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

the recent attack on Scarborough the
HartlepOols and other British coast
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.
The 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.
$50 tons displacement, and although
commissioned in 1908, was complete:
ly rerigged last year. She was not
classed as a battle 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 Seydljtz
and Moltke, the latter a sister ship
of the Goeben, formerly of the Ger
man but now Of the Turkish feet
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 in,command at the bat-
tie on Heligolantl Hast August y ooi1i
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 ever the New Zealan nd
and Indomitable carry 12-inch guns,
which are equal to those of the Der
finger, the only one Of the German
ships that had better than 11-incl,
guns.
Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt, who
also took part in the battle off Heilgo-
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
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 succumbed to the heavier
guns OF the Lion, which was leading
the British squadron. The other Ger
man ships got within the mine and
submarine area, two Of them in q
I,n1 flo -
dangerous for the big 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 Bluccher'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 a destroyer
nOtilla under COlnmodrc Tyrwhtt
SlSnted lOur German battle cruisers
and several light cruisers and a num-
Der of dcstroyers steering westward
and apparently making for the Eng
lish coast
The enemy at once made for home
ut high speed. They were pursued
and about $50 a. m. action was join
cd between the battle cruisers Lion,
Princess Royal, New Zealand and In
domitablc on the one hand and the
bcriinger, ScydlitZ, MOltkc and
BluCChcr on the other. \ well con-
tested running ii"ht cnSucd. Shortly
after | o'clock the Blucchcr. which
hah previously fallen out of line, cap
S.HCl and sank.
"Admiral Beatty reports that two