Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-05-15
OSTEND HARBOR BLOCKED.
Good Ship VindIctive, Laden viii,
Concrete, Sunk ut Sub. Base.

pean Cables of the Day. )--Great Bri-
tain's naval triumph of April % at
Zeebrugge, when this important
German submarine base on the Bel
gian coast was completely blocked by
the sinking Of concrete-laden ships
during a raid, has been virtually du-
plicated at Ostend, another valuable
base for the U-boats just to the east.
The feat was accomplished by the
sinking last night OF the old cruiser
Vindictive, likewise filed with con-
crete, across the entrance to Ostend
harbor.
Ostend was originally attacked for
this purpose at the same time as was
Hcebruggc, but the blocking vessels
sent in there were turned slightly off
equal to that attained at Zeebrugge.
The operations begun with a view to
closing these two ports, the admiral
ty announces, have now been sue
cessfully completed"
The Importance Of the blocking op-
erations lies in the fact that If they
have been as successful as is believ-
ed, and the Germans have been de-
privcd Of both their Belgian bases,
they will now be forced to revert, for
some time at least, to their home
ports as starting and returning
points for their undersea raiders.
These craft would, therefore, have
to traverse far longer, more difficult
and more dangerous routes to attain
their cruising grounds with the con-
sequent increase by many times of
the chances Of their being turned
back or destroyed.
Vindctivo Sunk In Harbor.
London, May 10.-The German
submarine base Of Ostend, on the
Belgian coast. has been blocked as
result Of new raid by the British
naval forces, the admiralty an
nounces. The obsolete cruiser Vim
dictive. filled with concrete, has been
sunk across the entrance to the har-
Dor.
The British lost one motor boat.
Their casualties were light.
Tho announcement follows:
Operations designed to close the
ports of Ostend and zeebrugge were
successfully completed last night
when the obsolete cruiser Vindictive
was sunk between the piers and
across the entrance to Ostend har-
Dor.
"Since the attack on Zeebrugge on
April 23, the Vindictive had been
filled with concrete and fitted as
| block ship for this purpose
"Our light forces have returned to
their base with the loss of one mo-
tor boat which had been damaged
and was sunk by orders Of the vice
admiral to prevent it from falling
into the hands Of the enemy.
| Our casualties were light"
In the raid on Zeebrugge and Os
tend on April 23 the light cruiser
Vindictive landed British storming
parties on the mole at Zeebrugge, the
attackers doing considerable damage
to the mole after storming German
batteries. Commander Alfred Car
penter was promoted to be captain
for bravery In action. The Vindict-
i've was damaged severely in the ac-
tion at zeebrugge.
The Vindictive was built at Chat
ham In 1897. She displaced $3.50
tons and her complement was 450
men.
The decision to send the Vindict-
I've to Ostend was made a few DAYS
after her return from the Zeebrugge
raid, and the task Of filling her with
concrete was begun Immediately.
AS. In the joint raid on Zeebrugge
and Ostend, this latest British naval
exploit was kept a well-guarded Sc
cret. AS an evidence Of this, 1t is re.
called that after the battle-scarred
cruiser returned from Zeebrugge an
urgent request was made that she be
sent up the Thames to London for
public view. The authorities did
not encourage the proposal, however,
and the agitation subsidized. All the
time the old vessel was being over
hauled for her last voyage.
Aircraft Bomb Zeebruggc.
Amsterdam, May 10.--.Strong al
lied flying. squadrons bombed lhe
VII 80