Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
BY a Survivor Of the Inflated
German Cruiser Bluecher.

[yT7y q had just had breakfast on the Bluccher.
w when Q fast British scout cruiser lowered
for a moment on the far-distant horizon and
then disappeared We knew at that our location
was being reported by wireless to nearest British
patrol ships Orders were signalled at once through
the German feet 70 turn away from British shoro
and steer for home. 1t was Sunday morning.
About nine O'Clock columns OF smoke could be seen
on the far horizon behind ue. The enemy were after
Us-but not yet could we see them. Suddenly from
the blue sky above shell fell near u.s. with moan.
irg grooming whine We could see no shin From
somewhere below the horizon had this shot
Nowhere visible were there any warshpa OF the
St out Of the skies above us more shells coutInued
TO tall IN front OF US, beside us and behind US
FINALLY the observers at the masthead were able TO
make out through their telescopes the tops Of the
masts OF ship. but hull buried out OF sight
ana yet those British Gunners IN their turrets, who
could not the tops nlasts were rapllv
getting the distance and range Of the Buecher from
the dTefontFoi Officers far up in their mast tons
A this moment was beginning naval battle the
like OF which had never occurred before the history
OF power for before have ships of such size
and speed, with guns OF such range and punish
Ing power been engaged. This battle, which began
between ships more than ten miles apar which Gould
not each other continued to increase In ferceness
or acton until the British pursuers who had worked
themselves up to the astonishing speed OF thir
miles hour. began 20 overake us and rake ,,s Mt
point blank range Although the Bluecher was pro.
on ner turTets We knew that doomed We
were ct the mercy Of five British battle cruisers
faster IN speed. heavier in armament more pow.
eTtul IN Euns
What happened to the Bluecher that Sunday morn.
Ing is story unparalleled By anything in the previous
history OF tho world The Bluecher received every
Imaginable Form OF proiecte, and as final kick its
eoa WIS hesten5d By torpedo from the British
cruiser Arethusa.
: curious fact is that most frighttu punis uent
calAe n he early stages OF the engagement when The
Eiltlll SHIPS we're eight ten miles away from US
-ais extraordinary occurrence was due TO the British
thlTteenera 1Galtiach shells that we're fred at such
d hlgl elevation that they down upon US from
t-e eEy, pieTciIg our unprotected decks and pera-
Ea"1G on through TO the bottom OF the ship where
tasF eIplod@d IN the very v!als of the Bluecher
G1.-5 tie maximum amount Of damage and destrIc,
t!oG.
Tha British ships, as have said, were away on the
h2.-55ai more than ten miles distant vAen they
it1rt5t 10 h:e. Shots slowly ct first They fell
Eae@l ana over raising vast columns OF water: now
,AeS Eel aSterH aad short. The British guns we're
a--.IE the range. Those deadly water spouts crept
nearer and nearer. The men on deck watched than
With strange fascination.
Se2n one pitched cloEe to the ship and vast
Fs-sTy Qi!-2F hundred metres high, one OF ITEM
a:i.!lls1, 's! l-shinG on the deck. The rance had
tesA -2Lna Dam aler ging's los Now The shells
came mick ana fas, with horrible trOairz hum!
~. once they cid terrible execution. The electric
pant Tss scoa destroyed, and the ship plunged IN
caTlsss hat could be felt. you could not geg yonr
ha1a before your nose" said one.
Down below decks there were horror ard confnsron
.~E.rl Wltl gss cg shouts and means as the shells
plunged through the decEs Il was only later u5an
INC range shortened that taeir tra,ectory aa,arnd
eng tAey tore holes IN the ships aides and raas Ee
Ie" Al afst taey cane dropping from the gky