Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-16
BRITISH BLOCK
PORT OF 0STEND
Cruiser Vindictive Laden with
Concrete Is Sunk at Mouth of
Harbor During a Raid
CREW GETS AWAY SAFELY
Berlin Calls Raid . Failure But Eng
lish Reports Declare Obstruction to
U.BONt Base IL Effective

London. May 1o.-The German subm-
arine base Of Ostend. on the Belgian
coast, has been blocked rs the result Of n
raid by British naval forces. the admir-
atty announced. The obsolete cruiser
Vindctive, filled with concrete. has been
sunk across the entrance to the hnrbor.
The announcement follows:
Operations designed to closs tho ports
Of Ostend and ZshrYgge were successfully
completed last night. when the obsolete
cruiger Vindctivs was sunk between the
piers and across the entrance to Osterd
harbor.
Is the vindictive had been alled with con-
crete and fitted ms block ship for th,1
purpose.
Our hight forces havo returned to
their hase with the loss OF ono motor
launch, which had been damaged and
was sunk by orders Of the vice-admiral
10 prevent 1t from falling into the hands
Of the enemy.
"OuI casualtieg we're light
Berlin via London, May io.--Thc British
attempt to blockade the hnrbor OF
Ostend was a failure. according to All
Official statement issued to-day. An old
cruiser, entirely battered to pieces. lies
aground before the harbor outside the
navigation channel and tho entrance to
the harbor Is quite free. the statement
continues.
The abatement continues. Tho text
reads:
AT three O'Clock Friday mrrlibg
British naval forces, after q violent bonn :
bardment. again made a blockading at
tack on Ostend. Several enemy ships
which under the protection OF artificial
fog tried to force their way into the
harbor. but were driven off by the ex-
cellently directed fire Of our coastal bat
teries.
IAN old cruiser. entirely battered to
pieces, lies aground before the harbor
outside the navigation channel. The en-
trance to the harbor is quite free.
"Only dead men were found on board
the stranded vessel. Two survivors Of
the crew had leaped overheard and were
captured, according to information so far
received.
Eat least two enemy motor boats were
shot away and one monitor was badly
damaged. The blockading attempt.
therefore. has been completely foiled.
Once again the enemy has sacrificed
human lives and vessels in vain"
lies at an angle not effectively block
aiding the channel at Ostend, but
serving very useful purpose. accord
ing to the press association. A partial
and very serious blockade has been
achieved and under the conditions OF
tide and sitting prevailing this OBJ
struction certainly will tend to in
crease.
Dover. May 10.-The Vindictive
came under a fierce fire from the
German shore batteries. She was
navigated close in to the pier in fine
style and sunk by an internal charge
The crew escaped in fast motor boats
Only the number Of officers and men
absolutely necessary were on board
the ship on account Of the danger OF
her total loss. These. on signal swarm
ed up from the engine rooms and
stoke holds and took their positions
at stations appointed so as to slide
quickly into the motor boats. The
small boats were under heavy gun
fire all the time while they were
transferring the crew to waiting de-
stroyers.
The decision to send the Vindictive
to Ostend was made a few days after
her return from the Zeebrugge raid
and the task Of filling her with con.
crete was begun Immediately. AS in
| the joint raid at Zeebrugge and Ostend
this latest exploit was kept well
guarded secret, and an evidence OF
which 1t Is recalled that after ths
battle scaved cruiser returned from
Zeebrugge an urgent request was made
that she be taken up the Thames tc
London for public view. The officials
did not encourage the idea and grad
ually the agitation died down. All the
| time the vessel was being made ready
for her last voyage.
| If Ostend and Zeebrugge are removed
as ports from which the German u
boats may be operated. the Germans
apparently will be compelled to with.
draw their submarines to their home
ports. IN this Connection It Is interest.
ing to nota that q week ago II wa
announced that the greatest mine fielt
known to naval operations had beer
planted in the North sea to combat the
submarines. Il was officially statot
that tho area OF this minc field woult
be 1919 square miles ana that Il
would bo completed by May IL. Some
months ago. Admiral Jellicoe OF tn,
British navy. announced that tho sub
marine menace would be met by Augus
l. and 1t Is possible that no had tn,
blocking OF the harhors Of ZsebrueR,
and Ostend and the laying Of an Inn
mensc minc field In mind when he mad,