GRAPHIC SPECIAL.

NO. el
re
'%

The Adm iralty's Story o f the part

TRICE

the 3 \avy is taking in the // ar.

Illustrated with many "Photographs and
specially drawn <JWapS.

London i | T

he

GRAPHIC, Tallis House, Whitefriars, E.C.

Official Naval Despatches

T

.A

ir

lt

c2

's

of
The Hattie of the Bight Destruction of Qerman East Asiatic
Squadron Sinking of the Emden and other Work^of
the J^avy in the War

ILLUSTRATED WITH DRAWINGS OF SHIPS <AND M EN

A N D WITH SPE CIA LLY DRAWN MAPS.
i
j

London: T H E G R A P H I C , Tallis House, Whitefriars, E.C.

LONDON:
Printed and Published by tue Proprietors of The Graphic, Messrs. H. R. Baines & Co^ Ltd.,
at Tallis House, Whitefriars, E.C.

NOTE.

PUBLIC

LIBRARY OF VICTORIA

A D the B ritish N a v y done n o th in g d u rin g the w ar but hold the sea, keeping
th e h ig h w a y s o f com m erce open fo r our ow n ships and fo r the uninterrupted
passage to and fro m these islands o f men and food and m erchandise, it would
h ave fu lly ju stified the confidence placed in it.
It has done m ore : it has destroyed
the G e rm an overseas trade, captu red her m ercantile m arine or driven it to the shelter
o f n eu tral ports, and b y iso latin g h er colon ial possessions paved the w a y fo r their
captu re or destruction.
M o r e than th at, it has, as these reports issued b y the A d m ira lty show , dem on
strated its u ndim in ished cap acity to dem oralize and destroy the en em ys N a v y
w h en ever it sh ow s i t s e l f ; and to g iv e substantial assistance to the land operations o f
the A llie d A rm ie s. T h e r e h ave been occasions, such as that o f the figh t o ff the
coast o f C h ile , and those o f the subm arine attacks w h ic h destroyed the zAboukir ,
Hogue and C ressy, w h e re it has p aid a h e a v y p rice fo r its ad m iralty o f the seas ; but
our losses, as these pages m ake clear, h ave been sm all b y the side o f those w h ich have
been in flicted on the en em y.
W h ile our g reat fleets ride in safety on the seas that
lap the shores o f B rita in , w e m ay sleep sou nd ly o f n ig h ts, and by day continue our
w o rk in the fu ll k n o w le d g e that w h ate ve r the ebb and flow o f the tide o f battle on
land, th e B ritish N a v y , as K in g G e o rg e has said, is ou r sure s h ie ld from danger.

Announcements by the Admiralty,

W ith Supplementary Notes.
GERMAN MINE-LAYER SUNK.

H.M.S. AMPHION MINED.

H E Admiralty announced on August 5, 1 9 1 4 : The

Commander of the Torpedo Flotilla reports that H.M.S.
zAmphion and the Third Torpedo Flotilla sank the
German mine-layer I(Snigin Luise at noon yesterday.
T he f\onigin
Luise is a passenger vessel of the Ham
burg - Amerika
/h Line, of 2 16 3 tons gross tonnage,
speed 20 knots,
I specially fitted as a mine-layer.

T he Secretary o f the Admiralty issued the following state

ment on August 6, 19 14 :
In the course of reconnoitring after the mine-layer Ifynigin
Luise was sunk this morning, the tAmphion struck a mine and
foundered. T he forepart of the ship was shattered by the
explosion, and practically all the loss to the crew ensued from
this cause.
All not killed by the explosion were taken off by the destroyers
boats before she sank. Paymaster Gedge and over 100 men were
killed. T he captain, 16 officers, and 13 5 men were saved.
Tw enty German prisoners of war who were confined in the
forepart of the ship were killed in addition.

TH E KONIC.IN I.U ISE ," SUNK B Y H.M.S. A M P H IO N .

[The mining o f the Ktfnigin Luise was the first of many blows
given to the Kaiser, and one keenly felt by him, as the ex-liner
proudly flaunted the name of his favourite child, his daughter.
It was sunk 40 miles from Antwerp by one of our destroyers which
gave chase for 30 miles before overtaking the German ship o f
destruction. Only four shots were fired, the first blowing the bridge
away, the second striking the bow, while the third tore away the
propeller. It was one of the shots fired that sank the mine-layer,
and not a torpedo, as at first stated. We had no casualties, but
18 wounded men from the KSnigin Luise were brought to Harwich.

It was one of the mines dropped by the kVnigirt Lutse that, without
a doubt, sank the Jmphion^ one of a class of light cruisers built
within the last five years. The hull was very thin, and coming
into contact with a mine she went down much more rapidly than a
heavier vessel. Designed by Sir Philip Watts and built at Pembroke,
the Amphion did more work perhaps as a scout, covering destroyers,
and though certainly a loss, she was immediately replaced by a
Chilean vessel in our dockyards at the time.]

GERMAN SUBMARINE SUNK,

The Secretary of the Admiralty issued the following state
ment on August io, 1 9 1 4 :
One of the Cruiser Squadrons of the Main Fleet was attacked
yesterday by German submarines. None of H.M. ships was
damaged, and one of the enemys submarines, U 15, was sunk.
[The first German submarine to go down at the hands of our
sailors was built at Danzig some time between 19 1 1 and 19 12 .
Little is known of the story of its destruction, but credit for the
work is due to H.M .S. Birmingham, a light cruiser. The Lord
Mayor of Birmingham was honoured by a special telegram from the
First Lord of the Admiralty, and the citizens, filled with pride over
the prowess of their namesake, made a fitting reply.]

