The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-08
BRITAIN SAYS
F.. IS GERMAN SHIPS
I. WERE DESTROYED
Claims Berlin Reports, of Battle
.r'fs r.st
Are False.
REAR ADMIRAL HOOD IS DEAD
Second In Command to Beatty Went
Down With His VesseI-Four
Thousand Rrltons Lost in
North Sea Fight.

naughts and battle cruisers were de-
stroyed in the sea fight off Skager
Rak, the German admiralty officially
reiterated that all the German losses
had been announced.
mo German naval units were lost
except those mentioned in the official
communique," says the official state
ment.
The communication adds that no
Zeppelin was lost during the battle.
London, June ga statement issued
by the British admiralty confirming
previous accounts of the battle be-
tween the British and German fleets,
reiterates that the German accounts of
the German losses are false, and that
although the evidence is still incom-
plete, enough is known to justify stat
ing that the German losses were great
er than the British, mot merely rela-
lively to the strength of the two
fleets but absolutely" 1t is disclosed
the Germans lost Is warships.
There is the strongest ground for
believing, the statement adds, that the
German losses include two German
battleships, two dreadnaught battle
cruisers of the most powerful type and
two of the latest light cruisers, in adj
dition to smaller craft, including a
submarine.
All Craft Joined In Action.
The text of the statement follows:
Until the commander in chief has
had time to consult the officers en-
gagged and write a full dispatch, any
the naval engagement which began
on the afternoon of May 81 and ended
in the morning hours of June /, would
evidently be premature. But the re-
suits are quite plain.
The grand feet came in touch with
the German high seas feet at $3.50 on
the afternoon of May 81. The leading
ships of the two fleets carried on a Wig.
orous fight, in which the battle cruis-
ers, fast battleships and subsidiary
craft all took an active part.
The losses were severe on both
sides, but when the main body of the
British fleet came into contact with
the German high seas feet a very
brief period sutficed to compel the lat
ter, which had been severely pun
ished, to seek refuge in it's protected
waters. This maneuver was rendered
possible by low visibility and mist
and, although the grand fleet was now
and then able to get in momentary con-
tact with its opponents, no cOntinu-
Gus action was possible.
They continued the pursuit until
the light had wholly failed, while the
British destroyers were able to make
successful attack upon the enemy
during the night.
Meanwhile Admiral Sir John Jelli
coe having driven the enemy into
action and secured the sea in search
of disabled vessels BY noon the next
day, June /, 1t became evident there
was nothing more to be done. He re-
turned, therefore to his bases, 400
miles away, refueled his feet and in
the evening of June 2 again was
ready to put to sea.
Calls German Report False.
"The British losses have already
been fully stated. There is nothing
to add to or subtract from the latest
account published by the admiralty.
The enemy losses are less easy to
determine. That the accounts they
have given to the world are false is
certain and we cannot yet be sure of
the exact truth. But from such evil
dence as has come to our knowledge
the admiralty entertains no doubt that
the German losses are heavier than
the British, not merely relatively to
the strength of the two fleets, but alb.
solutely.
There seems to be the strongest
ground for supposing that included
in the German losses are two battle
ships, two dreadnaught cruisers of
the most powerful type, two of the
latest light cruisers, the Wiesbaden
and Elbing, light cruiser of the Ro-
stock type, the light cruiser Frauen-
lob, nine destroyers and a submarine"
| Admiral Beatty, 1t is declared, also
returned safely to port and is the hero
of the great conflict. In the face of
overwhelming odds he made, stand
up fight until JeIlico came to his res.
cue. Admiral Beatty's Wits is ia daugh.
ter of the late Marshall Field of CHI.
cago.
The first reports of the heavy loss
of life have not been revised. Great
Britain mourns for more than 1000
of her best seamen, and the whole
nation is oppressed with sadness.
which is reflected in the faces of all
the people of London.
| Rear Admiral Honorable Horace
Lambert Hood. second in command to
vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, and
Captains Sowerby, Cay and PROVE
were lost. with many others whose
names are not yet known.