The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-03

Berlin, July 1-The German Ad- miralty- has given detailed account of the recent naval battle in the Skag- erak, of which the following is an ab- stract:
 "The High Sea fleet, consisting of three battleship squadrons, five, bat tie cruisers and large number Of small cruisers. with several destroyer flotillaa, was cruising in the Skag- errak on May 31 for the purpose, as on earlier occasions, of offering battle to the British fleet.
 "The vanguard of small cruisers at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon suddenly encountered, 90 miles west of Hans tholm ( a cape on the northwest coast of JutlandJ, a group of eight of the newest cruisers of the Calliope class (light, fast scout cruisers) and IS or 20 of the most modern deetroyers.
 Clash With Beatty's Squadron.
 "While the German light forces and the first cruiser squadron under Vice Admiral Ripper were following the British, who were retiring northwest ward, the German battle cruisers sighted to the westward Vice Admiral Beatty's battle cruiser squadron of six ships, including for the Lion type (the largest and mos. modern British battle cruisers), and two of the Inde- fatigible (earlier battle cruisers). Beatty's squadron developed a battle line on southeasterly course, and Vice Admiral Hipper formed his line ahead of the same general course and approached for a running fight. He opened fire at 5:49 o'clock in the af- ternoon with heavy artillery at range of 13,000 metres (S,000 mles) against the superor enemy. The weather was clear and light, and the sea was light with a northwest wnd.
 After about quarter of an hour violent explosion occurred on the last cruiser of the Indefatigable type. It was caused by a heavy shell and destroyed the vessel.
 About 6:2O o'clock in the after noon five warships of the Queen Eliza beth type came from. the west and Joined the British battle cruiser line, powerfully reinforcing with their 15- inch guns the five British battle cruis- CTS remaining after 6:20 o'clock.
 Battle of Destroyers
 10 eQudIlZ0 LHlS SupcIIOilLy flCO Admiral Hipper ordered the destroyers to attack the enemy. The British destroyers and small cruisers inter posed, and a bitter engagement at close range ensued in the course of which a light cruiser participated.
 'sThe Germans lost two torpedo boats, the crews of which were res: cued by sister ships under a heavy fire. Two British destroyers were sunk by artillery and two others. the Nestor and the Nomad. remained on the scene in crippled condition. These later were destroyed by the main fleet after German torpedo boats had rescued all the survivors.
 ...While this engagement was in pro- gress mighty explosion, caused by a big she'll broke the Queen Mary, the third ship in line, asunder at 6:30 o'clock.
 ..Soon thereafter the German main battleship fleet was sighted to the southward, steering north. The hos tile fast squadrons thereupon turned northward, closing the first part of the fight, which lasted about an hour.
 fsThe British retired at high speed before the German fleet, which fol- lowed closely. The German battle cruisers continued the artillery com bat with increasing intensity. partic- .ularly with the division of the vessels of. the Queen Elizabeth type. and in which the leading German battleship division participated intermittently. The hostile ships showed a desire to run in flat curve ahead of the point of our line and to cross it.
 Battle Cruisers Withdraw.
 "At 745 o'clock. in the evening Bri- tish small cruisers and destroyers launched an attack against our battle cruisers, which avoided the torpedoes by maneuvering, which the British battle cruisers retired from the en- gagement, in which they did not par ticipate further, as far as can be es- tablished.
 .sShortly thereafter a German re- connoitering group, which was par rying the destroyer attack, received an attack from the northeast. The cruiser Wiesbaden was soon put out of action in this attack. The German torpedo flotillas immediately attack ed the heavy ships.
 Appearing shadowlike from tho haze bank to the northeast he made out a long line of at least 25 battle sips, which it first sought junction with the British battle cruisers and those of the Queen Elizabeth type on a northwest to westerly course and then turned on an easterly- to a south Neasterly course.
 With the advent of the British main fleet, whose centre consisted of three squadrons of eight battleships each, with a fast division of three battle cruisers of the Invincible type on the northern end and three of the newest vessels of the Royal Sovereign class, armed with 15-inch guns, at the south ern end, there began about o'clock in the evening the third section of the engagement, embracing the combat between the main fleets.
 "Vice Admiral Scheer determined to attack the British main fleet, which he now recognized was completely assem- ;bled and about doubly superior.
 'The German battleship squadrons, headed by battle cruisers, steered first toward the extensive haze bank to the northeast, where the crippled cruiser Wiesbaden was still receiving a heavy fire. Around the Weisbaden stubborn individual fights under quickly chang ing conditions now occurred.
 The light enemy forces, supported by an armored cruiser squadron. of. five ships of the Minotaur, Achilles and Duke of Edinburgh classes Brit ish armored cruisers), coming from the northeast, was encountered and apparently surprised on account of the decreasing visibility by our battle