Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
GERMAN VERSION
OF RAID AMUSES
Account Given of Naval Feat
at 0stend and Zeebrugge
Ridiculed in London.
VIEWS OF U. S. OFFICERS
CableEram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.

Cnblesram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1918.
LONDON. April 27.-Grcat merriment
prevails in British and American naval
circles over the German version Of the
British naval feat at Ostend and Zee
brugge.
I'VE gather from the German adj
miralty report" said an American
naval officer to me today. that the
british have greatly improved the
kaiser's naval bases in Flanders"
While the nation shows no inclina-
ton to overestimate the Importance Of
the feat it rejoices keenly in the bril-
liant steamship and remarkable gall
lantry displayed by its sea forces.
From conversation with survivors Of
the fight one gets an amazing impress
sion Of its extent and intensity.
Huns Put Up Barrage Fire.
BY common consent 1t appears that the
Germans put up a terrible barrage fire
Oft shore and but for the dense arti-
fetal fog extending along the whole
seems certain that. the British would
Even with the fog screen the aggres-
sors appear to have been able to ac-
complish their work by little less than
miracle.
One of the outstanding features Of the
fight was the magnificent gunnery Of the
British warships. So accurate was their
fire that many of the German guns on
the mole we're put out of action before
the British storming party landed, and
in the Intense excitement aided in throw
ing out graphing tackle to hold the
British ships fast to the mole. This
was done under a hail Of machine gun
fire.
Others Beset by Difficulties.
Like difficulties beset the men raising
ladders on the wall Of the mole. When
these ladders had been scaled the men
feet off the top Of the wall. Neverthe-
less. officers and men. including blue
jackets, swarmed over and some 500
landed in a few minutes Every gun on
the mole was destroyed and hand gre
nades and bayonSts drove the German
gunners helterskelter The officers fought
with heavy sticks like trenching tools.
Much hard fighting took place and there
were tnnumerable black eyes and
bruises. At intervals along the MOLE
eighty yards wide, were barbed wire
intrenchments and machine guns. All
were stormed and destroyed.
Meanwhile the German reinforcements
hurrying to attack the British on the
mole were blown up or effectually STOP
ped by the explosion of a submarine
which made a wide gap in the mole.
cutting 1t off from the land. Several
desperate hand-to-hand fights took place
on the German destroyers, which were
boarded by British seamen. Those on
the explosive submarine, which was
rammed against the mole, escaped by
the skin of their teeth. Their motor
launch was damaged and they got away
by means of oars. Many Of the oarsmen
were wounded before they got away.
The blocking ships were managed
with incredible GOODNESS under a with
ering fire. The crews stayed aboard
the vessels until the decks were al
most awash, when they stepped on q
rescuing motor launch. All the sur
vivors agree that the German star
shells illuminating the harbor i'm
mensely facilitated operations The
British star shells were reinforced by
flame throwers.
1T locked like a bit of hades broken
adrift," said a young officer
The British landing party whooped
like a band OF redskins and did not
leave German alive on the mole.
When the Vindictive, which carried
the landing party. came out of the
fight her decks were slippery with
blood and Uttered with dead, dying and
wounded.
This feat, which is probably the great
est known in connection with attempts
to block harbors, has sent a thrill
through both the army and navy. It is
expected to bear rich fruitage of
emulation, for every British fighting
man afioat or on land is eager to ger
into the Zeebrugge-Ostend class.