The Pulaskian., 1916-06-09


 The announcement adds that Of three German battleeruisers, eith- CT the Derffiinger or Dutzow was blown up, another was said to have been disabled and a third to be seriously damaged.
 London.-The British public was given a painful shock when the ad- miralty gave out statement that in a naval battle in the North Sea the British battle cruiser fleet met the German fleet, with the result that three British battle cruisers were sunk, together with three cruisers and several destroyers, while six destroy CTS were still unaccounted for.
 The Indefatigable, the Inyincible and the Queen Mary were the battle cruisers sent to the bottom by the Germans. The cruisers Defence, Black Prince and Warrior also were lost. The Warrior first was reported disabled, but subsequently, it was an- nouneed that she had to be abandoned by her crew.
 The German fleets losses are stated to have been serious, but no very def1- nite information of these losses is af- forded. One battle cruiser is declared to have been destroyed and another severely damaged, while the belief is expressed that large number of Ger man destroyers were disposed of.
 Following quickly upon the admiral ty announcement came the German of f1cial version of the fight, which in general confirmed the British account, but carried the claim l4at the battle ship Watersprite also was sunk ana other British battleships damaged.
 The German losses, according to the German version of the battle, were the small cruiser Wiesbaden, sunk by gun fire, and the warship Pommern by a torpedo, while the cruiser Frauenlob and number of torpedo boats are missing.
 May Have Hit Mine Field.
 The news was flashed out in special editions of the evening newspapers and caused greater consternation m the West End of London than has been witnessed on any previous occa- sion since the declaration of war. The frankness of the admiralty announce ment concerning the serious nature os the British losses and the apparently small losses of the Germans in com parison, led to the assumption in most minds that the British vessels must have been led into mine field.
 From advices thus far received, It would appear that the greatest naval battle of history has occurred. Never before have two naval forces of such magnitude as the British and German high seas fleets engaged in combat But apparently the battle was not fought out to point to determine mastery of the seas, for the losses, serious as they are reported to have been, will not vitally impair the strength of either fleet.
 The scene of battle was in the eastern waters of the North Sea. It is probable the German fleet was on one of the excursions into the North Sea which it has taken from time to time during the war, and met, whether or not by design, with the British fleet.
 Skagerak is an arm of the North Sea between Norway and Denmark. The point referred to in the official German statement as Horn Riff probably is the reef off the horn, on the southwest ern extremity of Denmark. This would indicate that the battle was fought off the coast of Denmark.
 News of the engagement was held back by the British authorities, possf- bly, pending the return home of the fleet snd the first word received of the battle came by wireless from Ser lin.
 The loss of life in the engagefnens must have been extremely heavy. The battle cruiser Indefatigable, for in- stance. rom which the German admir- atty reports only two men were saved. probably had more than 900 on board. and others of the vessels sunk carried complements of men equally or nearly as large.
 Natural Gift.