The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-21
r1rr, cREArEsr SEA F1GHT.

During the summer two marlunne
events of utmost importance drew
Universal attention to the North sea,
avs September Popular Mechanics
Magazine. One was the colossal clash
Il the worlds matchless sea forces,
of the coast of Jutland; the other,
he loss of the cattle cruiser "Hamp-
hire" west of the Orkneys, with Lord
kitchener and his staff aboard.
Neutrals are not so much con-
-erned with the question of the victor
As with the significant lessons unfold
d by the engagement of the British
zrand fleet and the German high-seas
Ieet. For the first time, modern ma
sal engines were pitted against each
other in a terrific death struggle, the
supreme sea fight of the ages. The
massive dreadnaught, the swift crui-
ser. and the mosquitolike destroyer
we're brought into play, and their &C
nal capabilities given the initial. tell
lng test Likewise the submarine and
air craft assumed roles which pre-
.iously they had little more than re-
hearsed-
As a whole, the battle has indicated
he contentious consistently voiced by
3ur general board in its annual recon-
n.endations to the secretary of the
AMY It has proved the superiority
Of the heavily armored dreadnaught;
the tactical value of the cruiser, and
also the latter's utter inability to face
big guns; the usefulness of the agile
destroyer for striking quick, telling
blows even in daylight, and the abil-
lty of big battleships to resist torpedo
attacks. 1t has convincingly disclosed
the faIlacy of placing reliance in any
ane type of vessel to the extent of
gnoring others. and has shattered the
hasty assumption, expressed early in
The war, that the submarine sounds
the death kneli of the dreadnaught.
Regardless of the contentious of
pither side. the losses appear to have
been about as great in one case as in
the other. The points of real signifi-
canoe are that the German fleet failed
In its avowed purpose to break the
bonds that bottled it up. and in the
midst of battle retired under cover of
darkness and fog, leaving the British
In undisputed mastery of the sea.
Owing largely to atmospheric con-
ditions, amounting to low visibility,
the action occurred at close range.
This precludes any deduction as TO the
relative merits of the heavy guns in
volved. The opening shots were fired
at a range of 1o.5 miles. but those
were few. Vessels within IS miles of
zach other shot broadsides. while the
average range of the fight was about
Sc miles. a distance at which all guns
are effective.
At 2:20 o'clock on the afternoon of
May 81, the presence of enemy YES
sells, accompanied by Zeppelins, was
reported by a British scout boat. At
3;31 o'clock the enemy was sighted,
led by five battle cruisers. Two light
cruiser squadrons under Vice Admiral
Beatty swept toward the east, screen
ing the advance of the battle-cruiser
squadron under Admiral Evan-Thom-
as. The Danish coast and the dark
eastern horizon formed a background
for the dull-colored German fleet
while the British ships were sill
houetted before the sun. Low visi-
bility, periodically caused by mist and
rain. worked to the disadvantage of
the Britons.
Admiral Beatty's problem was one
Ut holding the advancing German
fleet. already in battle formation. un-
I'll battleship squadrons, spread across
the North sea. could rush to the scene.
20 do this he had to go into action
0ith cruisers. knowing that they could
not stand punishment from formidable
dreadnaughts and that some would be
sacrificed.
As darkness set in. the battle po-
sitons were constantly changed, the
German fleet began to disappear in the