The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-24

Germans Coming out.
Reports of intense activity at Ger
man naval asses, says. a Daily Mail
dispatch from The Hague, are con-
nected in some circles with an address
Emperor William made to submarine
commanders in Flanders. During his
speech, the emperor said:
The activities of the submarines,
together with our victorious armies
and fleet, are calculated to bring us
a strong German peace. l am con-
WINGED that the united strength of
these three weapons will, in compar
atively short period make our oppon-
ents, who are still bent on dest; Dying
Germany's strong and free future.
ready to accept an equitable peace.
Who Made Smoke Screen?
Some of the newspapers say that the
officer referred to by Admiral Sir
Eric Geddes. the first lord of the ad-
miralty, as having developed the fog
and smoke screen for the British raid
ers on the Belgian coast submarine
bases and as having been killed in
the attack was Acting Wing Com
mander Frank A. Brock. He was the
son of a widely known fireworks man
ufacturer. Young Brock entered the
naval air service in January, 1916, as
a flight lieutenant, became a flight
commander in 1916 and received the
Order of the British Empire this year.
Recalls Hobson's Exploit.
The exploit of the British seamen
recalls that of Lieut.. Richmond Pearson
Hobson OF the United States navy, who
took the old steamer Merrimac into
Santiago harbor at night, during the
war with Spain. and sank it in the mar
row channel under fire of the Spanish
shore batteries.
Hobson and his small band were
captured but were treated with
marked courtesy by Admiral Cervera
and his staff. who were outspoken in
their admiration of the Americans
bravery.
The sinking of the Merrimac did not
prevent the exit of the Spanish fleet
which was sunk in the battle of July
8, 1898, but it took a foremost place
in the annals of American naval his
tory.
Sailor Claims Two Destroyers.
London, April PA sailor who
participated in the raid on Zeebrugge
declared today that two German de-
stroyers were sunk, one in the harbor
and one alongside the Mole
A young marine who took part in
the flght1ng of the Mole at Zeebrugge
described his experiences to a Central
News correspondent at a kentish port
as follows:
I'VE certainly had a hot time. 1
shall never forget it. 1t was all pitch
dark until we got right into the har-
Dor and then the place suddenly be-
came alight 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,
cutting her in half. AS she sank we
steamed along side the Mole quickly,
put out gangways and rushed onto
the Mole. By that time it was raining
hard
The first thing my party encoun-
tered was a giant German, who came
out of the semi darkness and lunged
at our nearest man. Before he could
get in a blow our captain knocked
him on the head with his truncheon
and he sank down dead.
Next we saw another German de-
! stroyer, tied up on the other side of
:, the Mole This we destroyed. We
| knocked ON the head all who attempt
ed to oppose our progress. Then came
an order to charge along the Mole
We rushed ahead, bayonetting or
shooting all we came across.
! BY this time we were fairly mad
and in high glee. The noise of the
firing mingling with the shouts and
cries of the men was terrifying. 1t
was a slaughter
| The marine said that when the
order came to return to the ship they
retraced their steps along the Mole
which was Uttered with the dead and
| diving and re-em marked safely