H.M.S. HIGHFLYER SINKS MERCHANT

CRUISER.
The First Lord of the Admiralty made the following state
ment in the House of Commons on August 27, 19 14 :__
The Admiralty have just received intelligence that the
German armed merchant cruiser Kaiser JVilhelm der Qrossey of
14,000 tons, and armed, according to our information, with
10 guns of approximately 4 in. calibre, has been sunk by

H.M.S. Highflyer off the Oro River, on the West African

coast.
This is the vessel which has been endeavouring to arrest
traffic between this country and the Cape, and is one of the
very few German armed auxiliary cruisers which have suc
ceeded in getting to sea.
The survivors were landed before the vessel sank.
The Press Bureau issued the following statements later in
the evening:
The following message has been sent to the cruiser Highflyer:
Admiralty to Highflyer.
Bravo! You have rendered a service not only to Britain
but to the peaceful commerce of the world. The German
officers and crew appear to have carried out their duties with
humanity and restraint, and are therefore worthy of all sea
manlike consideration.
The casualties sustained on board the British cruiser High
flyer were:
K il l e d
W

: Richard Lobb, Leading Carpenters crew.

: Five men, slightly.

o u n d ed

[The time taken in arresting the passengers and subsequently

sinking the Kaiparay the New Zealand Shipping Companys
vessel, on the west coast of Africa, together with coaling delays,
proved to be the undoing of the German armed merchantman
Kaiser Wilhelm der Qrosse. The enemys ship, after an eventful
career, scuttled the Kaiparay which sank after a terrific storm of
fire. Proceeding on its voyage with the Kaipara7s crew and pas
sengers as prisoners of war, the German ship was attacked by the
cruiser Highflyer. Fast and furious rang the shots between the two
ships of war, but owing to the short range of her guns the German
vessel had no chance with our gallant cruiser. The Highflyer s
first shot disabled the Germans port gun and tore away part

of the bridge, and the rest soon proved fatal. The captain of
the Kaiser (Vilhelm had placed his prisoners of war in safety on
colliers in the vicinity before firing commenced, a deed which
stands out like a ray of gold from the black list of his fellowcountrymen in Belgium.] _______

H.M.S. PATHFINDER SUNK.

The Secretary to the Admiralty communicated the following
announcement for publication late on September 5, 19 14 :
H.M.S. Pathfinder, Captain Francis Martin Leake, struck a
mine to-day, at 4.30 p.m., about 20 miles off the East Ccast,
and foundered very rapidly.
The loss of life has probably been heavy.
The Pathfinder was a light cruiser of 2940 tons and 25 knots
speed, armed with nine 4-in. guns. She was built in 1904.
[It was subsequently announced that the Pathfinder had been
torpedoed.
It was while steaming northwards that the disaster occurred,
and the sea, which embraced some of our most gallant sailors on that
day, was unusually calm. When torpedoed, the ships explosion
was almost instantaneous, and so terrific was the shock that much
of the wreckage picked up later was but fragments. A steam trawler
was one of the first on the scene for rescue work, and it was followed
by steam drifters, torpedo boats, a motor boat, and a lifeboat, and
the crews from fishing vessels near by did splendid work in bringing
back the saved men*]
________

[The disaster to the Hela had been acknowleged officially by the

Germans four days before in a brief message transmitted to Copen
hagen, in which it was claimed that nearly all the crew had been
saved. The Hela was a cruiser of 2000 tons, with a nominal speed
of 20 knots, and carrying a light armament and three torpedo
tubes. She had a complement of 187 officers and men. When
the E 9 arrived safely in Harwich harbour she was warmly cheered
by the crews of the warships there. She had found the Hela on
the previous Sunday morning and fired two torpedoes at her, one
striking the cruisers bow and one amidships. The Hela burst into
flames and sank in an hour.]

GERMAN ARMED MERCHANTMAN SUNK.

PEGASU S OUT O F A C T IO N .

The Press Bureau issued on September 20, 19 14 , the

following announcements authorized by the Secretary of the
Admiralty:

SUBMARINE E 9 SINKS THE GERMAN

CRUISER HELA.
The Admiralty statement on September 17 ran as follows:
Submarine E 9 (Lieutenant-Commander Max K . Horton)
has returned safely after having torpedoed a German vessel
believed to be the Helay six miles south of Heligoland.

H.M.S. PEGASUS," DESTRO YED B Y TH E EO NIGSBERC.

(1)
Since the outbreak of war H.M.S. Tegasusy Commander
John A . Inglis, Royal Navy, has been working from Zanzibar

and has rendered very useful services, including the destruction

of Dar-es-Salaam and the sinking of the German gunboat
dMotve and floating dock. Early this morning, however, she
was attacked by the 1{onigsberg while at anchor in Zanzibar
harbour cleaning her boilers and repairing machinery. The

(3) The British auxiliary cruiscr Qarrnama, Captain Noel

Grant, Royal Navy, went into action on September 14 off the
east coast of South America with a German armed merchant
cruiser supposed to be the CaP Trafalgar or (B erllny mounting
eight 4in. guns and pom-poms. The action lasted one hour
and 45 minutes, when the German ship capsized and sank,
her survivors being rescued by an empty collier. O f the crew
of the Qarmania nine men were killed, five men seriously
injured, and 2 1 men slightly wounded. None of the officers
was injured. The First Lord has sent the following telegram
to Captain Noel Grant, Royal Navy, of the Qarmama :

