The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-15
NAVAL BATTLES OF THE
WORLD WAR
BY g. KAY SPENCER
written for tho International
News Scryice.)
BATTTE or TN skAGERRAK.
BY G. KAY SPENCER

I The fogg! first of June, 1916, saw
the greatest battle on the sea the
world has evec known. 1t was on
this day tina, two mighty fleets of
/ steel met IN the waters of Jutland;
two fiee's-one the bulwark of de-
mocracy and the other the aEgres-
sive weapon Of that most detestable
of monarchies-- aunland. The world
shuddered on the fatefui evening Of
that dreary day when the ether vi
hrated messages OF victory--victory
TO the Hun and the imperial German
navy was speeding on back to its
base for a much-needed recuperation.
for Il had been hurt
This day, the first day of June. is
suspicious in British faval history
as the date on viii n. one hundred and
/ twenty three years ago, an English
feet under Lord Howe comprising
twenty-five ships OF the line, defeated
the equal French feet under Villaret
$50 miles off Ouessant. In the years
to come the celebration of the day
viii be saddened nv the memorial TO
the gallant ships which went down
off SkSgerrak
On this modern first Of June the
kentire fleets OF British met the entire
German navy, with the British nu-
mertcally stronger in ratio Of two
TO one. Navigating conditions. how
ever. were all in favor Of the enemy
due 10 what some experts have de-
clared 10 be sheer luck. The German
claim is that superior stra egy won
Them the day.
Il had long been the strategy OF
both admiralties to patrol the length
OF the North sea in force Roth
claimed as their object the Turing
out of the opposing fleet for de
cisIve fight On open water. Though
both fleets welcomed the opportunity
to try their teel certain il is that
this battle in partic liar came about
By mere chance and was not planned
beforehand IL any greater extent than
the usual preparations for eventuali-
ties on all the units during the dam
gerous patrol work
Without h@ving my certain knowl-
edge, on the presence of the German
high seas feet, the British feet
cruised far north between Scotland
and Norway The German navy got
wind of this fact, and its reconnoi-
tering cruisers rushed northward until
/ they sighted the foe off the south
coast Of Norway, Vice Admiral Hip
per in command of the German cruis-
/ ers, immediately engaged the English
I who were far superior in number Ad-
miral Scheer. commanding the high
seas feet hurried with all possible
speed - the scene, determined to
make the most Of this chance meeting
with Admiral Sir David Beatty
The fog bank shat shrouded the en-
/ trance to Skagerrak was to play
an important role. Hidden by this
fog, the English main fleets reached
the scene, and az 100 p. NJ. were east
OF the German fleets ami unobserved
by the fighting German cruisers De
spite this advantageous position Ad-
miral Jellicoe, commanding tn Eng
hsfi high seas fleet, wns un able tr
judge, from the gunfre of the Ger.
man ships. their for nation and mum.
Der, and SO lost valuable time, instead
of al once attacking the German
fleet. unconscious of its peri Not
until $40 did the battleships succe ed
in opening fire on the German higt
seas fleet
When the line Of British battleships
became dimly visible on the horizon
. seven and one-haif miles distant
the German admiral at once realized
!, the seriousness of the situation Will
admiF3 BILE courage the. German tor
spe,t0 fleets threw themselves upoi
the heavy English line. which re
celYed them with a deadly fire of al
} 10 make out the water lines of tn
, British ships, which had clipped hacI
into the fog bank, and the Germat
T gurners had only the flashes of tn
British guns as guides
! The hattie between the two mai
feefs lasted over an hour and tn
precision of the Hun fire was tellin
. tr9 gically. The German tire was III,
snuous snake, at all times undo
the most complete control of the flag
: ship indeed, the strategy of the en-
n envy in this fght has been write
into naval history as a valuable an
useful lesson in modern sea ighfin
with all the various eng mes of mod
err fleet
The British ships could not keep /
d contact under the repeated Hun or
slauShts. and were compelled to cesr
hring. Even before nlehtfall the
had lost touch with the enemy an
disappeared in the fog During tn
might the German fleet proceeded a
moderate speed toward Horn Riff /
:. the damp darkness the long line c
German ships were repeatedly attach
ed by the British cruisers and DESTROY
ers, but at sunrise not a single BIRTHS
ship was visible
Admiral Scheer conducted his fee
~ quickly TO Hellgoland to make re
e pairs Of which n stood desperatel
& in need, for be had suffered greatI
in withdrawing from the embrace {
y a superior foe. --4--.--------