The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-23
'H0NORS Of GREAT
BATTLE WITH GERMANY
Her Total Loss of Men was Hat 2y5ot
Against q Loss of 1000 Inflicted
I'm Fight Off JutIsnd.
ENGLISH SURVIVORS IN GERMANY
Fact of Their Rescue Long After Their
ships Were Sunk Offered As Evil
aence That German Fleet Remained
In Possession of watery Field.
(By WILLIAM BAYARD HALEY

Berlin. June 22.-wirelsss via Say
Vile, June 21.--It is now quite possible
to collate with official reports OF the
battle of Skaggerak the picture given
by the British surviving officers and
seamen now prisoners in Germany. One
hundred and seventy-seven were
rescued from the water by the Ger
mans They are now in prison camps
at Mayence and Deulen. Westphalia,
and the hospital at Wilhelmshaven,
where they are treated as gallant foe
men. Here they spin their tales of the
greatest sea-fight in history.
I had today a long talk with an Of
ficer assigned to gather from surviv-
ors details calculated to throw light
on the action, and have been permitted
to look over his notes made from their
lips.
Two facts emerge. First. that Tot
only the English vanguard under Ad-
mtral Sir David Beatty. but the grand
fleet. under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe,
was fully engaged.
Germans Remained I'm Possession of
Field.
Second that II is evident beyond all
contradiction that the Germans re-
manned in possession of the watery
field when not q claim that tho Eng
lish took A. single prisoner has been
heard here, and no English survivors
were rescued by their oountrymen.
Some OF them were in the water for
three hours before they were picked
up. 1t cannot be said that much ia
added to the strategy Of the accounts
that there was a characterization or de-
lay In the tunctures of Beatty and Jeil-
icos.
Tho stories Of the survivors of the
Queen Mary. Tnvfncibls and Indefati-
gable are extremely dramatic, but
throw no light on whether the great
ships were sunk by she'll or torpedo.
Tha Marlborough was hit by tor
pedo from q U-hoet. which soon after
was sunk by an English destroyer.
I am able 20 say. however. that un-
censored ana Independent statements
of the English survivors indicate that
no German vessel was sunk which does
not appear in the official reports. The
skaggcrak wAs an ever memorial
victory. They point out that In all
features-tonnage, units and men-en-
gagged. they were outclassed two to
one and succeeded in -inflietins twice
as muoh damage as they sustained as
well as defeating the objective OF tho
grand fleet. whatever that objective
was.
Germany 10 eiated because In the
first great encounter the new navy
demonstrated its ability TO stand up
against England's ancient traditions
and more than ship for chip and man
for man. thus fully realizing the high
hopes excited by the daring and heroic
feats Of the Boebon. Emden. Appanm
and Moews. and the action off Chile.
Comparative Figures.
With ships estimated to aggregate
sTo, 600 tons they met the English fleet
of 100000 tons and lost $4,000 tons
while they destroyed 117oeo tons. and
with loss tn killed. missing and
wounded Of only $500 to 1000. Naval
officers are scruttnfxing all the ex-
piainabis details OF the battle with the
Kiel scientific improvement service,
What shortcomings they detect I am
unable to learn, but they express es
pecial satisfaction with the Runffre.
which fhey claim was accurate; the
ammunition. which was effective: and
the armor-plater which was more than
capable Of withstanding the shock Of
the new caiibrs arms. They claim the
morale left absolutely nothing to be
desired and that the battle was car
ried on like peace maneuvers. But the
Germans arc particular TO yield all
honor and RaIlantry to the British
Az To Battle Cruisers.
Remembering the special interest OF
Americans In battle cruisers. I inquire ed
OF all tho authorities to Judgment of
the efficiency of this type OF ship. The
concensus Is that the superiority was
perhaps not fully demonstrated. The
English battle cruisers made poor