Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-05
Nation While Mourning
Staggering Loss, is
Optimistic
STORIES OF HORROR
Hope of English That More Sur
yivors of the Engagement Wouh
Appear Shattered

London, June 5-The hope of many
English families, members OF whlch
were on the ships lost in the great
Skagerak sea fight, that some OF the
men would be rescued, is being slowly
crushed by the tales of the awful
ness brought in by vessels which nave
reached Copenhagen since the elFtle.
But with the crushing Of this hope,
pride in the navy is growing hourly
with continued insistence of the Brit
ish admiraly that the Germans lost
far more heavily than they admit.
"There seems to be the strongest
ground for supposing that included
in the German battle losses are two
Lattleships, two dreadnaughts battle
cruisers of the most powerful type
two of the latest light cruisers, the
V.iesbaden and the Elbing; light
cruiser of the Rostock type, the hght
cruiser Frauenlob, nine destroyers,
and submarine" the statement salH
The admitted German loss in ton
mage is now 32.515 tons. The British
claim an additional 1920 tons, which
would bring the German total to ll3,-
t35. The British admit the loss OF
114.lO0 tons.
All of the sailors of the vessels
that have passed through the battle
IN the waters since the battle agreed
thas m nearly every instance the loss
of life with the destruction Of the
ships must have been nearly total,
ships arriving in Copenhagen report.
Hundreds of the seamen jumped to
RATS and were slowly driven insane
bv the torture of thirst. Some drank
salt water, and going stark-crazy,
fought with weakened companions,
jumped into the sea. and were drown
ed.
The dispatches also state that many
large German cruisers, which here
toforc have been patroling the Cour-
land coast (Russiai, have been With
drawn.
Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty Is
today looked upon as one OF Great
Britain's illustrious naval heroes.
With the men of the feet he is an
idol.
They all agree that when the Ger
man battle losses become fully known
it will be shown that the action was
] glorious victory for the British
navy.
The admiralty report that the War
spite was not sunk, as claimed by the
Germans, is confirmed by seacoast re-
ports saying that she limped into
port under her own steam late Thurs
day. the day after the battle. :,
Sailors said the battle was fought
in sea calm AS millpond with
mist hanging low, making firing at
the longer ranges almost impossible.
at sounded like forty thunder"
storms rolled into one" was the de-
scription of one. Most briefed 1t is by
saying it was "hell."
London. June 5--The British ad-
miralty last night issued a statement
saving there was the strongest ground
for the belief that the British navy
in the battle with the Germans or
Jutland last week had accounted for
a total of eighteen German men-of-war
and that there was nothing to add to
or subtract from the original am
nouncement of the British losses.
The statement gave the German
losses as two battleships, two dread
noucht battle cruisers, four light
cruisers. nine torpedoboat destroyers
and a submarine.
The admiralty declares that pending
the compilation of details these facts
have been positively established. Tha
German reports of the battle are de-
clared to be false. The German los@
ses,were heavier than the British, moi
merely in proportion, but positively.
the admiralty declares. /
The arrival on the scene Of battle
of the main body of the British high
seas fleet was the signal for the Ger.
man feet to speed back to its base.