Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-07
Reports to Admiralty on
Battle Against Ger
mans off Jut-
land Bank.

In these words Vice Admiral Sir
John Il. Jellicoe. commander-in chief
of the home fleet, opens his report to
the Admiralty on the battle over which
there has been so much discussion.
Continuing, Admiral Jcllicoe says
"rhe ships OF the grand fleet. in
pursuance Of the general policy OF
periodical sweeps through the North
Sea. had left its base on the previous
day, In accordance with instructions
issued by me In the carly afternoon
OF Wednesday,, 3ist of May, the first
and second battle cruiser squadrons
and dcstroycrs from the first, ninth,
tenth and thirteenth fotillas, sup
ported by the NTH battle squadron.
were. in accordance with my directions.
scouting to the southwark of the
battle fleet. which was accompanied by
the third battle cruiser squadron, the
first and second cruiser squadrons, the
fourth light cruiser squadron and the
fourth, eleventh and twelfth flotilas.
The junction Of the battle fleet with
the scouting force after the enemy
had been sighted was delayed. owing
TO the southerly course stcered by our
advanced force during the first hour
after commencing their action with
the enemy battle cruisers. This. or
course. was unavoidable, as had our
battle cruisers not followed the enemy
to the southwark. the main fleets
would never have been in contact
IN KEEPING WITH BEST
TRADITIONS OF SERVICE
The battle cruiser feet. gallantly
led by NiceAdniral Beatty. and ad-
mirably supported by the ships of the
hnft Il,
Admiral Evans-Thomas fought the ac-
tion under. at times, disadvantagcous
conditions. especially in regard TO the
light in a manner that was in keeping
with the best traditions of the service"
Admiral Jellicoe estimates the Ger
man losses at TWO battleships Of the
Drcadnought type, one Of the Deutch-
land type, which was seen 10 sink;
the battle cruiser Lutzow. admitted by
the Germans; one battle cruiser of the
Dreadnought type, one battle cruiser.
seen to he so severely damaged that
its return was extremely doubtful; five
light cruisers seen TO sink, one of them
possibly Il battleship; six dcstroycrs.
seen to sink; three destroycrs dam
aged that Il was doubtful If they would
DO able To reach port. and suhma-
rnc sunk. In concluding. Admiral Jcl-
licoe says the conditions of low visi-
Dility under which the day action took
place, and the approach of darkness,
enhanced the difficulty of giving an ac-
cura,e report Of the damage inflicted.
But he adds that the list shown gives
the minimum numbers. though it is
possible ii is not accurate as regards
the particular class of vessel especially
those which were sunk during the
night attack.
81 deeply regret" says the report.
"to report the loss OF His Majcsty's
ships Queen Mary, IndcfatiGablc. In
vinciblc, Defense, Black Prince. War
rior Tippcrary. Ardent. Fortune. Shark.
Sparrow Hawk. Nestor. Nomad and
Turbulent. Still more do ] regret the
resultant heavy loss of life. The death
Of such gallant and distinguished off,
GERS as Arbuthnot, Hood, Captain
Sowcrby, Captain Prowse. Captain Cay.
Captain Bonhan. Captain Charles J.
Wintour and Captain Stanley B. Ellis
and those who periShed with them is Il
serious loss TO the navy and to the
country. They led officers and men
who were equally gallant and whose
death is mourncd by their comrades in
the grand fleet They fell doing their
duty nohly-a death which they would
have been first 10 desire
CONDUCT OF ENEMY
PRAISED by ADMIRAL
The enemy fought with the gallan-
try that was expected of him. We par
ticulariy admired the conduct of those
on board a disabled German light
cruiser which passed down the British
10 nft
heavy fire. which was returned by the
only gun left in action. Tho conduct
of the officers and men was entirely
beyond praise
Especial mention is made of the cool
ness of the engine-room crews who
performed their duty without the in
centive that spurred tho men OH deck.
The work OF the fleets medical officers
is also commended.
The hardest fighting fell to tho bat.
tie cruiser fleet. says Admiral Jollicoe,
the units of which were less heavily
armorcd than their opponents. and he
expresses high appreciation of the
handling of all the vessels, and COM
mends Admirals Burney. Jerram, Stur-
dee, Evans-Thom Duff and Levison,
and continues:
"Vice- Admiral Sir David Beatty. once
again showed his fine qualities OF gall
liant leadership, firm determination and
correct strategic fighting. He appre-
ciated situations at once on sighting
the first enemy's lighter forces. then
his battle cruisers, finally his battle
ships. I can fully sympathize with
his feelings when tho evening mist
and fading light robbed the fleet Of
that complete victory for which he had
maneuvered. for which tho vessels In
company with him had striven so
hard"
Vice-Admiral Beatty's report to Ad-
Continued on Fifth Pago.)