Well done. You have fought a fine action to a

successful finish.
(4) H.M.S. Cumbtrlandy Captain Cyril T . M. Fuller,
Royal Navy, reports from the Cameroon River that a
German steamboat, on the night of September 14, attempted
to sink H. M. gunboat D w arf Commander Frederick
E. K . Strong, Royal Navy, with an
Pegasus was thus taken at a disadvantage and, being somewhat
infernal machine in the bows. The
outranged by the newer 4m. guns of the K^nigsbergy was
attempt failed, and the steamboat, with
completely disabled after suffering a loss unofficially reported
one prisoner, was captured. On the
as 25 killed and 80 wounded. This is a high proportion out
night of September 16 the D ivarf was
of a crew of 234. The damage done to the Kjsnigsberg is
purposely rammed by the S^achtigally
not known ; she was last seen steaming away to the southward.
a German merchant ship. The D w a rf
(2)
On September 10 the German cruiser Emdeny from the was slightly damaged, but sustained no
casualties. The S^achtigall was wrecked.
China Station, after being completely lost for six weeks,
The enemy lost four white men and 10
appeared suddenly in the Bay of Bengal, and during the period
coloured men and eight white men and
September 10 to 14 captured six British ships as follows:
14 coloured men missing.
Indus, Lovat, Killiny 'Diplomat, Trabboc^ and I\abangay of
A further report received from H.M.S.
which five were sunk and the sixth sent into Calcutta with
Cumberland stated that two German
the crews. The Emden is now reported at Rangoon, and it
launches, one carrying explosive
is possible that she has made some other captures.
CAPTAIN NOEL GRANT.
9

machines, were destroyed, the enemys losses being one white

man killed and three white men and two natives taken prisoners.

(Captain Theobald W . B. Kennedy), and by a division of

destroyers, trawlers, and boats.
Lists of casualties will be published as soon as they are
known.

[It was on the Tegasus that the British flag was held up by hand
by brave marines after it had been shot away twice. At the
greatest personal risk these gallant men held up the beloved emblem
of their land, and fine reading will their deed make when the history
of the war is written down for future generations. According to
information from Cape Town the IQtnigsberg approached our cruiser
at full speed and after disabling a British patrol boat, opened fire
at a range of 9,000 yards, which was subsequently reduced to
7,000. The Tegasus* guns, in the unequal contest, were disabled
in a quarter of an hour, and after a lull there was further firing, to
which she replied. The ship eventually was badly holed, and was
towed away and grounded on a point off the Malindi Spit, the
IQmgsberg steaming away to the south. Later it was stated that
the second bombardment accounted for our heavy casualty list,
as the wounded were brought on deck when the IQntgsberg ceased
its first firing on the assumption that the action was over.]

HOW T H E T H R E E SHIPS W E R E SUNK.

The Secretary of the Admiralty on September 25 author
ized the following statement with reference to the sinking of
H.M.S. tAbouklr, Cressy, and Hogue in the North Sea on
September 22:
The facts of this affair cannot be better conveyed to the
public than by the attached reports of the Senior Officers who
have survived and landed in England,
The sinking of the ^Aboukir was of course an ordinary
hazard of patrolling duty. The Hogue and Cressy, however,
were sunk because they proceeded to the assistance of their
consort and remained with engines stopped endeavouring to
save life, thus presenting an easy and certain target to further
submarine attacks.
The natural promptings of humanity
have in this case led to heavy losses which would have been
avoided by a strict adherence to military considerations. Modern
naval war is presenting us with so many new and strange
situations that an error of judgment of this character is pardon
able. But it has been necessary to point out, for the future
guidance of His Majestys ships, that the conditions which
prevail when one vessel of a squadron is injured in a minefield
or is exposed to submarine attack, are analogous to those which
occur in an action, and that the rule of leaving disabled ships
to their own resources is applicable, so far, at any rate, as large
vessels are concerned. No act of humanity, whether to friend
or foe, should lead to a neglect of the proper precautions and
dispositions of war, and no measures can be taken to save life

ABOUKIR, HOGUE, AND CRESSY.

TORPEDOED IN T H E NORTH SEA.
The Secretary of the Admiralty communicated the following
statement for publication 011 September 22, 19 14 :
H.M. Ships Aboukir (Captain John E. Drummond), Hogue
(Captain Wilmot S. Nicholson), and Cressy (Captain Robert
W. Johnson) have been sunk by submarines in the North Sea.
The Jlboukir was torpedoed, and whilst the Hogue and the
Cressy had closed and were standing by to save the crew, they
were also torpedoed.
A considerable number were saved by H.M.S. Lowestoft

10

which prejudice the military situation. Small craft of all kinds

should, however, be directed by wireless to close on the damaged
ship with all speed.
The loss of nearly 60 officers and 1400 men would not
have been grudged if it had been brought about by gunfire in
an open action, but it is peculiarly distressing under the condi
tions which prevailed. The absence of any of the ardour and

been incurred in a general action. In view of the ccrtamty

of a proportion of misfortunes of this character occurring from
time to time, it is important that this point of view should be
thoroughly appreciated.
The loss of the three cruisers, apart from the loss of life, is
of small naval signifiance. Although they were large and
powerful ships, they belonged to a class of cruisers whose
speeds have been surpassed by many of the enemys battleships.
Before the war it had been decided that no more money
should be spent in repairing any of this class, and that they
should make their way to the sale list as soon as serious defccts
became manifest.
R E P O R T BY
C O M M A N D E R B E R T R A M W. L. N IC H O L S O N , R.N.,
L A T E O F H.M .S. CRESSY.
September 23, 19 14 .

