Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-11
ENTRANCE0F
SUB BASE IS
SAFELY SHUT
Nearly Corked Completely
by British Fleet-De-
tails Reported.

London, May ll.-iHe Ola cruiser
Vindictive went to her last berth,
100 to 200 yards within the piers
forming the entrance to the har-
Dor of Ostend. one of the German
submarine bases on the Belgian
coast under a terrific fire from the
German naval guns and much gun
fire on the shore
Preparatory to the raid into Os-
tend the naval air force bOmbarded
the town and dropped bombs con-
tinuously on the harbOr wrecked,
causing fires. Later the airmen
were assisted by destroyers and
monitors in bombarding the enemy
positions heavily A smoke screen
was used successfully. About
o'clock. in the morning, large
force of destroyers and costal mo-
torboats steamed up toward the
shore. the motorboats going along
side it. The weather was every
thing desirable until 3 minutes be-
fore the Vindictive was sunk, when
the sea fog drove inshOre and re
duced the visibility to a rang of be-
tween 800 and 400 yards.
Hard To Find Entry.
The Vindictive experienced the
greatest difficulty in finding the en-
trance to the harbor. The enemy
employed star shells and search
lights extensively and for 90 min
utes the vessel was in full view of
the enemy batteries. As she cruised
up and down seeking the entrance.
she was hit repeatedly and several
casualties were sustained. 1t was
2:20 o'clock when the piers We're
sighted almost alongside and then
the German machine guns opened a
fearful fire.
Having found his bearings, the
captain swung his concrete laden
cruiser around and rammed her
stem aaginst the eastern pier, leav-
iRg his lieutenant to work the en-
gines with the object of sending the
ship across the channel. He then
discovered that the cruiser was
aground aft and that it was impos-
sible to turn her any farther. He
called his crew from the engine
room and stokehold and then set
off explosive charges.
Airmen Report Results. -.
Airmen, according to the Central
News report, say the Vindictive is
lying submerged at an angle of 40
degrees at the eastern entrance
with her stem against the pier.
While the vessel was being aban-
doned two motor launches went
along side under a heavy gun fire
and succeeded in bringing off the
in hn cd
A large number of the officers
and men who took part in the op.
GRAFTON against the leebrugge
mole on April %, claimed the right
to participate in the Ostend oper-
ations. All the men on the Vim
dictive were volunteers from the
Dover patrol.
Lauds Bravery of Men.
At 3:15 o'clock the Warwick,
flagship of Admiral Keyes, sighted
a motor launch which had on
board two officers and IS men Of
the Vindictive An officer who was
on destroyer said:
The crews of the motor
launches behaved in the most gal
liant manner. rushing in to shore
utterly regardless OF their saIety,
to see that no one was left behind.
One launch brought off two Off
GERS and 80 men from the Vinuic
tive Another which subsequently
went alongside took off n lieuten-
ant and two ratings who were
wounded while two other motor
launches also detailed +o- rescue
work kept close to the shore, their
crews displaying the greatest pluck
and determination.
Goes on Schedule.
Our vessels effectively lombard
ed shore batteries. The work OF
the monitors in this respect was
particularly fine. Altogether poe
shells fell within a few yards Of
two Of the monitors, but neither
was hit. During the whole opera
tion not one enemy craft was seen.
AT 2:30 O'Clock. according to the
program, the retirement was be-
gun"