Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-25
SURVIVORS DESCRIBE
RAID ON zEEBRUCCE
Believed Mouth 81 Canal Was
Blocked and Every Gun on
Mole Destroyed.
STAR SHELLS SHOW UP SHIP
Every Battery in Neighborhood Con-
cc:Nratcs Fire on Cruiser, but
Vessel Continues and Puts Land
ing Party Ashore.
Thy Associated Press

LONDON April 2i.--Sot only was
the mouth OF the canal at Iccbruggc
blocked. but the British sailors and
marines who participated I'm the raid
on the German submarine bases be-
licvc they destroyed every gun on tho
mole. demolished the sheds throug hout
its entire length and blew up large
stores of munitions contained In the
sheds. according to stories given by
the survivors to the correspondent OF
the Daily Chronicle at kcntisl port
Until they were within half mile OF
tho harhor OF Zccbrussc no ships in
the attacking force had picked up the
light on the mole. The attacking ship
which started for tho mole followed by
muttcred calls Of good luck" from the
ships companies OF the cscor.ng fleet
outside the harbor had scarcely got
within sight OF the Ugh, when IL was
discovered by the Germans. Star shell,
Instantly pierced the thick haze. show
ing up the cruisers a. clearly as though
II had beer daylight.
In one second /, seemed as II every
battery in the neiSlborhood had con-
centrated its fire on the cruiser. How
she was able TO GET ahead none of
those watching her Understood Grea:
smaller caliber few around her like
hail. She was apparently lit by some
OF the small ones. bat she plugged
ahead and was seen u turn the corner
OF the mole and gain tho inside Of the
Aarhor. The German hre apparently
was detected from her vital parts by
the intervening structure y; the mole
and most OF the damage done ~as
above the water line.
ATTACKERS TAKEN
FOR AMERICANS
Disregardins all tina, had happened.
the cruiser went UP to the mole and
landed a large party OF blucjackcts and
marines The German defender. con-
ceivcd tho idea tina: their assailants
were Americans. and according TO some
O. tho survivors. this cry was heard:
IT'S the Americans. It's the Yam
KEGS
Some or the Germans bo!,cd en-
rasae from the nearest batteries. lcav d.
ing their guns 10 the British The guns
s-re DESTROYED -" By one while Others
In the landing parry dealt with me
sh-ds and mutation stores with Game
Growers
CANAL GATES HELIEVED
no HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
Apparently under cover OF this ope-
ration. continues the account sent by
tho Daily Chronicles correspondents; the
concrete laden cruisers. with w..ich II
Was Intended 10 BLOCK the channels
made 'noir way throuEn tho na-bo,
accompanied, as far as Il can be ascer.
tained. by only one submarine. AS they
approached the entrance. they anchored
swung around on the cables. and. ac.
cordiNg 10 the testimony Of one Of The
observers. were sunk within twenty
three minutes. one OF the destroyers
or submarines exploded a charge at tho
gates OF the lock TO tho Bruscs Canal
and they are believed TO have been de-
stroycd
Meanwhile four dcstroycrs entered
the harhor and cruiScd around max
ing observations. hu, were unable 10
take part in the battle.
When the attacking ship and it's nd
ing party had completed their work the
sailors and marines were taken aboard
again despite tho damaged condition Of
the cruiser. which then began TO make
it's way out OF the harbo-.
ONE MIG SHELL INJURIES
VESSELS STEERING GEAR
One OF the sevcntccn-!nch shells out
Of the hundreds OF various calibers
fired at the cruiser Got we'll homo in
her upper works. Her steering gear
was injured and she sisnaled an cs
coEt ship 10 show her the way out. but
before help arrived she had found her
way out and taken her place under her
own steam behind the lines OF pro,ec-
ting cruisers
onc man who watched the operation
from an cscor;tns ship said to the
Daily Chronicles correspondent:
When VIC saw the damage she had
suffered. II seemed scarcely possible
that she was able 10 keep ahoat The
men below must have worked like tro
jams for she wa3 throwing flames ten
feet high from her tunnels and she
made the fastest time sho probably ever
accomplished"
The narrator described the combined
noise OF the German gunhrc and the
explosions on the mole as fold
he'll" Hc added:
'Wo were only four or five hundred
yards away from the point Of the mole
but were afraid to fire shot lest we
reveal our exact whereabouts to the
enemy. Apparently he nearly judged
*. for he threw any number OF shells
around VS. 81 a moderate estimate. he
tween 5000 and 5000 shells were fired
at the attacking squadron"
GEI.MANS CLUBBED AS
THEY COME on DECK
Tho German destroyer which was
sunk was ranncd amidships and tor
pedoed Those who returned to the
Kentish port also say that boarders
rushed on the German dcstroycrs an
chored in the harbor, taking them com
plctely by surprise. Some OF the Ger
mans hurried up to the hatchways in
their night clothes. but before they
could reach the decks the British sail
ors knocked them on the head with
clubs and rifles and sent them tumblins
down the hatchways.
Curiosity is expressed as TO tho fate
the the crews OF the two old sub
marines which were ASSIGNED to bIo,v