The Alaska daily empire., 1914-11-23


 in the battle Of Heligoland on August 2S.
 The report. which has not previous l ly been published in America, follows:
 H. M S. Maidstone"
 17th October, 1sl4.
 "Sir:-n compliance with their Lordship's directions, have the hon. or to report as follows upon tho ser vices performed by submarines since the commencement of hosthties;
 Three hours after the outbreak Of war. the submarines "E-6" and "E-S3 ] proceeded unaccompanied to carry out a reconnaissance in the Heligoland blight. These two vessels returned with useful information, and had tho ] privilege of being the pioneers Of the service which is attended by some ht- tie risk.
 Patrol Duty.
 During the transportation of the ex- peditionary forces, the destroyers the "Lurcber' and "Firedrake" and an the submarines Of the eighth subma- rine notilla occupied positions from which they could have attacked the high sea fleet, had it emerged to dis pute the passage of our transports. This patrol was maintained by night and day without relief until tho per sonnei of our army had boen trans | ported and an chance of oRectiye in- terference had disappeared.
 These submarines have since been ! necessarily employed on the enemy's { coast in the Heligoland blight and else where. and have obtained much valua- ble information regarding the coulpo- sition and movement of his patrols. They have occupied his waters and rel connoitred his anchorages. and. while so engaged have been subjected toI slnful and well executed submafineI tactics hunted for hours at time, by torpedo craft and attacked by gun fire and torpedoes.
 At midnight on the 26th of August embarked in the Lucher, and, in the company with the Firedrahe. and sub- marines D-2. D-S. E4 E5 E6 E7 IFS and E9 of the eighth submarine flotilla, proceeded Go take part in the opera tions in the Heligolanc bight arranged for the 2Sth of August. The degtroy- CTS counted for the submarines until nightfan on the 27th, when the latter proceeded Independently to take up various positions from which they could cooperate with the destroyer l flotillos on Che following morning.
 The Helisoland Fight.
 At daylight on the 28th of August, ] the Lurcher and FiredraLe, searched the seas, through which the battle cruisers were to advance for hostile submarines, and then proceeded to- ward Heligoland in the wnke of the submarines E6 E7 and ES. which were | exposing themselves with the object of inducing the eneny. to chase them to the westward.
 On approaching Heligoland, the vis-I ibility which had been very good to 1 seaward, was reduced to from 5000 to | 5000 yards, and this added consider ably to the an1deties and responsibil-l flies of the commanding officers of submarines who handled their vessels with cooiness and judgment in an area which was necessarily occupied by friends as well as foes.
 Low visibility and calm sea are the most unfavoroble conditions under which submarines can operate. and no opportunity occurred Of closing with the enemy's cruisers to within tor pedo range
 Reseulng an Abandoned Boats Crew
 Lieutenantcommandqr Ernest W. Leir. commanding submarine E4 wit messed the sinking of the German tor pedo boat destroyer Y-187 through his periscope, and, observing cruiser oi the Steein class very close. and opened | fire on the British destroyers which had lowered their boats to pick up the survivors. he proceeded to attack the cruiser. but she altered her course before he could get within range Af- ter. covering the retirement of our de- stroyers, which had to abandon their boats he returned to the latter, and a lieutenant and nine men of the Defender who had been left behind. The boats also contained two officers and eight men Of the Y-lS7 who were unwounded, and IS men who wore badly wounded. AS he could not ] embark the latter Lieutenant-Comman. der Lier left one Of his officers and six unwounded men to navigate the British boat to Heligoland Before leaving he saw that they were proyid- ed with water biscuit and 2 compass. One German officer and two men were made prisoners of war
 A Cruiser Sunk.
 On the 18th Of September. E-9 (Lieu- a -enant-commander Max K. Horlon) e .orpedoed and sunk the German light c cruiser Hela sir miles south Of Heli Q 5oland 4 number Of desuoyers were eyi- iently called to the scene after Es s had delivered her attack, and these V hunted for her for several hour. D On the 14th Of September, in accord .nce with instructions Lieutenantcoin- Q nander Horton examined the outer rfa...I