Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-04-25
BRITISH DESTROY
SUBMARINE BASE

When Germans Discovered Landing
of Soldiers They Cried, Its
The Americans
New York, April 24.-Not only
was the mouth of the canal at Zee
brugge blocked, but British sailors
and marines who participated on the
raid on the German submarine base
believe that they have destroyed ev-
cry gun on the Mole, demolished the
sheds throughout its entire length
and blew up large stores of NUM-
tons contained in the sheds, accord
ing to stories given by the survivors
to the correspondent of the Times
at a Kentish port.
mile of the harbor of Zeebrugge, no
ships in the attacking force had
picked up the light on the Mole.
The attacking ship which started for
the Mole followed by muttered calls
of good luck" from the ships CON-
panies of the escorting fleet outside
the harbor, had scarcely got within
sight of the light when it was dis
covered by the Germans. Star shells
instantly pierced the thick haze,
showing up the cruiser as clearly as
though it had been daylight.
In one second 1t seemed as IL ev-
cry battery in the neighborhood had
concentrated it's fire on the cruiser.
How she was able to get ahead none
of those watching her understood.
Gr> at seventeen inch shells and 9TH
ers of smaller caliber flew around
her like hail. She was apparently
hit by some of the smaller ones but
! she plugged ahead and was seen to
turn the corner of the Mole and gain
the inside Of the harbor. The Ger
man fire was APPARENTLY DETECTED
from her vital parts by the interven-
ing structure of the Mole and most
of the damage was done above the
water line.
Thought Were the Yankees
Disregarding all that had happen
ed, the cruiser went up to the Mole
and landed large party of blue
jackets and marines. The German
defenders conceived the idea that
their assailants were Americans and
| according to some of the survivors,
this cry was heard:
cts the Americans. It's the
Yankees!"
Some of the Germans bolted en-
masse from the nearest batteries,
leaving their guns toShe British. The
guns were destroyed. one by one.
while others in the attacking party
dealt with the sheds and munitions
stores with flaTas throwers.
Apparently under cover of this op-
GRAFTON, continues the account sent
by the Daily Times correspondent.
the concrete-laden cruisers, with
which it was intended to block the
channels, made their way through
the harbOr, accompanied, as far as
can be ascertained, by only one sub
marine. AS they approached the en-
trance. they anchored, swung around
on the cables and according to the
testimony of one Of the observers,
were sunk within twenty-three min
utes.
One of the destroyers or subma-
rines exploded a charge at the gates
of the lock to the Bruges canal, and
they are believed to have been de-
stroyed Meanwhile four destroyers
NhtOiVo thO hai OOt anu u
around making observations, but I'M
able to take part in the battle.
When the attacking ship and the
landing party had completed their
work, the sailors and marines were
taken aboard again despite the dam
aged condition of the cruiser. which
then began to make its way out of
the harbor. One of the seventeen
inch shells out of the hundreds of
the varioups calibers fired at the
| cruiser, got we'll home in her upper
works. Her steering gear was in
| jured and she signalled an escort
ship to show her the way out, but
before help arrive she found her
way out and taken her place under
her own steam behind the line of
protecting cruisers.
Suffered Nor u Injury
One man who watched the opera
ton from an escorting ship said to
the Daily Chronicles correspondent:
when we saw the damage she
had suffered, it seemed scarcely pos
sible that she was able to keep afloat
The men below must have worked
like Trojans for she was throwing
flames ten feet high from her fun
nels as she made the fastest time she
probably ever accomplished"
The narrator described the COM
bined noise of the German gunfire
and the explosions on the Mole as a
ten fold hell. He added:
1--WE were only 400 or 500 yards
away from the point of the Mole. but
were afraid to fire shot lest we re-
veal our exact whereabouts to the en-
envy. Apparently he nearly judged
it, for he threw any number Of shells
around us. At a moderate estimate
between 5000 and 1000 shells were
fired at the attacking squadron"
The German destroyer which was
sunk was rammed amidships and tor
pedoed. Those who returned to the
Kentish port also say that the board
ers rushed on the German destroy
ers anchored in the harbor, taking
them completely by surprise. Some
of the Germans hurried up to the
hatchways in their night clothes. but
before they could reach the decks
We British sailors knocked them on
the heads with clubs and rifles and
sent them tumbling down the hatch
way.
-O-