New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-04

valuable as local protection. is poor
strategy.
on the other hand. Bslfour's sup
nortcrs hold that the German heet was
out for an cast coast raid when 10 was
irtcrcepted and the result Of the en-
,crprisc showed the wisdom OF BRUSH
strategy.
Germanv's tribute 20 British pluek
and ealantty IS returned by British Of
Gcers. who say the fight wac fairly con-
tested and that they are satisfied.
An Official statement issued tonight
referring 90 German wireless mes
sage 70 the embassy AT Washington 10
day containing the report OF the
sreech Of the President Of the keiehs-
TAG notes that the loss OF the batue-
ship Warspite again is ohclalIy al
frmed. -.
"This is untrue" the statement oe-
clares. chat ship having returned 10
harbor."
"The loss OF lhe destroyer Alcaster'"
the statement continues. "also - an
rounced. This is untrue. that vessel
also having returned 10 her base.
"The names Of three British destroy
ers not hitherto identified, making a
total Of eight lost. reported in an Of
fcial statement issued carly in the
day are the Nomad. Nestor and
shark
Calls Claims Uniustifed.
The Amsterdam Handelsblad," com
pairing the British and German oihclal
reports Of the big sea battle, points out
the differences m the statements re-
garding the losses. The newspaper be
- n
were able TO take TO port some Of their
badly damaged big vessels, and consid-
ers the Germans enthusiasm over their
"naval victory" hardly justified. be
cause. with the destruction OF some OF
their vessels. EnClard's sea power has
not az all been destroyed
The German fleet returned 10 It's
harbors." adds the paper, "and, just as
before Wednesday, Germany remains
bottled Up in an iron girdle drawn
across the sea which cuts her of from
overseas countries. The naval battle
Of Jutland. in view of the gigantic
enemy losses, is success for the
Young German navy, but success
which brings no decisions and ,oes not
alter It's naval positions
Nothing Known of Tactics.
Official accounts of the North Sea
battle are framed in terms so general
that no accurate idea of the tactics en-
ploved can be gathered. Naval experts
comment in restrained manner on the
probabilities of this greatest naval con-
test since the war began. The main
outline Of operations seems 10 be as
follows;
The action took place off the coast
Of Jutland. between Skagerak and
Horns Reef. which lies some twenty
miles due west Of Esbierg, Denmark
Therefore il would appear that the
German battle feet came out from
Wilhelmshaven and not from kiel.
The strength of the Germans is not
STAYED. but II is assumed that the main
high sea fleet was present, including
battleships. battle-eruisers, light cruis-
ers and destroyers.
The strength Of the British force
has not been made known, although It
is sscertained there were present the
battle-cruiser squadron, four battle
ships. some armored cruisers, a num-
Der Of light cruisers and force of de
stroyers. It was this feet that first
engaged the German High Sea feet.
Action at Short Range.
There was low visibility, which
means that the weather was thick and
the range Of vision was perhaps not
more than six miles. Therefore the
sction was fought at short range. in
which both the main and secondary
ornaments were brought TO bear. The
German battleships mount very power
ful secondary ornaments, so that the
British battle cruisers were exposed
fo q
three Of them being destroyed.
These vessels are not designed for
close fighting in the line of battle"
says the naval expert of "The Post
but for fighting 1t high speed and at
long range, in which they proved ex-
traordinarily successful in the battle
Of the Falkland Islands and in the &C
tion in the North Sea in January, 1915.
Il is significant that in the battleship
squadron supporting the battle cruis-
ers no ships were sunk. The three
armored cruisers. Of which two were
sunk and one abandoned, are not fitted
10 lie in the line OF battle. In these
vessels the British navy still retains a
great numerical superiority"
Eight Destroyers Lost.
At this period Of the action and sub
sequently eight destroyers were lost.
1t is the Office Of the destroyer fotilla
10 form an advance screen for the
heavier ships in order 10 guard against
submarine attacks As they are UNI
armored, they are highly vulnerable.
1T is clear" the naval expert Of
"The Post" writes further, that the
fleet which first engaged the Germans
was reinforced by the main forces, and
that this reinforcement, after infictinc
severe damage upon the German fleet,
compelled il 10 retreat, or, as the chief
Of the German staff puts the matter,
the High Sea feet returned 10 port in
the course Of the day. When the &C
tion was fairly joined the German feet
turned to fight.
British Losses Greater.
az we are 10 reckon the result OF
the action in comparative losses we
may say that the British losses were
greater than the German, but that in
other respects the losses on either side
are about even. The result Of gen.
eral engagement is 20 be estimated not
in comparative losses. but in the ulti-
mate issue, which was the speedy re-
treat into harbor Of the German feet
The British fleet. despite its losses in
brave men and fine ships, remained at
sea, victorious.
There is another point. II is that
by the admirable strategic dispositions
Of Jellicoe and his prompt, decisive &C.
tion the German feet was caught, held
and beaten close 10 the German coast
long before it could approach British
shores"
tle-CruiSerS