The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-28
Official German State
m e n t That English
Vessel w entDown in
Sea Fight Adhered To
ANOTHER STORY
OF THE BATTLE
German Naval Officers Resent Sugges-
tion That They Were Trying to
Avoid Battle When Rear Admiral
Hipper Changed Course of Vessels

Berlin, Jan. 81, Via London, Jan,
2S. 8 A. M.-The British admiralty's s
announcement that the battle cruiser
Lion was towed back to England in a
damaged condition was received in Ber
lin as confirmation of earlier German
reports that in addition to the battle
cruiser which it was asserted had been
sunk, other British ships received seri-
Gus injuries.
The official German statement of the
entire loss of one British battle cruiser
is adhered to as positively as ever. The
destruction Of the vessel is said to have
been clearly and Enthusiastically OBJ
served not only by the destroyer which
torpedoet it but also by the crew of a
Zeppelin cruising above the scene Of
the engagement.
German Destroyer's Dash
Toward the end of the battle, it is
said, German destroyer made dash.
Whether the little vessel was alone or
with hotilla could not be learned but
it was said it made its way between
the lines under cover of the smoke to
within torpedoing range and twice sue
cessfully torpedoef the second cruiser
in the British line. This cruiser, it is
asserted, Immediately fell cut of line
and later sunk.
The first British cruiser was said to
have been seriously hit and the British
then, according to the accounts re-
ceived, ceased the engagement and
withdrew, being about seventy miles
from Helgoland.
The Associated Press has been unable
to learn how many men were killed or
wounded aboard an unnamed German
cruiser which was hit or the nature and
extent of the damage done. The infor-
nation was given, however, that the
ship would soon be repaired and that
the damage would not injure her fight
ing capacity.
First German Ship Not Hit
Except for the loss of the Bluecher,
the Germans suffered comparatively lit
tie, according to reports contained in
letter received here from participants
in the battle, despite the artillery su
periority of the British.
1t is said that the first German ship
was not hit, but that the second ship
in line was struck on her armor belt.
The shell did not penetrate her huh,
however. The third ship of the line
was hit by shell which caused some
damage and resulted in the only casual
ties in the squadron besides those
aboard the Bluecher.
No losses are reported on board the
small cruisers or in the destroyer
hotilla. The German ships We're from
120 to 140 miles northwest of
Heligoland when they sighted the Brit
ish. ut could not be learned under
what conditions the squadrons sighted
each other, but the engagement began
Immediately at an extreme range of
12la miles and took the form of a rum
ming fight III two lines, the British ships
being to starboard about four points
astern of the Germans.
Not Trying to Avoid Battle
German naval officers resent the sug-
gestion that they were trying to avoid
battle and point out that number
of considerations may have Influenced
Read Admiral Hi2per to choose a south
east course which would bring him back
toward Heligoland-namely, to secure
the advantage of the light and also the
wind which would blow the smoke
away from the targets and also draw
the hostile units within reach of the
submarines and perhaps of the German
fleet. The weather was clear.
The British ships had the advantage
of speed and could choose the dis
tance at which to fight. They kept at
a range of from nine to twelve and one
half miles, at which distance the fire
of the Bluecher's armament was in
effective. Her twenty-five centimetre
shells, naval officers assert, might have
reached an enemy s warship, but they
could do no damage. They add that the
British concentrated their fire on the
Bluecher, which was the tail end ship.
She fell out of line about 1890 p. m.
and was last seen surrounded by
swarm of torpedo boats.
Saw Two British Destroyers Sink
Naval men add that German tor
pedo boat in the vicinity of the Bluech-
er saw two British destroyers sink at
1887 O'Clock under the fire of the
Bluecher' IS guns.
An account of the naval battle print
ed in the London "Daily Mail" to-
day says;
I" At the close of the action the