Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-03
NAVAL. OFFICERS ANXIOUS
FOR DETAILS OF BATTLE
Men in Washington will Not Hazard
Statements as to Where
Victory Rests.
COMPARISON OF STATEMENTS
Relative Strengths OF Fleets Not Ma
terially Affected, in View OF Amer.
lean Ofiicers-Alay Give Valuable
Points i'm u. S. Preparedness Plans.

-
WASHINGTON. June NAVAL officers
and members of the congressional naval
committees were eagerly awaiting to-
night details OF the naval battle be-
tween the German and British fleets
Measer reports established beyond
question that it was the most import
ant naval engagement OF the war in
points of ships involved and casualties,
whatever It's effect otherwise may be.
Lacking knowledge of the object
sought by the German fleet. officers
here would not hazard statements as
to where victory rested.
While the British suffered the loss
OF more ships. according to the official
statements of both sides, II they parted
an attempted raid and drove a con-
siderable fleet back to base without
its having come i'm sight of the Eng
lish coast, they could claim success
II was thought. On the other hand.
il the movement of the German fleet
described merely as an enterprise by
the German official statement. was only
an exercise cruise or an attempt to
lure the enemy into a trap, apparently
the victory was theirs.
The British statement says the battle
cruisers bore the brunt of the engage
ment. 1t also indicates hazy wea ther
| Under these conditions. 1t was thought
possible the German commander saw
an opportunity TO swoop down on the
British force with battleships to out
match the battle cruisers before a sup
porting force of British battlcships
could come to their aid. The fact that
the German pre- Drcadnought Pommern
was sunk during the fight shows that
tho Germans had battleships with
them.
RUNNING FIGHT DOWN
DANISH COAST ENSUES
When the four fast battleships sent
out to supper, the lighter craft reached
the scene. according TO this view. the
Germans decided TO draw off to Will
! helmshaven, and a running fight down
the Danish coast enSued.
! Neither official statement tells how
the British battle cruisers were lost.
| Nor do they state definitely which fleet
was compelled to draw off. The Brit
ish statement says the Germans avoided
| prolonged action with the main British
! force. presumably meaning the support
| ing battleships. Officers pointed out,
however, that the German statement
reported that survivors Of one of the
sunken British battle cruisers were
picked up BY German ships. This was
taken as an indication that the Germans
were advancing at that time.
1t was thought possible the British
battle cruisers had been enticed INTO
a mine field, or into waters where sub
marines had been stationed previously.
The battle has not materially affected
the relative strengths of the fleets. &C
cording to the view OF American Of
hcers. The German admitted losses
do not represent serious curtailment
of her sea lighting force. While the
British losses are much greater, they
have n greater reserve strength. more
ships of every type and the loss OF
the three hattie cruisers. two of which
| were comparatively old, is not thought
to have weakened the naval prepondcr-
ance of the allies in any serious degree.
OFFICERS NOTE ACCURACY
OF GERMAN REPORTS
officers noted the accuracy OF the
German reports of damage inflicted
uron the British fleet. comparing It
with the list of ships admitted by the
British 10 have been sunk. The Brit
ish statement, 1t was said. did not dis
close the same degree OF observation