H.M.S. HOGUE, W H ICH W AS SUNK W IT H THH SISTER SHIPS

ABOUKIR** AND CRESSY."

excitement of an engagement did not, however, prevent the

display of discipline, cheerful courage, and ready self-sacrifice
among all ranks and ratings exposed to the ordeal.
The duty on which these vessels were engaged was an
essential part of the arrangements by which the control of the
seas and the safety of the country are maintained, and the lives
lost are as usefully, as necessarily, and as gloriously devoted to
the requirements of His Majestys service as if the loss had

Sir, I have the honour to submit the following report in

connexion with the sinking of H.M.S. Cressy in company with
H.M.S. Aboukir and Hogue on the morning of September 22:
Whilst on patrol duty Aboukir was struck at 6.25 a.m. on
starboard beam. Hogue and Cressy closed and took up position,
Hogue ahead of Aboukir and Cressy about 400 yards on port
beam.
As soon as it was seen that the Aboukir was in danger of
sinking all boats were sent away from Cressy and picket boat
was hoisted out without steam up; when cutters full of
Aboukir*s men were returning to Cressy, Hogue was struck,
apparently under aft 9*2-in. magazine, as a very heavy explo
sion took place immediately after the first explosion. Almost
directly after Hogue was hit we observed a periscope on our
port bow about 300 yards off. Fire was immediately opened

already reported the splendid service rendered by Captain

Phillips, master of the trawler Z. T. Qoriander, and his crew,
who picked up 150 officers and men,
I have the honour, &c., &c.,
B E R T R A M W . L . N IC H O LSO N , Commander,
Late H.M.S. Cressy.

and engines put full speed ahead with intention of running her
down. Our gunner, Mr, Dogherty, positively asserts that he
hit the periscope and that the submarine then showed her con
ning tower, which he struck, and the submarine sank. An
officer standing alongside the gunner thinks that the shell
struck only floating timber, of which there was much about,
but it was evidently the impression of the men on deck, who
cheered and clapped heartily, that the submarine had been hit.
This submarine did not fire a torpedo at Cressy.
Captain Johnson then manoeuvred the ship so as to render
assistance to crews of Hogue and Aboukir. About five minutes
later another periscope was seen on our starboard quarter.
Fire was opened, the track of the torpedo she fired at range of
500 to 600 yards was plainly visible, and it struck us, star
board side, just before the after bridge ; the ship listed about
10 deg. to starboard and remained steady time 7 .15 a.m. All
watertight doors, dead lights, and scuttles had been securely
closed before the torpedo struck the ship. All mess stools and
tables, shores, and all available timber below and on deck had
been previously got up and thrown over the side for saving of
life. A second torpedo fired by the same submarine missed and
passed about 20 feet astern. About a quarter of an hour after
the first torpedo had hit, a third torpedo, fired from a sub
marine just before starboard beam, hit us in No. 5 boiler room
time 7.30 a.m. The ship then began to heel rapidly, and
finally turned keel up, remaining so for about 20 minutes
before she finally sank at 7.55 a.m.; a large number of men
were saved by the casting adrift of a pattern 3 target; the
steam pinnace floated out of her crutches, but filled and sank.
The second torpedo which struck Cressy passed over sinking
hull of Aboukir, narrowly missing it. It is possible that the
same submarine fired all three torpedoes at Cressy.
The conduct of the crew was excellent throughout. I have

REPO RT B Y
C O M M A N D ER R E G IN A L D A . NO RTON, R .N .,
L A T E O F H .M .S. H O G U E
September 23, 1914 .
Sir, I have the honour to report as follows concerning the
sinking of H.M, ships Hoguey tAboufyr, and Cressy:
Between 6.15 and 6.30 a.m. H.M.S. t/Jbou^ir was struck
by a torpedo. The Hogue closed the Aboukiry and I received
orders to hoist out the launch, turn out and prepare all boats,
and unlash all timber on the upper deck. T he two lifeboats
were sent to the tAbouf^ir^ but before the launch could get
away the Hogue was struck on the starboard side amidships by
two torpedoes at intervals of 10 to 20 seconds. The ship at
once began to heel to starboard. After ordering the men to
provide themselves with wood, hammocks, etc., and to get
into the boats on the booms and take off their clothes, I went,
by Captain Nicholsons directions, to ascertain the damage in
the engine rooms. An artificer engineer informed me that the
water was over the engine-room gratings. While endeavouring
to return to the bridge the water burst open the starboard entry
port doors, and the ship heeled rapidly. I told the men in
the port battery to jump overboard, as the launch was close
alongside, and soon afterwards the ship lurched heavily to
starboard. I clung to a ringbolt for some time, but eventually
it

dropped on to the deck, and a huge wave washed me away,

I climbed up the ships side, and was again washed off.
Eventually, after swimming about from various overladen
pieces of wreckage, I was picked up by a cutter from the
Hogue, Coxswain L . S. Marks, which pulled about for some
hours picking up men and discharging them to our picket boat
and steam pinnace, and to the Dutch steamers Flora and Titan,
and rescued in this way Commander Sells, Engineer-Commander Stokes, with legs broken, Fleet Paymaster Eidred, and
about 120 others. Finally, about n a.m., when we could
find no more men in the water, we were picked up by H.M.S.
Lucifer, which proceeded to the Titan and took off from her
all our men except about 20 who were too ill to be moved.
A Lowestoft trawler and the two Dutch ships Flora and
Titan were extraordinarily kind, clothing and feeding our men.
My boats crew, consisting mainly of R .N .R . men, pulled and
behaved remarkably well. I particularly wish to mention
Petty Officer, 1st Class, Halton, who, by encouraging the men
in the water near me, undoubtedly saved many lives.
Lieutenant-Commander Phillips-Wolley, after hoisting out
the launch, asked me if he should try to hoist out another boat,
and endeavoured to do so; the last I saw of him was on the
after bridge doing well. Lieutenant Tillard was picked up by
the launch, got up a cutters crew, and saved many lives, as
did Midshipman Cazalet in the Cressfs gig. Lieutenant
Chichester turned out the whaler very quickly.
A Dutch sailing trawler sailed close by, but went off without
rendering any assistance, though we signalled to her from the
Hogue to close after we were struck.

