Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-03
ALL GERMANY REJO|CEs
IN VICTORY OF FLEET
Doubtful Whether HALL OF VcrdIn
Would Have Caused Greater
Public Satisfaction.
FEELING rs ONE or ELATIoN
Some Astonishment Also That Kai-
scr's Young Navy" Could Deliver
Such Crushing Defeat on Superior
Naval Force.

Especial Gable to The Times Dispatch
BERLIN. June 2.-It is doubtful
whether tho fall VI Ncrtiun would have
caused greater public rejoicing than
the news of Gcrmany's naval victory In
the North Sea.
From the Emperor down the feel
ing is one of the sreutest clation. mixed
with astonishment. The Germans had
believed it possible that their young
navy" nigh, holl its own, ship for
ship with Britains veterans Of the
that il could deliver "a crushing defeat
on Il superior force.
The FIRST information OF the victory
was gained from the official statement
issued by the admiralty this morning..
This official statement was supple
ncntcd this afternoon in tho Rci..h-
stag. when ADMIRAL Hebbinghuusc, di-
rector OF the Naval Department. told
the members: The whole German bat.
tie fleet. commanded by Admiral S.hec;.
on Wednesday afternoon met h.
British BATH" fleet. which included
thirty-four big. modern units The
LATHE lasted until o'clock at night
attacks between cruisers and torpedo
boats followed throughout the nigh
THE result Was significant SUI
cess for our forces against Il mucn
stronger adversary. In addition to tho
known losses, nine or ten British de.
stioyers were destroyed, six being dis
posed of by the battlcship Westplan
~ dehntc statement as to the Ger
man loss OF life is impossible.
III Is evident that some of tho Ger
man ships We're considerable damaged
but major portion of the Zee, has
returned To its harbor. The morale
OF the crews is excellent"
PRESIDENT or REICHSTAG
ADDRESSES MEMBERS
This public announcement was fol-
lowed by an address from the prcsi-
dent OF the Reichstag delivered to
the members with ali standing He
said:
I'm tho first collision between our
naNa! forces and the pick of the Eng
lish feet we have gained Il great and
have been lost. and many Of our sail
orS have persisted. but the English
losses are several times greater. Above
all. proof has been given that our fleet
is able TO face II superior British force
and gain victory for which we
lutte and thank our navy"
Personal commentator from the
Emperor To his fleet will he given to-
morrow. when the Kaiser il expected
to arrive al WilhclInshaven to inspect
the returning Of war vessels.
The TaGes Zeitung describes the en-
caEement as the greatest naval battle
Of modern times. II adds:
Against 4 loss of three of the most
powerful D,radnoughts, We suffered
no similar loss. our success was
achieved against forces, considerably
superior IN numbers. our young
navy has shown great superiority
against the greatest fleet in the
world.
Berlin papers assert that the British
losses represent more than 100000 tons
Of big units. whereas the German
losses amount to only 1900 tons
Captain Persius. writing in the Ber
liner TaGebiatt. says:
The great sea battle. which has been
North Sea since the beginning OF the
war, has now been fought. and has
passed off in manner which will
awaken in Germany the greatest joy
and satisfaction.
My opinion is that the German feet
has achieved a great success. Whether
gun, torpedo or submarine played the
greatest role is at the moment not
known. Part Of the losses of tho Eng
list ncet are ships Of the very latest
pattern, and equipped with the very
latest material
The German fleet. in an open sea
battle, without amy coastal support
has dealt conuuerinE blow at the
strongest fleet in the world"