Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-01-27
GERMAN CRUISER
SUNK IN BATTLE
WITH BRITISH
Two Other Warships Damaged
by Beatty'S Fleet.
76O TEUTONS ARE DROWNED
Naval Engagement Occurs in the
North Sea-Kaiser's Squadron
Attempts Second Raid on
England.

in the North sea the German armored
cruiser Bluecher, 1880 tons displace-
ment, was sunk and two other German
cruisers were badly damaged, accord.
ing to an official announcement made
by the British admiralty through the
press bureau.
Only 125 of the Bluecher's crew of
885 were rescued. The official an
nouncement follows:
Early Sunday morning the British
patrolling squadron of battle cruisers
and light cruisers under Admiral Da-
vid Beatty and destroyer flotilla I'M
der Commodore Tyrwhit sighted four
German battle cruisers, several light
cruisers and a number of destroyers
steering westward and apparently
making for the English coast.
Immediately upon sighting the Brit
ish fleet the enemy made for home at
high speed. They were at once pur-
sued and about $50 a. m. were
brought within range and an action
followed between the British battle
cruisers Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal,
New Zealand and Indomitable on the
one side and the German armored
cruiser Bluecher and the battle
cruisers Derfflinger, Seydlitz and Molt-
Ike on the other.
A well-contested running fight en-
sued and shortly after one o'clock the
Bluecher, which previously had fallen
out of line, was capsized and sank.
Admiral Beatty reports that two
other German battle cruisers were
seriously damaged, but were able to
continue their flight until they reached
an area where the danger from Ger
man submarines and mines prevented
further pursuit by the British.
No other ships were lost and our
casualties among the personnel pres
ent are reported as:
The battle cruiser Lionel, which led
them, had only IL wounded. There
was none killed. But 125 survivors of
the Bluecher were rescued out of "a
crew of 885. 1t is possible that others
may have been saved by some of our
destroyers, but no reports from any
destroyer or light cruiser of their part
in the fighting had yet been received
by the admiralty.
Worlds Biggest Ships in Battle.
The battle in the North sea, from
the standpoint of the tonnage of the
ships engaged, is the greatest in the
history of the world. The only other
naval fights of recent wars-the Span
h-An To
and the other battle which already
have been fought in the European con-
f1ict-pale almost into insignificance.
The tonnage of the principal Brit
ish ships engaged totals 49, tons,
that of the German fleet 1880. The
weight of armament correspondingly
eXcels any ever engaged in a battle on
the seas.
The German ship Derf1inger is the
largest ever engaged. Her tonnage is
$4,000. The Tiger was the strongest
of the ships in Admiral Beattys squad
ron.
These figures do not take into ac-
count the strength Of the German ships
unnamed in the official report and the
numerous destroyers and other craft
on both sides, which brings the total
tonnage up to enormous figures.
The Bluecher was laid down in Oc-
tober, 1906, and was launched in April,
1908. 1t cost $6,745,000 It's big guns
wer replaced in 1912 by 12 82-inch and
eight 8.6-inch guns. It's length was 4S9
feet and was 80 feet wide on it's beam.
The battle cruiser was built at Kiel.
OF these units engaged the Lion and
Princess Royal are sister battle
cruisers They were laid down in
1910 and 1911 respectively, and each
carries eight 1875 guns on broadsides,
four of which are ahead and two
astern, besides 16 four-inch guns and
two torpedo tubes submerged on broad
sides and one (submerged) astern. On
and S61a on the beam, with 26,35O tons
displacement, a speed of rs knots and
complement of 1000 men.
The New Zealand is a 26-knot battle
cruiser of the 1909 class, a sister ship
of the Indefatigable. Her displacement
is 1880 tons, she is SIS feet long on
the water line and measures 1919 feet
on the BEAM Eight 12-inch guns can
be fired on broadside and six ahead
and six astern. She carries also 16
four-inch guns and three submerged
torpedo tubes. Her crew numbers 800
men. She was originally laid down for
the colony for which she was named,
but finally was presented to the Brit
ish navy.
The Indomitable, 2S-knot ship of
the Invincible type of 1910, displaces
1880 tons, is $50 feet long and 1872
feet on the beam. She carried eight
12-inch CAS- caliber) guns, all on broad
sides, with six forward and six astern.
She likewise carries 16 four-inch guns
and three submerged torpedo tubes.
The TIGER is 27000-ton hattla