turned turtle very quickly, in about five minutes, and floated

bottom up for some minutes. A dense black smoke was seen
in the starboard battery, whether from coal or torpedo cordite
I could not say. The upper deck was not blown up, and only
one other small explosion occurred as we heeled over.
The Cr*ssy I watched heel over from the cutter; she heeled
over to starboard very slowly, a dense black smoke issuing
from her when she attained an angle of about go deg., and
she took a long time from this angle till she floated bottom up
with the starboard screw slightly out of the water. I consider
it was 35 to 45 minutes from the time she was struck till she
was bottom up.
All the men in the Hogue behaved extraordinarily well, obey
ing orders even when in the water swimming for their lives, and
I witnessed many cases of great self-sacrifice and gallantry.
Farmstone, able seaman, R .F.R ., H.M.S. Hogue, jumped
overboard from the launch to make room for others, and
would not avail himself of assistance until all men near by
were picked up; he was in the water about half an hour.
There was no panic of any sort, the men taking off their
clothes as ordered and falling in with hammock or wood.
Captain Nicholson, in our other cutter, as usual, was per
fectly cool, and rescued a large number of men. I last saw
him alongside the Flora.
Engineer-Commander Stokes, I believe, was in the engine
room to the last, and Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Fendick
got steam on the boat-hoist and worked it in five minutes.
I have the honour to submit that I may be appointed to
another ship as soon as I can get a kit.
I have the honour, &c.,

HOW T H E V E S S E L S SA N K ,
The dbouktr appeared to me to take about 35 minutes to
sink, floating bottom up for about five minutes. The Hogue

R E G IN A L D A. N O R T O N , Commander,
Late of H.M.S. H tgue.

13

The following are the numbers saved from each ship:

Aboukir, 17 officers, 237 men; total 254. Cressy, 14 officers,
1 go men; total 204. Hogue, 29 officers, 352 men ; total 3 8 1.
Totals, 60 officers, 779 men. Grand total, 839.
A number of officers and men who were rescued by the
Flora and other vessels were landed in Holland. Some were
taken to hospital, where they were visited by Prince Henry*
On Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, all who were
fit to travel were sent back to England by the Dutch Govern
ment, and all were warm in praise of the kindness and hospi
tality of their Dutch hosts.

The vessels were in good order, most of them containing

general outward and homeward cargoes and considerable
quantities of coal.
The European crews have been removed as prisoners, the
native engine-room ratings being retained.
It is also announced that the gunboat Soden was captured
and has been commissioned, and it is expected that the floating

G E R M A N GU N BO AT & LIN ER S
CAPTU R ED .
G R E A T H A U L B Y H .M .S . C U M B E R L A N D .

The Secretary of the Admiralty announced on October I,

19 14 , that H.M.S. Cumberland (Captain Cyril Fuller) had
captured the following merchant steamers off the Cameroon
River (West Africa) :
M ax Brock
Renata e/fmsinck
Paul IVoermann
Erna IVoermann
All of the Woermann Line,
Henriette IVoermann
Hamburg.
tAhene IVoermann
Ham IVoermann
Jeannette IVzermann
t/Irnfield (Hamburg-Amerika Line).

dock and the Herzogin Elisabeth, which had been sunk, can
be raised.
[By this action the Cumberland added to its already great laurels,
and Captain Fullers haul means a collection of the most valuable
steamers to our credit. It was a sad blow to the owners, the
Woermann Company, vfho have been particularly active, it is
stated, at Las Palmas in extending their fuel dep6t, doubtless with
an eye to the service of German pirate ships. The company by
the loss of these merchant steamers stands at 25 per cent, lower on
their list of ships.]

Total tonnage, 30, 915.

*4

H.M. SU BM A R IN E E 9 SINKS D ESTRO YER.

The Secretary of the Admiralty authorized the publication
of the following statement on October 7, 19 14 :
Submarine E 9 (Lieutenant-Commander Max K . Horton)
has returned safely after having torpedoed and sunk a German
torpedo-boat destroyer off the Ems River,
[It was indeed a plucky piece of naval strategy carried to a
successful issue by the 30-year-old Lieutenant-Commander of
Submarine E 9, Max K. Horton, a man who pins his faith to this
type of craft, which he has been mastering for the past ten years.
Hardly had the people at home been initiated into the details of
his last daring exploit, the sinking of the German cruiser Hela,
accomplished without a scratch, when the news came of this brave
deed, which brought him a second flag from the enemys decreasing
store. With his eager men ready for the fight, swift and sure
Lieutenant-Commander Horton went for his target, and the second
torpedo fired struck the enemy amidship, which meant immediate
destruction to the German destroyer.]

Commonwealth of Australia from the Administrator at Rabaul,

reporting the capture of the small German sailing vessel Comet>
which was found to have a complete wireless telegraph station
on board.
[This was a blow which did much to compass the end of the
Emden at a later stage in the war. It was only by the aid of the
Markomannia and its kind that the Emden kept up its adventurous
career on the high seas so long as it did.]

