The Washington herald., 1915-01-25
times GLOATS
over VICTORY
Demonstrates Preparedness
of British Fleet, Says the
"Thunderer."
MAY PUT END TO RAIDS
Sinking of One Cruiser and Damaging
of Two Others Cuts Up Kaisers
Mosquito Fleet.

London, Jan. 25., (Monday)-The London
Times this morning prints the following
article by its naval expert on the North
Sea naval battle of yesterday.
News which comes in from the North
Sea of the doings of the squadrons under
Vice Admiral Beatty and Commodore
Tyrwhitt is most welcome and inspiring
II will be some consolation to our seamen
for the disappointment they experienced
on the last occasion Germany sent her
battle cruisers for raid.
Grand Admiral Won Tirpitz cannot say
he had not warning of what might hap
pen if he decided to repeat his tactics
Of December 16, when he sent cruisers
to shell Scarborough and the Hartle-
pool. On this occasion they appear to
have been on the way TO repeat their
operations when they were so fortunately
sighted by our patrolling squadrons.
From the composition of the German
force, which included battle cruisers.
light cruisers. and destroyers, IL Is evi-
dent that the adventure was to be made
on a large scale and possibly at longer
distance from their base.
After this affair the German news
papers, as well as their naval critics VIII
cease their gibes about the British fleet
being condemned to inactivity and afraid
10 leave its ports.
Seamen on Alert.
"One large armored cruiser sunk and
two battle cruisers seriously damaged Is
fairly good evidence that our seamen are
on the alert and quite ready TO give the
Germans an opportunity for showing
what they are made of whenever they
care to seize il.
Although we are not told exactly
where the British patrolling squadron
met the Germans it may be assumed.
since II was In the early morning the lat
ter intended to make descent upon the
English coast and therefore 1t was prob
ably in the neighborhood of the Dogger
Bank.
However. much they were inclined to
throw shells upon English churchgoers
on Sunday morning. they were in no
fettle for fight, and as Sir David Beatty
says in his report, they turned at once
and made for home at high speed.
From what we know of other battles
at sea and the long range at which fire
is opened it may be that something near
ten miles separated the squadron when
this happened. Then. apparently. run
ming fight of 100 miles or more took place.
The Lion and her consorts, which in
cluded the Tiger. but recently put out
from Clydebank and the Princess Royal
from Barrow. are OF over Is knots speed.
while the New Zealand and the Indomit-
able are but little slower. They would,
therefore, be able to overhaul the Ger
man ships, OF which only the Derr-
finger is credited with slightly higher
speed.
RafdIng Fleet Reduced.
'It must have been a magnificent sight
this chase with all these ships tearing
through the water something like thirty
miles an hour or more-and II Is highly
he nj shin nf the
British gunners that at the rate the
ships were moving they should have in
fiicted serious damage on the retreat
ing enemy.
THE names Of the four German cruis-
ers include all the known effective YES
sells OF this class In German waters, with
the exception of the Won der Tam.
which was reported few days ago as
having sustained an injury of some sort.
Nov that the Bluecher is sunk and Ad-
miraI Beatty reports two others to be
seriously damaged the strength Of the
German battle fleet in this respect has
been reduced to a couple of ships.
Probably il the Derrhinger was
leading it may be supposed that the
Seidlitz and the Moltke are the dam
aged vessels and ii may yet turn out
lsh destroyers that these vessels have
any case they are not likely to be
available for raids for sometime "a
come.
This engagement, therefore. al
though none of the battleships OF
either country took part is OF first i'm
portance. It not only indicated the
watchfulness of our patrolling squad
rons and their readiness TO take the
initiative, but II is an evidence OF
the vigilance OF the naval authorities
and preparation to meet any action
of the Germans. The engagement IL
illustrates the manner in which the
fleet protects the coast and how much
more effective reply to attempts at
raidinE may be made by an active pa
troll than by a number of scattered
flotillas of no great strength"
To Cure a Cold I'm One Day