The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-25
BRITISH BOMBS
ADD TO DAMAGE
AT ZEEBRUGGE
Airmen Report Great Hole
in MOle-OStend FairWay
Partly Blocked.
NAVAL ATTACK GALLANT
German Guns on Breakwater
Were Turned Against Own
Fortifications.
NAVAL ATTACK GALLANT

LONDON. April :4.--Desp.te reports
from Berlin TO the contrary. great dam
age was done yesterday by the British
In their raid aga!ns. Zeebrugge and
Ostend The accounts OF some Of those
who were In the action show that Il WAS
one OF the most gallant episodes Of the
war. An off,eial bulletin issued tonight
BY the British Admiralty says:
Following tho naval operation on
the enemy's coast yesterday morning.
observations were made by aircraft
and bomb attacks carried out. oh.
servation waA dinicult owing to the
clouds. and on this account our ma
chimes descended as low az hfty feet
4 clear break twenty yards wide
was observed IN the Zeebrugge Mole
at It's inner end. At Ostend a sunken
object vas seen lying between the
piers and blocking the greater part OF
the fairway.
Numerous bombs were dropped on
objec.ives on shore.
The Order Of knight Commander Of
the Bath has been conferred on Admiral
Reyes In recognition Of his services In
command OF the operations against Zee
trugEe and Ostend. Commander Car.
pentsr for his services In command OF
Ne vinAicttvs has bssn promoted -
Captain
Oxides - star 9hells.
An ofYicer OF one OF the motor boats
haa given tho Daily NoH 4 story Of
the blowing up OF the mole.
"Ths submarine which did it, says
this ofneer went at II from the QUITE!
side. The German star shells helped
very greatly in showing tho Way. We
could see about 200 Germans on ths
bridge leading from the mole to the
shore They apparently thought that
the submarine had lost her way. and
were rejoicing in the belief that they
were going to trap her. But the sub.
marine pushed under the bridge and
when her cargo Of explosives was
touched OF It blew the bridge and all
standing on II into the air.
For a little time afterward fras-
ments OF Germans and wreckase OF the
bridge were falling all around U.S. B.,
the blowing up OF the bridge the mole
was Isolated and II was on this island
that the vindictive's men were landed
The crew OF one Of tho British sub.
marines which was used 70 destroy the
German piers at Zeebrugge were rescued,
according 10 a member Of the crew. by
an escorting destroyer.
The Daffodii and the IRIS. which aided
the vindictive In landing the stormina
parties ON the Zeebr'igGe Mole. are steel
twin screw cutters OF +65 tons. which
will 10 remembered b. Thousands OF
Americans as municipal ferryboats on
the Mersey. They are the largest and
most modern steamships Of this class ir
the United Kingdom. having a carrying
capacity OF more than 100 passengers
They belonged to the fleet Of ferryboatl
which carry 100000 passengers an.
nually between Liverpool and New
Brighton.
Thrilling Stories Told.
Crews OF the ships which took part in
the raid on Zebrugge have many thrilling
stories OF their adventures. One Of then
has described how. despite the fact tina,
the Germans discovered their presencs
while they were st!ll outside the harbo,
they made their way In through heav,
gunnre. the Vindictive reaching th'
wharf. where she remained for an hou,
ane a half.
"A landing party was put ashore" Tho
sea men said, ''and We captured the Ger
man guns on the breakwater and turned
them around. nring them on the German
fortified positions. As far as we coult
tary Importance left--we destroyed q
lot.
I'VE had to leave many OF our landing
parties behind. but they were taken Of
by motor boats. One OF our destroyer!
received a salvo OF shells in her enEin,
room and had TO be beached. She wa,
blown up after the survivors had beer
rescued.
motor boats destroyed every noatinI
thing in sight. including two German de
stroyers and some submarines. Thos
OF the landing party VINO remained be
hind to continue the work OF smaehinI
German guns knew they would eithe
lose their lives or be taken prisoner
They were volunteers and a brave lot o
fellows"
German Destroyer sunk.
A young marine who took part in tn
fighting on the mole descr!pol his OK
reriences as follows:
I'VE certainly had a hot time. I shaI
never forget II. II was all pitch dar
until we got right into tho harbor an
, then the place suddenly hecame aligh
with star shells and the fun started.
Looming hig ahead OF ns vas n ';sr
man destroyer. evidently getting undo
wa. We put on full spc',l ahead an
rammed her amidships, cutting her I
! half. As she sank We steamed alonR
! side the mole quickly. pu, out gang
ways and rushed onto the mole. BY tha
time It was raining hard.
THE hrst thing my party encour
, tered was a giant German. who cam
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