H.M.S. H AW KE TORPEDOED IN NORTH SEA

The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following
announcement on October 16, 1 9 1 4 :

G E R M A N L IN E R D ESTRO YED .
EM D EN S C O L L IE R A N D SH IP W ITH W IR E L E S S .
The following announcement was made by the Secretary of
the Admiralty on October 15 , 19 14 :
H.M.S. Yarmouth, Captain Henry L . Cochrane, has sunk
the German Hamburg-Amerika Line steamer Marfymannia in
the vicinity of Sumatra, and has captured and is taking into
harbour the Greek steamer Pontoporos. Both these vessels have
been previously reported as accompanying the German cruiser
Emden. H.M.S. Yarmouth has 60 German prisoners of war
on board.
The Secretary of the Admiralty also states that a com
munication has been received by the Government of the

H.M.S. Theseus (Captain Hugh Edwards, R.N.) was attacked

by a submarine in the northern waters of the North Sea
yesterday afternoon, but was missed. H.M.S. Hawke (Captain
Hugh P. E . Williams, R.N.) was attacked at about the same
time, and was sunk.

The following officers, together with 49 men of the crew,

have been landed at Aberdeen from a trawler : Mr. Sidney
Austin, boatswain ; Mr, James Dennis, gunner ; Mr, Harry
C. T . Evitt, acting gunner. The remaining officers and men
are missing. Further particulars will be published as soon as
they are available,
H.M.S. Hawke was a cruiser built in 1889.
Later it was officially announced that Lieutenant-Commander (G) Robert R . Rosoman and 20 men had been saved
from a raft.
[Great heroism was shown by the men of the sinking ship. The
crew were at various drills when the Hawke was struck, and as she
reeled under the shock with part of her side torn away, the signal
S till! brought every man on deck to his post. As the ship listed,
the cry from the captain on the bridge rang out, Every man for
himself! and discarding clothing the brave sailors leaped into the
sea, clinging to the Boating wreckage. Only one boat could be
brought into action in time, and in it 49 precious lives were brought
to safety. Within ten minutes the Hawke had disappeared under
the water, which was bitterly cold, and one boat, with its cargo of
half-clad men, as it rowed away made a last brave effort to batter
the periscope of the enemys submarine with its oars, but was un
successful. The men took turns with the oars, and those with more
than one garment shared the others, a boy being wrapped in two
old newspapers.
4- After six torturous hours they were picked
up by a Nor
j wegian steamer, on which they were speedily
clothed by the \ captain and crew, who gave all they had to
our s a ilo r s .
j j Later they were welcomed at Aberdeen.]

ONE O F TH E I * D E S T R O Y E D W H ICH A C T 3D W IT H C A F T. F O X

FOUR GERMAN DESTROYERS

SUNK.
FIGHT OFF THE DUTCH COAST.
The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 17 , 1 9 1 4 :
The new light cruiser Undaunted (Captain Cecil H . Fox),
accompanied by the destroyers Lance
(Commander W . de M. Egerton), Lennox
(Lieutenant-Commander C. R. Dane),
Legion (Lieutenant-Commander C. F .
Allsup), and Loyal (Lieutenant-Com
mander F. Burges Watson), engaged
four German destroyers off the Dutch
coast this afternoon. All the enemys
destroyers were sunk.
A later announcement by the Sec
retary of the Admiralty says :
The British loss in the destroyer action
was one officer and four men wounded.
The damage to the British destroyers
was slight.
There are 3 1 German
survivors, prisoners of war.
[ All the enemys destroyers were sunk was an announcement
which brought joy to every heart, particularly as the leader of the
fight off the Dutch coast was gallant Captain Cecil H . Fox, who
has installed himself in popular favour for all time. The fight was
swift after the enemys four destroyers were sighted. In the space
of two minutes the first had gone down after being struck below
the bridge by a six-inch lyddite shell. The second shortly after
wards was seen to be out of action. It was ablaze from end to end,
with the funnels, bridge and deck fittings torn from their holdings*

and as it went down the sea seemed to be swallowing a length of

leaping flames. The third was riddled with shell, and within two
hours the last of the four had joined her companions under the sea,
the majority of the German sailors going down with their craft.
It was a sight never to be forgotten when Captain Fox on the
Undaunted led the triumphant British ships up the river back to
Harwich, and hearty cheers were exchanged between the men on
the warships and the crowds assembled on the quays.]

[The German submarine sunk by the Badger apparently was

on the look-out for a larger prey, one of our cruisers reported to
be on watch in the vicinity. On seeing the Badger the enemy^
ship fired a torpedo which missed the mark. The Badger made a
bold dash and rammed the submarine with such force that the
ship was brought to a standstill, and before sinking her the Badger
riddled the enemys craft with fire. The Badger was soon in the
fighting line again after treatment at Sheerncss.]

SU B M A R IN E E 3 LOST.
The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 22, 19 14 :
Submarine E 3, Lieut*-Commander George F. Cholmlcy,
R.N., is now considerably overdue, and it is feared that she has
been sunk in the North Sea. A German Press radiogram
stated that she had been sunk on the 18th instant.
[Although there is no official account of the loss of Submarine E 3,
the Admiralty a few days later stated that no hope could be enter
tained of its safety. According to a German official wireless
message, the ship was sunk in a German bay in the North Sea.]

H.M.S. B A D G ER RAM S A SUBM ARINE.

The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 25, 1 914 :
A German submarine has been rammed and sunk by the
destroyer Badger, Commander Charles Fremantle, R.N., off
the Dutch coast. The Badger*s bows were somewhat damaged.
The Secretary of the Admiralty also announces that the
following telegram has been sent to H.M.S. Badger :
Admiralty are very pleased with your good service.
The Badger arrived at Sheerness for repair of her damaged
bows. Her crew had an enthusiastic reception.

CR U ISER H ERM ES SUNK.

