The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-06-10
THE WARS PROGRESS.

Great events have transpired
in the arena of the European war
within the past ten days. The biggest
naval battle in the worlds history
took Mace on Wednesday, May 81, on
tbe coast of Jutland, Denmark, IN the
North Sea, between German ana
British fleets variousiy estimated as
comprising from forty to a hunofea
vessels each. with all classes from
battleships to submarines represent
cd. The fight began at 3:l5 IN the
q ftarnoon and continued until day.
hreak next morning. The British
Acct lost three battle cruisers, three
armored cruisers, eight destroyers
and one submarine, or fifteen vessels
in all, together with nearly 5o0o OIL
fcers and sailors. According to Ger
man accounts the casualties in the
kaiser's feet were considerably fewer,
both as to the number and tonnage OF
vessels and the loss of life among the
crews, but the British admiralty
charges that these reports are moor
rect and purposely minimized, ana
that in point of fact the German fleet
lost the same number of vessels as
did the British, including two battle
ships, two battle cruisers, four 4lght
cruisers, six destroyers and a sub
marine. Each nation claims that its
fleet was last on the scene OF battle
and that the other retired. The Ger
mans vigorously contradict the
enemy's statement of the results OF
the great conflict and proclaim the
outcome as a brilliant and substantial
German victory.
The next event in order OF gravity
and Importance is the drowning OF
Lord Kitchener and MS staff by the
destruction of the cruiser Hampshire
off the West Orkney Islands, north OF
Scotland, last Monday evening. 1t IS
not known whether the vessel struck
mine or was torpedoed by. a sub
marine, but it is known that she went
down in few minutes after the ex-
plosion and that every soul on board
was lost. Four boats were seen to
leave the vessel, but heavy sea was
running and none of the boats has
since been heard of. Earl Kitchener,
| England's foremost soldier, was on
his way to Russia on an important
! military mission, accompanied by two
prominent English diplomats, brig
adler general and a number OF minor
army officers. The disaster has ere,
ated profound sensation throughout
Great Britain. exceeding that which
| followed the news of the capitulatior
of Gen. ToWnsend's besieged army
at Kut-El-Amara to the Turks severa
weeks ago.
The Germans are keeping up thei1
terrific drive against Verdun, and ap
pear determined to capture thu
stronghold without regard to the sac
rifice Of life necessary to the success!
Of the effort. The fortress of Vaux
/ FIVE miles northeast of Verdun, wa!
taken by the crown princes legloh
on Wednesday, and fierce fighting be
| tween the British and German armies
on the Ypres front this week IS claim
ed to have resulted to the advantage
/ of the Germans.
The Italians seem to have checked
the general onslaught of the Aus
trians, while the Turks claim to have
stopped the Russian advance in Meso
potamia.
/ The Russians have started genera
| offensive against the combined Aus
trian and German lines extending
i from the PTipet river to the Ruman
! ian border, q distance Of $50 miles
q and claim to have captured over 40,
4 900 prisoners and large number O
guns and other war material.