Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-10
BRITISH POWER
SHOWN AT BASE
Correspondents, Under Escort OF
Officers, View Mighty Force Of
I Cruisers and subseas.
A VAST NAVAL RENDEZVOUS

LONDON. Jan. 9.-Under escort |
of officers assigned by the ad-
miralty. a correspondent OF the As
ISOLATED Press and party of for
eign Journalists we're given the first
opportunity to visit one Of the great |
naval bases on the coast where |
cruisers, destroyers and submarines |
are assembled for their watch over
the North Sea and from which point
big ocean-gofng submarines are
sent on forages TO the Baltic and the
Dardanelles.
II was an impressive sight OF con-
centrated power and alert readiness
with long lines OF battle-scarred |
cruisers stretching seward and
headed by the famous Arethusa'
back OF them a vast flotilla OF de-
stroyers. then a countless number OF
submarines Of the latest d and u
type, which have recently performed
such brilliant work from the Oar
danelles to the Bosphorus and
throughout the Baltic.
Vast Naval Rendezvous.
The day. was typical OF the rigors the
British fleet is now experiencing In the
North sea, with rain peltins the sailors
in oilskins. a north wind cutting the sea
into foam ana seagulls everywhere. The
little fishing village on the coast had
been transformed by the war into vast
naval rendezvous with storehouses
stretching half mile. prepared to re-
equip an armada and send It back 10 sea
within two hours of its arrival.
Here also were the mother" ships
ranged In long lines along the quay.
ready TO receive back their fighting chill
drcn each time they came from raid or
battle.
The huge establishment was vibrating
with energy and in the harbor mine
swoepers acre coming back from their
work; hydroaeroplanes were maneuverinG
and black smoke from the tunnels Of the
cruisers and destroyers told OF their
readiness to dash out to sea after an
enemy craft.
The Arethusa and the light cruiser
squadron had Just returned from scouting
along the German coast in search of a
German fleet which was said 20 have
NothinR seen Of Fleet.
Nothing had been seen of the German
ships and the British officers-the same
who had received their stars in the
famous fights under Vice Admiral Sir
David Beatty--were derisive at the idea
that the Germans would venture forth.
One OF the officers was In command OF
the torpedo tubes. when they fired the
deaiy missiles which struck the German
cruiser Bluechsr and sent II Keeling TO
the bottom IN the great fight OF last jan
nary. He. pointed out these self-sams
tubes and told how they had worked,
First We let so that one" he said,
and then this one. II was this one that
hit the Bluecher amldship. II was lyins
off there about 1900 yards. The thins
that impressed me after we hit II war
the deadly stiffness 1t was terribly still
until the great big ship. threw up iii
bow. turned clean over and sank
''Yes. this Is the one that did IT, and
he pattedl this terrible death dealins
engine affectionateiy. as II It were hi
child. as m truth It had been since h
laid the Blueeher low.
scars All over ship.
Scars Of battle were all over the ship
which the officers pointed out with tn
pride that Heidelberg students displays
when he exhibits his wounds.
A deck gallery amidships had been en-
tirely shot away, n melanite shell hav
ing expioeod In II. This has been 70
built. One dent In the side srmor wa
pointed out as big as a waahbowl. TIL
upper works were literally psppered wit
shrspnel. but the scars were neatl!
bandaged with two-lneh riyeted stee
plates, 80 that the saucy Arethusa wa
again as good as ever.
The party now went aboard the lai
est type of big destroyers. which ar
here ranged in great battalions. wit
steam up. They are very fast. som
Of them making thirty-seven or thirty
eight knots, and even touching fort,
two knots or a measured mile, Will
all OF them regularly do thirty-flve knot
on regular service.
Ugly a. Monsters.
Lying outside OF them we're the sui
marines Of the d and Il type. the la
ter being sea going craft OF great radiu
which are now making distant undo
sea voyages 90 the Baltic and the Dard
neiles. The smaller d boats have Il
trim outlines OF an eight-oarod raciI
shell. but the big new ocean range
are a. ugly as some submarine monsts
with a steel fin running fore and a
and a camel's hump amidshlps for
deck. one Of the commanders point
out their fine qualities.
They can stay under water for %
enty-two hours." he said. yes. thI
days without any Inconvenience to I
crew from lack Of air. The d boa
are good for runs OF twenty-four hou
under water"