Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-12
BRITISH FIRST LINE
FLEET is READY
Correspondent Describes Visit to the
Great Modern Armada in
the North Sea.
BATTLE CRUISERS HOLD HoEoRs

COMBW hbhE IN NE NUN ~
SEA. Feb 11.-(via London -
Great Britain's first line offensive
fleet, an incompatible combination
Of speed and gunpower. ready for
instant action, was inspected yes
terday by q party OF French and
American correspondents and a
representative OF the Associated
Press was permitted to view from
the bridge OF a torpedo boat the
naval unit which IL expected TO meet
the first shock Of German attack
In the fleet were virtually all the
veteran fighting craft. which have
been in action in this war. but they
showed few scars, with the excep-
ton Of an occasional dent in their
armor. The pride Of place was held
by battle cruisers which In engage
ments from the Falkland Isles 20
the Dardanelles have born the brunt
OF the sea fighting.
Unpopular with officers and men be-
fore the war because they were con
stantiy coaling and never more than
cautiously praised by the proponents Of
the superdreadpaught policy. these huge
fighting machines hold the premier POSI-
ton In the British navy. I'm which war
ship speed is now regarded ~ the first
and most important principle Of naval
strategy.
Eyes NJ the fleet.
The correspondents left the naval base
under n sunny sky and on reaching the
outlying patrol OF torpedo boats found
the water covered with n light hare.
There was no sea running. A. the
launch with the visitors on board turned
toward the line Of battle cruisers against
the horizon they could sec the eyes"
OF the fleet. in the form Of few prowl-
ing destroyerS. which keep up incessant
watch. not only 20 protect their mighty
sisters from submarine attack. but TO
catch the first view OF any adventure
sonne German warshlp which might poke
its nose into tho open North Sea.
Looming through the mist could be
heen the giant tripod masts. which iden-
titled the fleet az including the very lat
est type OF battle cruisers. and soon the
launch was az the foot Of the boarding
ladder OF a huge battle cruiser which
got rs baptism Of fire at Heleoland
Blight. ana later bore an honorable share
in the DoREer Bank action.
Before lunch the visitors were permit
ted 20 enter any portion OF the ship
they chose and those not too heavy got
through the trap door In the top OF a
turret, the only entrance left open In
war time. and ocoupied themselves
chiefly IN watching the youthful turret
commander operate q huge las inch gun
with the same ease that q man handies
a sporting rifie. From the time the
charge and the projectile leave the am
munition hoist 20 the actual discharEn
OF the gun they watched the operation
which makes the turret the most ini-
porsant part Of the fighting ship.
Lleu 7lan sears Of Rattle.
me party then iunched as guests Of the
diviaionai rear admiral. who was using
the cruiser a. his flagship, then were
taken ON board the cruiser IAons which
was Admiral Boatty'a flagship In ne
DoeRer Bank battle. With the exception
Of Z dent in us forward tnrret armoF
ana a similar scar Junt above the wator
line tsss show vessel Of the British navy
dlsplnys little sign OF the terrific harn-
mering Il got when three oreman battle
cruisers concentrated their fire on q.
Carefully mounted in the companion
way Il an eloven-inch unexploded shell
which the Beydlite hurled through tho
I.lon armof below the water line.
No evidence has ever been found 70
Justify the story that the Lion was tor
pedoed. but Sc officers and crew ars
eth maryeiIns at the slight harm done
her vital parts BY the rain OF heavy
shells.
No sign was left Of the tweive-inch
shell which blew In the buikhead OF tho
admirars quarters after going through
the deck, except the casing and cap
occupying the place Of honor among toe
Lions trophies.
Even the captains bath tub which was
hurled overheard by the explosion OF an
elght-inch shel which probably came
from the Bluecher. has bean replaced.
The engine rooms OF the IAon showed
no sign OF the ship ever having been IN
battle.
The shell which did the most damage
did not penetrate the armor casing Of
the engine room. but dented Il in 30 fer
that salt water got into a broken fee 4
pipe This reduced it's speed from TWEEN
ty-seven to eighteen knots and forced
Il to withdraw from the battle, In which
any vessel speeding less than twenty
five knots had no chance OF keeping tbs
range OF the fleeing Germans.
The tripod masts. with the contro
bridge and the crows nest had not beer
subjected TO a severe trial. az the sec
ondary batteries Of the German ship
never had been within range and IN,
big guns devoted their attention 70 Tn,
mere vital parts OF the ship.
Party visita the Tiger.
A torpedo boat picked up a portion
Of the party from the Lion and the re
mainder from the almost equally cele
brated Tiger. which looked like a newl,
commissioned ship. despits tho man
timea Il was reported 10 have BEEF
sunk.
The oil burning torpedo boat tore aloni
the impressive line Of battle cruisers 4
the battle formation IN which they ca
pect 70 meet the German fleet.
Beyond the battle cruisers a long lin
OF light cruisers Lost itself IN the fo1
some % thess vessels are veterans an
sh0w signs Of the rough patrol wor
they are called upon constantly TO a,
but many are newly commissioned an
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