The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-28

tain. therefore, that further cruisers
were seriously damaged.
Say British withdrew.
Finally the British feet withdrew
from the German squadron. and be-
yond the reach of their guns There
was no question of pursuit OF the
German ships. because OF the high
speed of the British vessels could have
enabled them to catch up with and
destroy the German cruisers. This
time II Is possible to verify the British
reports, which it was impossible to
do In the case of the battle off the
Falkland Islands. of which details are
lacking
we only know that several British
battleships are now docking at Gil
braltar to repair damages inflicted by
the German cruisers Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau. and that, therefore, the
British offcial report on the battle Off
the Falkland Islands at least is in
complete and coiored in British inter-
ests.
The unreliability of the reports of
the British Admiralty is also proved
by the fact that the Admiralty even
now does not admit the loss Of the bat
tleship Audacious."
AdmiraIty's Statement
The very detailed and uncolored
statement issued today by the British
Admiralty has removed all doubts in
the minds 70 the people and of naval
experts as to the possibility of greater
losses to Admiral Beatty's feet than
were at first reported. The statement
is accepted as absolutely truthful.
Consequently the German statement
created surprise and indignation when
ii was received here today
fciently checked up and corroborate d
by dispatches from Edinburgh, which
say that all of the British ships re-
turned to port, and which contain per-
sonal experiences of British sailors
quite in accordance with the Official
report II II is possible that the Ger
man statement was based on a misun
Outstanding. which had to do with
the maneuvers of the flagship Lion.
and the transfer of Vice Admiral
Beatty's flag from the Lion and went
aboard the Princess Royal. which act
ed thereafter AS the flagship the Lion
surrendering her position. The Lion
was in no danger OF sinking, however.
but was not able to maintain the speed
necessary to keep her place at the
head OF the line
Was One OF the Raiding Ships.
One of tn. most satisfactory feat
ores of the battle WAS the destruction
of the armored cruiser Bluecher.
which participated in the raid against
Scarborough and Hartlepool when so
mary non-com ba tants were killed.
To Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt.
who, like Admiral Beatty, first gained
fame in the battle OF Helgoland Blight
on August rs. was left the honor of
finishing the Rluecher. AS the Brit
ish battle cruisers Lion. Tiger, Prin-
cess Royal, Indomitable and New
Zealand sped past the battered
Bluecher. each hattie cruiser deliver
ing a salvo. Commodore Tyrwhitt's
flagship. the light cruiser Arethusa
fired a torpedo into the Bluecher and
sank her. There is no doubt that the
British commanders gave the Bluech-
er an opportunity to surrender in or
der to save lie, and that the offer
was spurned.
The German official statement Is ST.
lent as regards the damage to other
ships of their feet. and as regards
'oss Of life or wounded on the Der
finger. SeyI.lt7 and Moltke, or upon
their light cruisers and destroyers.
Mary officers and sailtrs Of Admiral
Reatty's command state positively
tina. the Dersinger was set on fire and
badly damaged
II now appears that at least one
German ship besides the Butcher
was sunk ir Sundays great fight in
the North Sea. The admiralty an
nounced' tonight In an official state
merit that The German light cruiser
kolberg. sister ship Of the Mainz and
koin. which went down In the Hell