Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-06
SURVIVOR Gives
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT
OF GREAT BATTLE
SEA TURNED INTO cALDRoN AND
WATER BECOMES STIFF WITH
DEAD FISH.

/
Edinburgh, June 8 Survivors arriv-
ing here from British destroyers which
made massed attack on German
battleship in the Jutland battle are
convinced they sent to the bottom the
dreadnaught Hindenburg, the pride of
the German navy.
These sailors say that the linden
burg was struck successfully by four
torpedoes while the destroyers dashed
in alongside of her hull tearing her to
pieces until the mighty ship reeled and
sank. An officer from one of the. des-
troyers gave the following graphic ac-
count Of the battle:
"The ships of the grand fleet went
into action as II they were going into
maneuvers. From every yardarm the
white ensign few, the flag which is to
the sailor as the tattered colors were
in days Of old to a hard pressed regi-
ment. That it went hard with the bat
tie cruisers is apparent but one ship
can not fight dozen. They had fought
great fight, fight to be proud Of,
fight which will live longer than many
victory.
Tit For Tat.
I'VE fought close into the foe and If
anything is certain in the uncertainties
of naval battles it is that we gave at
least as good as we got. We passed
along the line of German ships some
miles away and let off broadside after
broadside. The air was heavy with
masses Of smoke, black, yellow. green
and every other color, which drifted
slowly between the opposing lines hid
ing sometimes friend and foe. The
enemy ships were firing very fast but
watching the ships in front one came
to the conclusion that the shooting
was decidedly erratic. Again and again
salvos of shells fell short of the mark
to be followed Immediately by others
which screamed past in the air.
Shells Cause Geysers.
II watched the Iron Duke swinging
through the seas letting of broadside
after broadside, wicked tongues of
flame leaping through clouds of smoke.
The din of battle was stunning, stupen-
dous, deafening, as hundreds of the
heaviest guns in the world roared out
at once. Great masses Of water rose in
the air like waterspouts, reaching as
high as the masts as the salvos of Ger
man shells fell short or went over
their target. Now and then a shell
found its mark but 1t left me absolute
ly cold as it's effect on each man at
time like this. A dozen men may be
knocked out at ones side. It makes no
difference. It was impossible to see
what was happening among the ships
of the foe. The smoke obscured every
thing so effeotually that one could only
get glimpse at intervals when a kind.
ly wind blew lane through the pail.
It was apparent that the best ships Of
the enemy were engaged but how many
neither eye nor glass could make out.
The number was certainly large. 1t
was equally impossible to see what
damage we we're causing. Only the
high command knew the progress of
the battle. That the damage inflicted
on the German ships was great does
not admit of any doubt. At one time
two vessels red with fire cleaned
through the smoke.
Lion Missing For a Time.
1T is curious feeling to be in the
midst of battle and not to know to
a few ships are engaged 1t Is different.
Our own losses were known with some
degree of exactness but even that was
uncertain. Thus at one time 1t was
thought that the Lion had been lost as
she did not answer any CALL It trans
p1red that her wireless had been des-
troyed.
with the dusk came the great op.
portunity of the mosquito craft and
both. sides made use Of it to the full.
It was in this way that one OF the sad
dest of many sad incidents occurred.
A DESTROYER true to its name, dashed
for the big enemy ship She soon got
into effective range and loosed her tor
pedo and with deadly effect on a Ger.
man battleship. The ship went down
and the destroyer raced for safety, the
commander and officer standing on the
bridge indulging in mutual congratula-
tions at their success. At that moment
q shell hit the bridge and wiped out
the entire group. s
Fish Cover Water.
TT was curious to note the effect OF
the fight on the sea. Calm at the be-
ginning, the water soon looked as II 1t
were under the influence Of gale 80
great was the turmoil caused by the
leviathan ships plowing at terrific
speed through the waves. The sea also
seemed to be stiff with fish killed by
the shells bursting in the water"
ENGINE MEN HAVE
TRIENNIAL MEET
Denver June 5.-With 843 delegates
present the second triennial conven-
ton Of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Enginemen and Firemen opened
haro todav at the municipal auditor