Evening star., 1920-12-18

F. ASO&NAOANs oSOOAnUS1 4ssAhVsAoA
chapter was added to the controversy
over the battle of Jutland when the
admiralty today published the eagerly
awaited volume of 600 pages on this
crucial naval engagement. containing
Admiral Jellicoe's dispatch describing
tho battle and the narratives of the
british squadron commanders. .
Admiral JelliDe. in his covering
dispatch dated Jpne Is, 1916. declared
he felt no anxiety regarding the ad-
vance dposition 81 the forces under
Vice Admiral Beatty. commander OF
the battleacfuiser squadron, and that
when Beatty ,sighted the en6my battle
cruisers the vice admiral adopted the
correct and only possible course In
engaging the enemy and endeavoring
to Keep between the enemy and his
There has been much controversy
ovNr the question whether Jelicoe
should have gone to, Beattys assist
ance when 1t appeared the battle was
imminent.
Dlanes Arxaer Protection
The facts which contributed to the
British iossss IN the battle, battle. sa,d a
ports, were Indifferent armor protec-
fiOn for the battle cruisers. parttcu-
la riv as regards turret armor. and deck
plattnE. together with the disadxan-
tage Of the light conditions for the
"A disturbing feature Of the battle
cruiser action" Admiral Jellicoe re-
ported. "svas the fact that five German
battle cruisers engaging SIX Brt1sn
vessels at the same time were able to
sink the oueen Mary and the Anoe-
fatigable.
"Tne German organizationFat night
was very GOOD" continued, the ad-
miral, "and their system OF recogni-
ton signals was excellent, While VIII tne
british was practically NIL: l;n .ne 1Sl ns
were used to better effect than the
British
Br,tish Haa MueA to Learn.
He said he was reluctantly com.
PEELED to the opinion that under night
conditions the British had much to
learn from the Germans.
resort = was ,hat na' the sunnsry ~ of the Ger
man battle Cruises in the early stages
was OF a very high standard. They ap-
peared to get on the targets ano pc
gin hitting within two or three min
range OF $4,000 yards. $500.
'sThe Gerfnats," the report went on.
appeared to use some such system OF
fire as the Petravic method. as the
guns did not go of exactly together,
results. The rapidity Of the. fire was
very great. Their ships were able to
| fire with great accuracy after having
been severely punished.
ut is quite evident that al the Ger
cess, Of that for which they were NOM
inally designed"
In this connection Admiral Jellicoe
cited a case where British 25-knot
~ Ia $Nh
German craft registered as r20.5-knot
vessels.
Torpedoes We're Avoided. Z.
"One feature" said thee reports,
crossing our line without effect, ex-
cent on the Marlborough. All were
avoided BY skiilful handling except
The Marlborough lodged seven tor
pedoes before being struck.
The report said4si was of extreme
Importance to keep from the knowl-
edge of the enemy the fact that the
| British ships were able to avoid the
| torpedoes by observing their track, as
| .it would not be beyond the ingenuity
Of the Germans to devise means of
preventing any track being left"
AS to the German losses the report
stated:
vessels sunk az three battle Cruisers.
two battleships. one vessel of the
| Pommern class, two light icruisers,
and three destroyers: and as.seyerely
damaged. two brittle cruisers and sew
erai light, cruisers and destroyers."
| Answering criticisms that he should
have continued the battle, when he
had the Germans at a Disadvantage
At nightfail. Admiral Jellicoe said:
II rejected at once the idea of a
night action between heavy fships as
leading to possible disasteE owing,
in such large numbers. and second.
the impossibility OF dtstinsnithing be-
tween our own and then enetny ships
and. further. that th4 reselt OF q
might action under modern eenditions