New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-23
SMELLING OF OSTEND
PICTURED BY SVEN HEDLN
Two British Destroyers Hurled Thirty Rounds Into
Belgian Port at Close Range and Steamed Off
Under Fire, but Apparently Unscathed.

visible save those required for serving
and directing the little battery. |
was not allowed outside, of course,
but | had time nevertheless to admire
the astounding swiftness and precision
with which the two guns were unlim-
bered, loaded and the range found:
Load! Ready! FIRE."
The first shot rang out. The report
re-echoed down the street and the win
dow panes in the MOTEL ratified IN their
frames. | went into the restaurant,
whence had an uninterrupted view OF
the sea and the leading destroyer. A
moment later came the second shot.
The first shell struck the water right
in front of the destroyer, but it was
impossible TO tell whether it did any
damage. The second shell also struck
quite close 70 the target.
There were several officers in the
restaurant. | was standing with DR..
Algermissen of Colmar Lieutenant in
the First Naval Reserve. The room
was very large, with eight windows
looking on 70 the sea and two others
on TO the Rue du CERT At the former
little tables stood laid, and on the
east side of the room stood the large
table where we Lsed TO take our meals.
Along the centre line the restaurant
was supported b. four solid pillars.
Algermssen and | were standing at
the second window from the west.
Destroyers Open Fire.
Directly the German shots had been
fred, the two destrOyers swung round
TO port and at the same moment
opened fire. Their guns seemed to fash
| out straight at US. Decking! shouted
/ Algermissen, and we retired immedl-
/ ately behind our pillar. forgetting that
/ it would have been blown away like
paper if she'll had struck it. Some
/ of those in the room followed our eX-
! ample. but others contemptuOusly dis
/ dained even this measure OF precau-
/ ton, which perhaps they considered
/ insufficient. The leading destroyer
was now about 400 metres away. Its
first shell fell short and dropped into
/ the sea Just in front of the llttOral.
Tall columns of white spray showed
where it had struck. Immediately we
turned our glasses on TO the enemy
vessel. There is another fash. Once
more we take cover, but only for the
body. not for the head, for one simply
cannot take ones eyes off such spec
tacle. whatever the cost! But II would
be vain TO attempt 10 describe the ex-
element which we felt between the
spurt OF fame from the gun and the
] irupact of the shell We felt, indeed,
we were conscious, that we were the
] target of the sinister monster speed
ing towards US through the arr. IL
was not fear, for II any one had offered
20 take me TO a perfectly safe spot IN
the centre of the town | should not
have stirred. Il was mixture OF
breathless excitement, intense interest
and a fixed determination not TO miss
the smallest detail Of what was pass
ing. That was why We kept our glasses
Sxed. now on the boat, now on the
point OF impact One proJectlle rico
/ chetted from the surface OF the water.
snrang aloft and struck the roof cop
/ ING. ffty-eight PAGES away from US,
as I subsequently measured. Another
described a most peculiar path now
/ II did Il cannot imagine but IN the
end il landed on the stone promenade
nearest the sea and buried itself be-
side the iron railing without bursting.
Saw Flash of British Guns.
There il lay for couple Of days, and
! the guard saw 10 IL that nobody went
nm 70 interfere with the fearsome OBJ
/ iect Twice We saw and heard the
| shells strike the water, dancing Ike
I fat stones over the surface, and hnalIy
/ crashing into the quay wall. first we
| saw the fash from the Brush gun
then the impact on striking the water
then came the report. a second OF