New-York tribune., 1918-04-25
British Airmen Report Re-
suits of Raid on Enemy's
Coast
Many Bombs Are
Dropped on Shore
Gap Twenty Yards Wide
Observed in Zeebrugge
Breakwater

inner end and that sunken object
blocks the greater part of the channel
in the harbor of Ostend, according to
an official bulletin issued by the Ad-
miralty.
The text OF the statement reads:
,"Following the naval operation on
the enemys coast yesterday morning
observations were made by aircraft
and bomb attacks carried out. Obser-
vation was difficult owing to the
clouds. and on this account our ma
chimes descended as low as fifty feet.
"A clear break twenty yards wide
vas observed in the Zeeprugge Mole at
its inner end. AT Ostend a sunken OBJ
icct was seen lying between the piers
and blocking the greater part of the
farway.
Numerous bombs were dropped on
objectives on shore"
The Order of knight Commander If
tie Bath has been conferred on Ad-
miral keyes in recognition of his SER
vices in command OF the operations
against Zeebrugge and Ostend. Com
mander Carpenter, for his services in
command of the Vindictive, has been
promoted to captain.
Germans Aid Bridge Blown Up
An officer of one of the motor boats
has given the Daily MALI a story of
the blowing up of the Mole.
The submarine which did it," saws
this officer. went at it from the outer
trpr Sh hol~
very greatly in showing the way. We
could see about two hundred Germans
on the bridge leading from the Mole
to the shore. They apparently thought
the submarine had lost her way and
we're rejoicing in the belief that they
we're going to trap her. But the sub
marine pushed under the bridge and
when her cargo of explosives was
touched off it blew the bridge and all
standing on 1t into the air.
For little time afterwards frag-
ments OF Germans and wreckage of
the bridge were falling all around US.
By the blowing up of the bridge. the
Mole was Isolated, and it was on this
island that the Vindictive's men were
landed and the fighting occurred"
Had Hot Time"
a young marine who took part in
The hghting on the mole at Zeebrugee
describes his experiences to a Central
News correspondent at a Kentish port
as follows:
We certainly had a hot time. |
snaii never forget it. 1t was all pitch
dark until We got right into the har-
Dor, and then the place suddenly be-
came allght with star shells, and the
fun started
Looming big ahead of US was a
German destroyer, evidently getting
under way We put on full speed
ahead and rammed her amidships, Gu.
ting her in half. AS she sank we
steamed alongside the mole quickly,
put out gangways and rushed on to the
mole BY that time it was raining
hard.
THE first thing my party en-
eountered was giant German. who
came out Of the semi darkness anu
sunged at our nearest man. Before he
could get in blow our captain knocked
hlm on the head with his truncheon,
and he sank down dead
Next we saw another German d..
ssroyer, tied up on the other side of
The mole. This we destroyed. We
Knocked on the head all who attempted
order to charge along the mole. We
rushed ahead. bayonetting or shooting
al we came across.
Says 1t Was a Slaughter
By this time We were fairly mad,
aad N high glee. The noise of the
ifing, mingiing of the shouts and cries
.. the men, was terrifying. It was a
laughter"
The marine said that when the order
Game 10 return to the ship they re-
al Ho nj
@hich was Uttered with the dead and
dyIng and reembarked, safely.
lne return OF damaged British
cruiser with its decks torn open is de-
scribed IN dispatches from Dover. Fen
q the crew escaped injury of some
sind, waile many bodies were brought
oaes and placed reverently in a tenn
porary mortuary.
ihe survivors were greeted with
sfasty Cheers from excited crowds who
ead awaited news Of the fight eagerly
ssnce they were awakened Monday mid
nIgnt by the sound of heavy gunfire
wh'ie the action was in progress the
tremendous explosions were violen.
enough 70 shake buildings in Dover.
King George has telegraphed his con-
grstulations to Vice-Admiral Keyes.
Some Of the newspapers say that the
smcer referred to by Admiral Sir Eric
leddes, the First Lord of the Ad-
sgraity, az having developed the fog
and smoke screen for the British rau
sss on the Belgian coast submarine
oases and as having been killed in the
aiaacs was Acting Wing Commander
ffanh A. Brock. He was the son Of a
N'asiy known fireworks manufacturer
Praise for Volunteers.
AftIeies by naval writers and ed.
isoriais IN the morning newspapers
ac.os'ze with natural pride the vol.
phleers VINO carried out the raid
saIhzt Ieebrugge and Ostend and dis
-" ths probable Importance of the
hEfpr,Ee. Lieutenant Hobson's feat
oantiago and Admiral Togo's ex-
Wef at Port Arthur are recalled al
osaoie precedents. but the landing on
~ reach 3. GalIipoii is regarded by
sohe writers a. the only real parallel
,nriosi.y is expressed as to the fate
e he crews Of the two old submarine.
y1n,iIen we're assigned TO blow up the
gshng at the approach TO the Mole a.
ssofngxs. IL is assumed that they
esnnsarliy accepted almost certain
Ash and that only by something akin
- miracle could those who remained
ssosrd 70 explode the charges have
st>ries Of survivors who have ar.
ssgec ~ Dover flushed with belief in
~. ~ iab suecess Of the expedition arr
~ sesroborated in every detail by the
y,se'as account. The reported deztruc.
n... 81 .he lock gates and the conae.