.
Fires on Submarine.
The Cressy fired on the submarine and
some of the officers were confident that
the shots sunk 1t. Commander Nicholson
says that the three torpedoes directed
against his ship might have been fired
| by the same submarine and that there
is no real proof that moro than one was
| engaged.
The reports show that the strictest
discipline was maintained and that acts
OF heroism were performed, but the ad-
miralty has established the rule that
such affairs must be governed by the
same laws as prevail in naval actions,
and that disabled ships must be left to
| their own resources.
The statement follows:
THE facts of this affair cannot be
better conveyed TO the public than by
the attached reports of the senior Of
ficers who have survived. and have
landed in England:
THE sinking of the Aboukip was, of
course, an ordinary hazard OF patrollng
duty. The Hogue and the Greasy, how
ever, were struck because they proceeded
| to the assistance of their consort and
remained with engines stopped, endeavor-
ing to save life. thus presenting an easy
and certain target TO further submarine
attacks"
! Situations New and Strange.
1.-THE natural promptings of humanity
have, In this case led to heavy losses,
] which would have been avoided by strict
adherence TO military considerations.
Modern naval war Is presenting us with
so many new and strange situations that
an error of judgment of this character
is pardonable. But it has been necessary
to point out for the further guidance OF
| his majesty's ships that conditions which
prevail when vessel Of a squadron is
injured in a mine field or is exposed
to submarine attack, are analogous TO
those which occur in action and that the
rule OF leaving disabled ships to their
own resources is applicable so far, at
any rate, as large vessels are concerned
mo act of humanity, whether to friend
! or foe, should lead TO neglect OF the
proper precautions and dispositions Of war
and no measures can be taken TO save life
which prejudice the military situation.
Small craft of all kinds should, however,
be directed by wireless TO close on the
damaged ship at all speed.
Display of Courage.
! THE loss of nearly sixty officers and
! l,400 men would have not been grudged
If 1t had been brought about by gun fire
in an open action. But 1t is peculiarly
distressing under the conditions which
! prevailed. The absence of any OF the
ardor and excitement OF an engagement
did not however. prevent the display OF
discipline, cheerful courage and ready
/ seif-sacrifice among all ranks and ratings
exposed 70 the ordeal.
THE duty on which these vessels were
engaged was an essential part OF the ar
rangements by which the control OF the
seas and the safety of the country are
maintained and the lives lost are as use
fully, as necessarily and as gloriously de-
voted 20 the requirements OF his majesty Z
service as II the loss had been incurred
In a general action.
In view of the certainty Of a proper
ton OF misfortunes OF this character oc-
curing from time To time. II is impor-
tant that this point Of Wow should be
thoroughly appreciated. The loss OF these
three cruisers, apart from the loss OF life,
is Of small naval significance, Although
they were large and powerful ships, they
belonged to a class OF cruisers whose
speed has been surpassed by many OF the
enemy's battleships,
Before the war It had been decided
| that no more money should be spent in