The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-25
l].IITISH RAID
CHEAT SUCCESS
lo3brugge's Mole Guns and
Mu.liliOn Sheds Destroyed.
HARROR DEFEhSES DAMAGED
Surprised Germans Cry Attackers
Are Americans and FIee-Raiders
Had Thrilling Battle.

Had Thrilling Battle.
London, April 25.-Not only was the
mouth of the canal at Zeebrugge block
ed. but British sailors and marines
Who participated in the raid on the
German submarine bases believe they
destroyed every gun on the Mole, de-
muli>hrH the sheds throughout its en-
tire length and blew up large stores
of munitions contained in the sheds.
These accounts are given by the
survivors To the correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle at a Kentish port.
The return of a damaged British
cruiser with its decks torn open is
described in dispatches from Dover.
Few of the crew escaped injury of
some kind. Many bodies were brought
back and placed in a temporary NOR
tuary.
The survivors were greeted with
hearty cheers from excited crowds
who had awaited news of the fight
eagerly since they were awakened
Monday midnight by the sound of
heavy gunfire. While the action was
in progress the tremendous explosions
were violent enough to shake build
ings in Dover.
Until they were within half mile
of the harbor of Zeebrugge. no ships
in the attacking force had picked up
the light of the Mole. The attack
ing ship which started for the Mole
followed by muttered calls of Good
luck from the shipS-companies of
the cs,.nrtng fleet outside the harbor
~ :s,'rceIy got within sight of the
= 2ii, ~-i:cn it was discovered Ivy tn"
t'nn,sanS Star shells Instantly pierre
81 the thick haze. showing up the
cruiser as clearly as though it had
been daylight.
In one second it seemed as if every
battery in the neighborhood had con
cantrated it's fire on the cruiser. How
she was able 70 get ahead none of
those watching her understood. Great
Seyenteen-inch shells and others of
smaller calibre 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 cor
ner of the Mole and gain the inside of
the harbor. The German fire evident
lv was DETECTED from her vital parts
by the intervening structure of the
Mole and most of the damage was
above the water line.
Disregarding all that happened, the
cruiser went up to the Mole and land
ed a large party of bluejackets and
marines. The German defenders con-
ceived the idea that their assailants
were Americans and, acl nhg to
some of the survivors, this cry was
heard:
.Tt's the Americans! It's the Yam
KEGS"
Some of the Germans bolted en-
masse from the nearest batteries,
leaving their guns to the British. The
guns were destroyed one by one, while
others in the landing party dealt with
the sheds and ammunition stores with
flame thrOwerS.
Apparently under cover of this OPP
Grafton. continues the account sent ny
the Daily Chronicles correspondent,
the concrete-laden cruisers, with
which it was intended to block the
channels. made their way through the
harbor, accompanied, as far as II can
be ascertained by one submarine. AS
they approached the entrance they an
chored. swung around on the cables
and. according to the testimony OF the
observers. were sunk within twenty
three minutes.
One of the deStrOyerS or submarines
exploded a charge at the gates of the
lock to the BrugeS canal and they are
believed to have been destroyed.
Meanwhile four destroyers entered the
harbor and cruised around, making
observations. but were unable to take
part in the battle.
When the attacking ship and its
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 various calibres
fired at the cruiser got we'll home in
her upper works. Her steering gear
was injured, and she Signalled an es-
cort to show her the way out. Before
help arrived she had found her way
out and taken her place under her
own steam behind the lines of pro
tecting cruisers.