The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-27
BRITISH WIN SEA FIGHT,
SINK GERMAN SHIP BLUECHER
IN NORTH SEA.
English Fleet Chases Weaker Oppo-
nents Force into Their Own Wa.
ters, Where they Arc Protected by
Mines and submarincS-Gcrman
Loss Heavy, While English Loss
Was Slight.

a German cruiser squadron to repeat
the recent attack on Scarborough, the
HartlepOOls and other British coasts
towns. was frustrated today by the
British patrolling squadron, and in a.
running fight the German armored
cruiser Bluecher was sunk and two,
German battle cruisers seriously dam
aged.
rhe British ships suffered only
slight injury. SO far as is known
only 123 Of the Bluecher's crew Of
8S5 were saved.
A battle also occurred between the
light cruisers and destroyers accom-
panying the bigger Ships put the re-
suit Of that engagement has not yet
reached the admiralty.
The British were superior in ships
engaged, weight of armament and
speed and the flight Of the German
ships into the mine and submarine
infested field possibly saved them from
further losses. g.
The Bluecher was q cruiser OF 15,-
$50 tons displacement, and although
commissioned in 1905, was complete-
ly rerigged last year. She was not
classed a. :. Nttle cruiser, but was in
the next class to those formidable
fighters. With her were the Der
finger, Germany's latest battle cruis-
er, which had just left the builders
hands and the battle cruisers Seydlitz
and MOltke, the latter a sister ship
of the GOeben, formerly Of the Ger
man but now of the Turkish fleet
which was recently reported damag-
cd by the Russians in the Black sea.
The British squadron, commanded
by Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty
who also was intcommand at the bat-
tie or Heligoland Hast August + enl1A
sisted Of the battle cruisers Tiger.
Lion, Princess Royal, New Zealand
and Indomitable. The first three Of
these cruisers mount eight 1876 inch
guns each, and even the New Zealand
and Indomitable carry 12-inch guns,
which are equal to those of the Der
finger, the only ore Of the German
ships that had better than 11-inch
guns.
Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt, who
also took part in the battle off Eeilgo-
land, commanded the light cruisers
and destroyers which accompanied
Vice Admiral Beatty's battle cruisers.
The Germans were observed some
time after dawn proceeding in the
direction of the British coast When
they sighted the superior British fleet
they turned and made at full speed
for home water, and it was only after
a stern chase that the faster British
ships got within range of them. The
running battle lasted more than four
hours, the firing being plainly heard
in North Holland where it was judged
the fight took place north of the
island of Amel and Schiermonnik-
Oog.
The Bluecher which was slower
than the other German cruisers, fell
behind and succun. ped to the heavier
guns Of the / ion, which was leading
the British squadron. The other Ger
man ships got within the mine and
submarine area, two of them in
dangerous for the biz British battle
cruisers to follow.
The fact that only II were wounded
aboard the Lion indicates that the
British casualties were light. 1t is
possible that more OF the Bluecher's
crew were picked up by the BRUSH
destrOyers.
The text of the official press bureau
statement follows:
EARLY this morning British
patrOlling squadron OF battle-cruiscrs
and light cruisers under Vice Admiral
Sir David Beatty with destroyer
hotilla under Commodrc Tyrwhitt
sighted four German battle cruisers
and several light cruisers and a num-
Der of dcstroyers steering westward
and apparently making for the Eng
lish coast.
'Thc enemy at once made for home
at high speed. They were pursued
and about $50 n. m. action was join
cd between the battle cruisers Lion,
Princess Royal, New Zealand and In
domitahlc on the one hand and the
Derilnger, Seydlitz. MOltkc and
BluCchcr on the other. A well con-
tested running ti"ht crsucd Shortly
after | o'clock the Blucchcr, which
hah previously fallen out of line, cap
sized and sank.
"Admiral Beatty reports that two