The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-15

the North Sea. the DoggeI Bank. and the
roads leading thereto rom the mouths
OF our rivers OF hostile fishing vessels.
because there were reasons to believe
that these vessels mainly went there TO
,Spy and watch. Hostile light warships
naturally were to be routed at the same
time and destroyed II possible.
..Imaginntion of Enemies"
!, This was mainly a Job for torpedo
boats and small cruisers. accompanied
by strong cruisers to fall back on, and
nothing else. All the rest existed only
In the Imagination of our enemies. who
thus wanted 10 cover themselves at least
with the glory Of having protected the
English coast from visitation.
- "Our four armored cruisers Seydlitz,
'Noltke. D%erfninger and Bluecher. with
small cruisers and toi pedo boat iiotillas
ahead of them as feelers and FOR pro-
lection, left port on January 23 and ar
rived off the Dogger Bank early on the
oath, ready to execute their orders. y
moderate cas-, wind was blowing and the
',yiew was unusually clear. SO that the
,dawning winter day revealed the enemy.
shortly after . \. NJ. our protecting
cruisers and fotillas reported a small
british cruiser with torpedo boats and
thick smoke northwest. This proved the
presence of numerous hostile war YES
sells of the Dogger Bank Our ships m
Immediately gathered on a southeast
course.
''The Admiral Of the first British
battle cruiser squadron went full steam
ahead and released his seven small
cruisers and twenty-six torpedo boats IN
the same direction. Thus. while the
forces were gathering. the Following SIT
.uation became evident
"Erom the rear the hostile Ilgnt
cruisers and torpedo boats were coming
up behind them were standing at least
eight big ships. and to starboard, art. n
q westerly direction. Ave clouds OF smoke
were seen approaching, which at 80
O'Clock were plainly recognized as the
battle cruisers Lion. Tiger, Princess
Royal. New Zealand and Indomitable,
who's order of succession is so re-
ported by the British Admiral. There
were thus at least thirteen big British
Warships, seven small cruisers and
'tWenty-six torpedo boats
Odds Unequal.
EMO words are needed to explain
that II would have been fo~olishness to
lead four big German warships, four
,small cruisers. not six as the British
report. and twenty-five torpedo boats
Into battle against so formidable a force.
THE British report purposely omits to
mention the presence of the British main
squadron by limiting Itself to a version
Of the events of the battle proper. which
the main squadron was unable TO APP
..proach.
There was nothing left for the Ger
man Admiral but to take "A southeaStcrly
course that offered him "A running fight
'and would bring him into the German
hay and thus nearer to our bases and
the possibility Of reenfor ements. Also
every other northerly coarse not leading
directly to the enemy would have led
up to Denmark. and every southerly one
closer to the English bases.
Highest speed was imperative be-
cause that alone offered a chance of
drawing the enemys squadron apart.
since the hostile main force surely
would not be able to keep up such
speed, and thus a chance might possibly
offer itself for a promising part battle.
This is what English papers called
..the flight home
:, Thus the night started. Toward 10
"A. NJ. the enemy opened fire on US at
eleven miles distance without being able
at first to reach our ships it took him
until lO:l2 a. NJ. before he got within
our range. At $40 4. VI. the Bluecher
opened Are on small cruisers that came
up from the rear, with n result that one
cruiser, hit, turned off and sank after an
explosion. Shortly after 10 \. NJ. our
armored cruisers opened fire on the Mig
gest enemy ship at ten miles. The high
~.sd which the british battle cruisers
'~~-""loped not only left the British main
-jrce behind, but also g.. .cl the battle
cruisers themselves into two groups the
iolo,1t ships, New Zealand al Indoml-
table, remaining behind, w.'arut, how
ever, being entirely excluded from par
ticipation In the night,