THE BATTLE OF DOGGER BANK

Described by two British Man-of-War's Men and a German Survivor.

NEWS ACCOUNT BY A GUNNER OF THE "ARETHUSA"

A GERMAN squadron, under Rear-Admiral von Hipper, consisting of three battle cruisers "Derfflinger," "Seydlitz," "Moltke" and the protected cruiser "Blucher," together with light cruisers and destroyers, was encountered in the North Sea, January 24, 1915, by the British battle cruisers "Lion," "Tiger," "Princess Royal," "New Zealand" and "Indomitable," under Vice-Admiral Beatty, in company with four light cruisers, including the famous "Arethusa," one of whose gunners gives this introductory account of the battle. In a running fight, the "Blucher" was torpedoed and sunk in the tragic manner described here by one of her crew. The description is preceded by the account of an officer on the British destroyer "Sandfly," which was published in the London "Times" a fen, days after the action.

This was the first action of the war between big battleships.

I MIGHT mention that we were well within range of the Germans during this time, who apparently could not spare one of their 11-inch guns for us, which was a good thing, as one from them would not leave much of the "Arethusa," I think. Their shells were beginning to fall a little too near us for safety, and we really thought we were in for it as first one big one fell just short this was my side (port). The next came with a horrible, shrieking noise and passed over the ship just abaft the mast and damaged our port aerial. I then began to think that the next would find the range, but fortunately it passed just astern. We had a very warm time for a while, as you must understand that the "Arethusa" is quite unprotected, and we have no protection but only light shields at our guns in fact, the shield of my gun has twice been burst in by the seas.

The German ships appeared to be on fire more than once, and at last there was no doubt about one of them the "Blucher." It was then that our turn came, and as her fire slackened we quickly came up with her and started with our bow six-inch with lyddite. This is a terribly destructive shell, and when our big ships were firing, their shells on exploding caused clouds of yellow smoke. Our starboard battery of four-inch also came into play, but unfortunately all this time I had to stand idly by with a shell in my arms, as none of the guns on our side got a chance; this was rather trying.

The "Blucher" was now out of action, and the "Arethusa" gave the coup de grace by slipping in two torpedoes at her just as we slewed around. These caused frightful havoc, one bursting in the engine-room and the other just below the fore turret, and rapidly caused her to capsize. She was before this a battered wreck on deck, practically all her gun crews were killed, and her officers drove the men from the stoke-hole at their sword-points to reman the guns. This was told us by the German prisoners aboard, and one or two of them have wounds which they said had been caused by their own officers' swords.

The "Blucher," which had capsized, was lying awash, with her side just out of the water and men standing on it, while all around there seemed hundreds swimming and drifting in cork jackets toward us. We were very close; in fact, it seemed dangerously so. I shall never forget the sight, nor what followed later. I think it was more affecting than anything. Anyway, we started to drag them in up the ship's side, and in this way and by the boats we got 123 on board, while the destroyers also saved a lot. Some were badly burned. We got six officers in the above.

Shortly after we got our boats a terrible sight came along, which was a lot of Germans being swept along in the water and who had evidently drifted off in another direction when we picked the others up. In this case they were sweeping by the ship, and we could only save one or two several drowned before our eyes, although having life-belts on. Then the destroyers came up and picked up a lot. By this time our battle cruisers had disappeared after the Germans, and we turned about and started to go for all we were worth back to the "Lion," the "Indomitable" having already gone back. There was, of course, great danger to her from submarines, and it was a very anxious time from Sunday night until we got to Rosyth about 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

BY AN OFFICER OF THE "SANDFLY"

We had a beastly night on Saturday; you could not see a thing except at intervals and you had to look out as best you could. Our next ahead's stern light went out and it was an awful job to keep touch with the flotilla. We joined up with the flotilla at 6.50 and at 7 a.m. we sighted some craft in the demilight on our starboard bow. As the light got better we made out the enemy battle cruisers making our way, and none of us felt very happy as we appeared to be up against a strong force of battle and light cruisers and torpedo craft. I was wet through, having come up quickly without an oil-skin, which I won't do again even though I am a bit late on the forecastle ; also suffering a bit from seasickness. I suppose at a pinch one can fight well even though it's on an empty stomach and no sleep and wet through, but I am blowed if you can if you are feeling seasick.

A bit later we made out some heavy ships on our port side (we were steaming north). These might have been Germans for all we knew in the "Sandfly." The German ships came on for a bit as we were screening the big ships, being between them and the enemy, but as soon as they caught sight of the "Lion" and that lot they altered course 16 points and made off towards the Fatherland as quick as they could. We could not get at their flotilla, so we had to form astern of our battle cruisers and leave it to them. After this we were only spectators of the fight.