The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement 011 October 3 1, 19 14 :
The old cruiser Hermes, Captain C. R. Lam be, which had
been recently used as a seaplane-carrying ship, was sunk to-day
by a torpedo fired by a German submarine in the Straits of
Dover as she was returning from Dunkirk.
Nearly all the officers and crew were
saved, but the exact loss cannot be ascer
tained until the men are mustered. The
loss of the vessel is of small military
significance.
[The cruiser had only arrived in the
Channel from port when she was struck by
a torpedo fired from a German submarine.
The first torpedo put her propellers ^
out of action, and she stood at their
mercy. The second torpedo came
swiftly,striking near the engine room
and blowing up the ship. Most of
the men were in their bunks at the
time, and many of the 400 saved
were clad only in shirt and trousers.]
com m ander

charles i

R e m a n i u :.

In the Bight o f Heligoland

GERMANS OUTMANOEUVRED
AND OUTFOUGHT.
THREE

CRUISERS

ACCOUNTED

FOR.

P R A IS E F O R BR IT ISH SU B M A R IN E S.

The following was issued as a supplement to the London

Gazette :

*. . .
viam tralty,

October 2 1, 1 914.
The following despatches have been received from ViceAdmiral (Acting) Sir David Beatty, K .C .B ., M.V.O., D.S.O.,
H.M.S. Lion, Rear-Admiral Arthur H. Christian, M .V.O.,
H.M.S. SuryaittSy Commodore Reginald Y . Tyrwhitt,
Commodore (T), H.M.S. drethusay and Commodore Roger
J. B. Keyes, C.B., M .V.O., Commodore (S), reporting the
engagement off Heligoland on Friday, the 28th August.
A memorandum by the Director of the Air Department,
Admiralty, is annexed.
H.M.S. Lion,
September I, 19 14 .

Sir,I have the honour to report that on Thursday,

27th August, at 5 a.m., I proceeded, with the First Battle
Cruiser Squadron and First Light Cruiser Squadron in company,
to rendezvous with the Rear-Admiral, Inyinable,
At 4 a.m., 28th August, the movements of the Flotillas

commenced as previously arranged, the Battle Cruiser Squadron

and Light Cruiser Squadron supporting. The Rear-Admiral,
Invincible, with New Zealand and four Destroyers having
joined my flag, the Squadron passed through the prearranged
rendezvous.
At 8.10 a.m. I received a signal from the Commodore (T),
informing me that the Flotilla was in action with the enemy.
This was presumably in the vicinity of their prearranged
rendezvous. From this time until 1 1 a.m. I remained about
the vicinity ready to support as necessary, intercepting various
signals, which contained no information on which I could act.
At 1 1 a.m. the Squadron was attacked by three Submarines.
The attack was frustrated by rapid manoeuvring, and the four
Destroyers were ordered to attack them.
Shortly after
11 a.m., various signals having been received indicating that
the Commodore (T) and Commodore (S) were both in need
of assistance, I ordered the Light Cruiser Squadron to support
the Torpedo Flotillas.
Later I received a signal from the Commodore (T), stating
that he was being attacked by a large Cruiser, and a further
signal informing me that he was being hard pressed and asking
for assistance. The Captain (D), First Flotilla, also signalled
that he was in need of help.
From the foregoing the situation appeared to me critical.
The Flotillas had advanced only ten miles since 8 a.m., and
were only about twenty-five miles from two enemy bases, on
their flank and rear respectively. Commodore Goodenough
had detached two of his Light Cruisers to assist some

Destroyers earlier in the day, and these had not yet rejoined.
(They rejoined at 2.30 p.m.) As the reports indicated the
presence of many enemy ships one a large Cruiser I con
sidered that his force might not be strong enough to deal with
the situation sufficiently rapidly, so at 11.3 0 a.m. the Battle
Cruisers turned to E .S.E ., and worked up to full speed. It
was evident that to be of any value the support must be
overwhelming and carried out at the highest speed possible.
I had not lost sight of the risk of Submarines, and possible
sortie in force from the enemys base, especially in view of the
mist to the south-east.
Our high speed, however, made submarine attack difficult, and
the smoothness of the sea made their detection comparatively
easy. I considered that we were powerful enough to deal with
any sortie except by a Battle Squadron, which was unlikely to
come out in time, provided our stroke was sufficiently rapid.
At 12 .15
Fearless and First Flotilla were sighted
retiring west. A t the same time the Light Cruiser Squadron
was observed to be engaging an enemy ship ahead. They
appeared to have her beat.
I then steered N .E. to sounds of firing ahead, and at
12,30 p.m. sighted Jlrethusa and Third Flotilla retiring to the
westward engaging a Cruiser of the Kolberg class 011 our port
bow. I steered to cut her off from Heligoland, and at 12.37
p.m. opened fire. A t 12.42 the enemy turned to N.E., and
we chased at 27 knots.
At 12.56 p.m. sighted and engaged a two-funnelled Cruiser
ahead. Lion fired two salvos at her, which took effect, and
she disappeared in the mist, burning furiously and in a sinking
condition. In view of the mist and that she was steering at
high speed at right angles to Lion, who was herself steaming
at 28 knots, the Lion's firing was very creditable.

to the eastward and I considered it inadvisable to pursue her.

It was also essential that the Squadrons should remain concen
trated, and I accordingly ordered a withdrawal. The Battle
Cruisers turned north and circled to port to complete the
destruction of the vessel first engaged. She was sighted again
at 1.25 p.m. steaming S.E. with colours
still flying. Lion opened fire with two
turrets, and at 1.35 p.m., after receiving
two salvos, she sank.
The four attached Destroyers were
sent to pick up survivors, but I deeply re
gret that they subsequently reported that
they searched the area but found none.
At 1.40 p.m. the Battle
Cruisers turned to the north
ward, and Queen tMary was
again attacked by a submarine.
The attack was avoided by the
use of the helm. Lowestoft was also
unsuccessfully attacked. The Battle
Cruisers covered the retirement until v i c e - a d m ir a l s i r d a v id
BEATTY.
nightfall. By 6 p.m., the retirement
having been well executed and all Destroyers accounted for,
I altered course, spread the Light Cruisers, and swept north
wards in accordance with the Commander-in-ChicFs orders.
At 7.45 p.m. I detached Liverpool to Rosyth with German
prisoners, 7 officers and 79 men, survivors from M ainz. No
further incident occurred.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
D A V ID B E A T T Y , Vice-Admiral.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.

