The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-16
Sinking Of Lutzow Described

The Hague. Ncthcrlands.-(Co
srondcnce.) -Sccncs on board the Ger
man flagship Dutzow during the Jut-
land naval battle when some of the
newest and largest of the German bat
tic cruisers were battered or sunk by
Admiral Beatty's British squadron in
June. 1916, are wildly described by
p. krug, one of the Lutzow's survivors,
In a pamphlet which has just been
published. here. 1t is believed to be
the first detailed story of that great
battle from the point of view of the
German sailor to reach the public
eye.
early in the engagement the LutZow
which was the Flagship of General
Hippcr, was hammered numerically
by the big guns of the British vessels.
and soon became n complete wreck. Il
ship of the dead as krug describes
her. .r-
81 Sailors Trapped.
According to his story. q German
sailors We're trapped in the Diesel
dynamo room before the battle had
been long in progress and remained
there when the LutZow. a. disabled
hulk, was abandoned and sent to the
bottom by a torpedo from "a German
destroyer. Two of these imprisoned
men had been driven insane and were
kept tied by their shipmates.
After describing the first part Of
the battle and telling how the arrival
of British battleships turned the ta-
blcs on the Germans, krug writes:
suddenly the entire ship Is roughly
shaken. The colossus heaves far over.
and everything that is not fixed is up
set. The first direct hit! The tor
pcdo picrces the fore part OF the ship.
It's effects are terrible. Iron, wood.
metal, parts of bodies, smashed ships
implements are all intcrmixed, and the
electric light. by chance spared. con-
tinucs to shine upon this sight.
Shells Hit Their Mark.
Two decks lower in the Diesel dy-
namo room. there is still life. That
compartment has not been hit, and q
men In the prime of life have been
spared, but the chamber Is shut off
from all others. for the water Is rush.
ing into all sections. They are doomed
| to death. Several 3S-centimeter shells
| squarely hit their mark, working ter.
rible havoc. The first hit the wireless
department. OF the twelve living mer
who a moment ago were seated before
| the apparatus. there Is nothing more
to be seen. Nothing is left but ;
| smoking heap OF ruins. The secOnt
| shot again pierced the fore part of thu
| ship. The entire fore part Of the YES
sci, as far as the Diesel motor roo,:
was past saving. Another broadsid
meant for the Lutzow fell short, but ;
| torpedo boat close by disappeared
leaving only few odd pieces of WOO
and a smashed lifeboat driftin;
around. It is now half-past seven
and the hostile circle grows evel
smaller. The Lutzow and the Seyd
litz die with their bows deep in tn
water: both are badly maulcd. TIL
fore part of the Lutzow was in flames
Shells burst against the ships sid
in rapid succession. A terrible sight i
presented on board the Lutzow. an
n 1t needed iron nervs to look upon |
coolly. Hundreds have lost their lives
while many have lain for hours il
| torture, anu the iisht Is not YET oNc'
The bow is now crushed in and Is en-
tircly submerged. The four screw
are already sticking half out of tn
water. SO that the LutzOw can Onl
make s to 10 knots an hour. as agains
the normal. ga s..=s.--
''The admiral decides to transfer I
the Moltke. He gives orders to tur
and get away fro mthe scene of tn
fight. but the Lutzow has not gone
mile before she receives a broadside {
Ss-centimeter shells. The entire shi
was filled with the poisonous fumes {
the shells, and anyone who failed to al