Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
Between Two British Destroyers and Six German Ships of Like Class.

6eeween TWO 6rfIiSh 6eSSrOSerS ana
 Six German Ships of Like Class.
 London. April t25, 1015 p. m.-Two British destroyers on patrol duty in the English channel off Dover on the night of April 20 came upon a f1otilla of six German destroyers and then en- sued an encounter which will live long in the history of naval engagements. German destroyers were torpedoed and rammed; every gun aboard the combatants was working, sweeping the decks and tearing gaps in the sides of the opposing craft. There was the locking together of a British and German destroyer and the men fought furiously in a hand-to-hand battle.
 Driven Into the Sea. German seamen of a rammed de- stroyer climbed aboard one of the fought them back with an automatic pistol They were killed or driven again into the sea by British jackies who came to the midshipman's aid. Swift and the Broke and although they had received much damage. they returned to port. The story of the en- gagement compiled from the accounts public in the form of an official re- port.
 Germans Opened Fire.
 The British destroyer leaders. Swift and Broke, on night patrol, were steaming on a westerly course. It was intensely dark, but calm The Swift sighted the enemy at 500 yards and the Germans instantly opened fire. There were six German destroyers, ac- cording to German prisoners. The leading enemy destroyer. She missed ramming but shot through the Ger man line unscathed and in turning. neatly torpedoed another boat in the enemy line.
 Again the Swift dashed at the lead CT, which again eluded her and fled, with the Swift in pursuit.
 Tn the meantime the Broke had In the line, which hit the mark, and then opened fire with every possible gun. The remainfS German boats were stolling furioussy for full speed. Rammed Third Boat.
 The Broke's commander swung round to port and rammed the third boat square abreast the after funnel. Locked together thus, the two boats fought a desperate to-hand con fict The Broke swept the enemy s decks at point blank range with ev- cry gun from main armament to pom pom, Maxim, rifle and pistol. Two other German destroyers at tackled and poured devastating lire on the Broke. whose foremost gun crews were reduced from eighteen to six men. Midshipman Donald Gyles, although wounded in the eye, kept all the foremost guns in action. he him. self assisting in the depleted crews to load. While he was thus employ ed a number of frenzied Germans swarmed up over the Broke's forecas- tie out of the rammed destroyer and, finding themselves amid thes- lblinding flashed of the forecastle guns, swept aft in a shouting mob.
 Midshipman's Deeds.
 The midshipman. amid the dead and wounded of his own gun crews. and half blinded by blood. met the onset single-handed with an automatic pis- tol. A German grappled with him and tried to wrest the weapon away. Cut lasses and bayonets being among the British equipment, the German was promptly bayoneted by Seaman In gleson The remainder of the invad- CTS, except two who feigned death, were driven over the side, the two be-
 Two minutes after ramming. the Broke wrenched herself free from her sinking adversary and turned to ram the last of the three remaining Ger man boats She failed in this object but in swinging around, succeeded in hitting the boats consort on the stem with a torpedo. Hotly engaged with these two fleeing destroyers. the Broke attempted to IOIlOW lHo S&41l in the direction she was last seen but a shell struck the Broke's boiler room, disabling her main engines.
 Germans Disappeared in Darkness.
 The enemy then disappeared in the darkness. The Broke, altering her course. headed toward a destroyer which a few minutes later was seen to be heavily af1re and whose crew, on sighting the British destroyer, sent up shouts for mercy. The Broke steered slowly toward the German. regardless of the danger from a possible explo- sion of the magazines. and the Ger man seamen redoubled their shouts Of rSaver Savei" and then unexpectedly opened fire.
 The Broke. being out of control. was unable to manoeuvre or extricate her self but silenced the treachery with four rounds; then. to ensure her own safety, torpedoed the German amid
 Continued Her Pursuit.
 Meanwhile the Swift continued her pursuit, but slight injuries which she received earlier in the action prevent her from maintaining full speed, so she abandoned the chase and sought fresh quarry. Sighting the outline of a stationary destroyer, from which shouts were heard, the Swift ap- preached warily with her guns trained. to find that it was the destroyer which had already been rammed by the Broke. The Germans were believing we surrender'' Fearing treachery, the Swift waited and presently the destroyer heeIed over and sank stern first, the crew jumping into the wa ter.
 Action Lasted Five Minutes.
 As no other enemy was visible, and the action, which had lasted approxi- matefy five minutes. appeared to De over. the Swift switched .. on n her ner cue the swimmers. Those who re- mained of the crews of the Swift and the Broke, after exchanging details of the action. cheered each other until they were hoarse.
 The British casualties are set down as comparatively slight. and the spirit of the wounded is illustrated by the conduct. of the Broke's helmsman. Sea man William Rowles, who, though hit four times by shell fragments. re- mained at the wheel throughout the action and finally only betrayed the fact that he was wounded by report ing to his captain sI'm going off now, sir'' and tainted.
 A number of the wounded did not present themselves in the sick bay