New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-31
Turkish Battle Cru;..,
Once German, in Fin.
Fighting Trim.
RUSSIAN FLEET
TAKES AGGRESSIVE
Central Powers Believe R,;,,,
Officers Are Commanding II,
Black Sea Squadron.

constantinople, Jan. 30 ryi.L,,..
The Turkish bat,le-crui,er g.,
Selim, formerly the German 80,
Goeben, despite seven seriou, 49,.
and several minor Engagement, !,
a fighting unit virtually a. &C..
and as powerful as at the ov.b,..s
the var. She shows the mai,
numerous injuries received in h,,..
Gus encounters, notably three ir...,
by Russian i2-inch shells, bu, orl, !.
scars remain.
The correspondent % The A,u.i,.a
Press has been able 70 establish !, .
personal visit 70 the Sultan s.llr a..
she is not cripple or lam. du..-, :.
so frequently reported, but 4, IN -.
feet battle trim, with every Kun ,,,,,.
and ready % emerge for sctio, 4. .
moments notice. The eorre,,c,s..,
had no opportunity 20 obev, ),
speed, but her recent encounter u.
the Russian bst,ieship imp.n.r.n
Maria indicated that this qusll.y tn
little if TO any degree impaired, q d.
cruiser was able to show a clean "a,
Of heels 20 the best ship Of he In
Russian lighting line.
The Sultan Selim's speed M, NJ.
kaps have been reduced for tine ,sy
she ran into nine In the early au
Of the war, but the naval cons,rxau
taking d hint from what the Ru,r,,,
did al Port Arthur, bull, eoasr..
around the injured sections and .ases:
permanent underwater repairs, ,.ss.
ing her virtually to her forme, ys.
and structural strength.
The Sultan Selim, when VISITED,
foated on d perfectly even keel. 7,
correspondent had heard the talk ,.r
the Goeben had received a serious Us.
derwater hit, but she nevertheless
showed not the slightest trace Of lid.
A big patch Of new plsnking On Il,
forward deck marked the striking pes:
Of a i2-inch shell that came from ,
long-range shot and dropped st . hils
angle, ending its career IN the bs'ss'.
shop. The members Of the crew YER
at their battle stations a, the tin. o..
consequently no injuries pen n.
ported. A patch on a sm0tesass
marked the work OF another l!.Ir,:
shelf while flying fragment ossss
she'll had bit neat gouge across n'
muzzle Of one Of the cruisers ll'I,a
guns.
Not a scar was 10 be seen freH ~
engagement with the Impers'rl'
Maria. which the officers describe 81
long range -ncounter during the eo.''
of which neither vessel was my"
The Sultan Selim was cruising Az
in the Black Sea when she slgr1e
group Of new Russian de.trojs'
which. owing 70 their speed and pes'
full armament are match. snen o..
ing in packs. for cruisers OF the sra z
type. Apparently mistskins the =.
tan Selim for the Nidullu liotho
the Breslaul. they advanced 10 Nt :.
tack. but discovered their nlsa'
when the Sultan Selim's ll'inea g.,
onened on them. According 70 !s q
ticers of the Turkish cruiser ws ~
tilla turned and fed. with the ss-s'
Selim in pursuit. As the ehss =.
crossed the lmperatritsa Msra
sighted. The Sultan Se.im sppros'i.
within range. but before MI va
-ablished the smoke Of . Rus.
squadron was observed on the no'.I'.
The Sultan Selim )roke OF the So
her officers report, circled the lnpsr
tritsa yaria and, thanks 70 spV,.
speed returned 20 the Bospo'u' "
touched. e, 81,
The officers Of the Sultan -.
argue the essence OF British oaa.
with the Russian Black sea heeI %
changed tactics. improved gunnsr !.
greater aegressiyeness OF the NUS.
Sims. ard they expect. With tne 81
pletion OF the second and pe,ns,y,.
third Of the new Russian oa''' 49,,
a display of greater activity '''
the Bosporus.