The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-23

. was IcSdTueu DIS very SuCCeSSIul
StOrming parties were landed on the Mole from the
cruiser Vndctive The casualties to the personnel said
Sir Eric heavy in proportion to the number engaged
An enemy destroyer was tOrpedOed at Zeebrugge.
Two of the bIockadng ships were sunk and blown uD
at the entrance to the BruGeS canal The png beside the
Mole at Zeebrugge blown up by obeelee subma-
rine filled with explosives.
The casualties TO British crae{ Sir T. .ic sai1 were
one destroyer and two coastal ao|2e h0.. ' and two
launches missing.
London April 23-Brit,sh naval forces today raided
the German submarine bases Of Ostend and Zeebrugge
the admiralty announces. Five old cruisers which had
been filled with concrete for use in blocking the channels
were run aground, blown up and abandoned by their
crews
The statement follows:
"Early this morning naval raid was made in Osend
and ZeebrugSe which being used by the enemy as de-
stroyer and submarine bases Our forces are returning
and the scany information 50 far received is to the effect
that the raid met with reasonable measure Of success
with the exception of covering Ships the force en-
poyed consisted OF auxiliary vessels and six obsolete
cruisers Five of these cruisers filled with concrete were
used as block ships, and after being run aground were
in accordance with ORDERS blown up and abandoned by
the crews further communique will be issued when
ports have been received from the ships which are now
returning to their bases.
mo report of casualties has yet been received'
The admiralty reports that according to incomplete
information thus far received the raid met with a reason
able measure Of success.
The ports Of Ostend and Zeebrugge on the Belgian
coast are the principal bases for the operation Of the
enemy submarines in their campaign against shipping in
North sea and English channel These ports are of great
Importance to the Germans for this purpose and it has
been recognized by the allies that to deprive the enemy
OF them would be OF the most effective means of deal
ing with the submarine.
An attack on the ports by the British fleet has been
urged Dut the British naval authorities apparently regard
the land defense to strong to make this practicable
Various measures have been adopted to destroy German
submarines on entering or leaving these ports
fleld Marshal Hags offensive in Flanders last sum-
her was generally believed to have Of its main OBJ
JectVes the bending back of the German northern flank
so as to deprive the enemy Of these two points,
Washington, April 23-News of the British raid upon the
German submarine bases at Ostend and Zeebrugge and of the
attempt to bottle up these harbors received with great
interest at the navy department. The was taken as an
other definite step in the carefully planned campaign against
the U-boas which has been repeatedly predicted would
begin to show material results about this time.
The recent raid of the British grand fleet into the Cate
ga when ten German rawers were sunk was said to have
been another Of the steps the of the subma
rines
1t has long been established that the prncipa bases Of
submarine which operate in those waters around the British
Isles in the captured Belgian ports The wharves work
shops and basins of these abors have been frequently bombed
Wy aideu aHlhe III seVeral instances with good results
Washington, April 23The peculiar formation of the Bel
gian coast has acted unsurmounabe obstacle to anv
major allied naval offensive the submarine bases The grad
uay sopg beach prevents the approach of any but the
ghest draft vessels Narrow channels piercing this shore
stretch of war were extensively mined by the Germans Shore
torcaons Of unusual strength add the protection against
attack from the sea.
The Importance attached by the British to the Osend and
Zeebrugge bases is indicated by the report that the British have
designed and constructed special type monitor for the sole
purpose Of attacking the place.