Our Destroyers had reported the presence of floating mines

19

starboard quarter. Opened fire 011 tier w ith both o-in. guns;
Fearless also engaged her, and one Division of Destroyers
attacked her w ith torpedoes without success.
T he state of affairs and our position were then reported to
the Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron.
W e received a very severe and almost accurate fire from
this Cruiser ; salvo after salvo was falling between 10 and 30
yards short, but not a single shell struck j two torpedoes were
also fired at us, being well directed, but short.
T h e Cruiser was badly damaged by Arethusa's 6-inch guns
and a splendidly directed fire from Fearless, and she shortly
afterwards turned away in the direction of Heligoland.
Proceeded, and four minutes later sighted the three-funnelled
Cruiser CMainz. She endured a heavy fire from Arethusa and
Fearless and many Destroyers. After an action of approxi
mately 25 minutes she was seen to be sinking by the head,
her engines stopped, besides being on fire.
A t this moment the Light Cruiser Squadron appeared, and
they very speedily reduced the M a in z to a condition which
must have been indescribable.
I then recalled Fearless and the Destroyers, and ordered
cease fire.
W e then exchanged broadsides with a large, four-funnelled
Cruiser on the starboard quarter at long range, without visible
effect.
T he Battle Cruiser Squadron now arrived, and I pointed
out this Cruiser to the Admiral Commanding, and was shortly
afterwards informed by him that the Cruiser in question had
been sunk and another set on fire.
T h e weather during the day was fine, sea calm, but visibility
poor, not more than 3 miles at any time when the various
actions were taking place, and was such that ranging and
spotting were rendered difficult.

I then proceeded with 14 Destroyers o f the T h ird Flotilla,

and 9 of the First Flotilla.

Arethusa9s speed was about 6 knots u n til 7 p.m ., when it

was impossible to proceed any further, and fires were drawn in
all boilers except two, and assistance called for.
A t 9.30 Captain W ilm o t S. Nicholson, o f the Hogue, took
m y ship in tow in a most seamanlike manner, and, observing
that the night was pitch .dark and the only lights showing
were two small hand lanterns, I consider his action was one
which deserves special notice from T h eir Lordships.
I would also specially recommend Lieutenant-Commander
A rthur P. N . Thorowgood, o f Arethusa , for the able manner
he prepared the ship for being towed in the dark.
H .M . Ship under m y command was then towed to the
Nore, arriving at 5 p.m . on the 29th August. Steam was
then available for slow speed, and the ship was able to proceed
to Chatham under her ow n steam.
I beg again to call attention to the services rendered by
Captain W . F. B lu nt, of H .M .S . Fearless, and the Com m and
ing Officers of the Destroyers of the First and T h ird Flotillas,
whose gallant attacks on the German Cruisers at critical
moments undoubtedly saved Arethusa from more severe punish
ment and possible capture.
I cannot adequately express m y satisfaction and pride at the
spirit and ardour of m y Officers and Ships Company, who
carried out their orders w ith the greatest alacrity under the
most trying conditions, especially in view o f the fact that the
ship, newly built, had not been 48 hours out of the Dockyard
before she was in action.
It is difficult to specially pick out individuals, but the follow
ing came under my special observation:

H.M.S. Arethusa.

H.M.S. Laertes.

Lieutenant-Commander A rthur P . N . Thorowgood, First Lieutenant, and in

charge of the After Control.
Lieutenant-Commander Ernest I t . Arbuthnot ( G .) ,i n charge of the Fore Control.
Sub-Lieutenant Clive A . Robinson, who worked the range-finder throughout the
entire action w ith extraordinary coolness.
Assistant Paymaster K enneth E. Bad cock, my Secretary, who attended me on
the bridge throughout the entire action.
Mr. James D . Godfrey, G unner (T .), who was in charge of the torpedo tubes.

Lieutenant-Commander M alcolm L. G oldsm ith, whose ship was seriously

damaged, taken in tow, and towed out of action by Fearlcu.
Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Alexander H ill, for repairing steering gear
and engines under fire.
Sub-Lieutenant George H . Faulkner, who continued to fight his gun after being
wounded.
M r. Charles Powell, Acting Boatswain, O .N . 200388,
who was gunlayer of the centre gun, which made many
hits. H e behaved very coolly, and set a good example
when getting in tow and clearing away the wreckage after
the action.
Edward Naylor, Petty Officer,Torpedo Gunner's Mate,
O .N . 1S9136, who fired a torpedo which the Comm and
ing Officer o f L a ir tit reports undoubtedly h it the M ainz,
and so helped materially to put her out of action.
Stephen Pritchard, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 2X5 152,
who very gallantly dived into the cabin flat immediately
after a shell had exploded there, and worked a fire hose.

The following men were specially noted :

Armourer A rthur F. Hayes, O .N . 542026 (C h .).
Second Sick Berth Steward George Trolley, O .N . M . 296 (C h .).
Chief Yeom an of Signals Albert Fc, O .N . 194656 (P o.), on fore bridge during
entire action.
Chief Petty Officer Frederick W . W rench, O .N . 158630 (Ch.) (for ready re
source in extinguishing fire caused by explosion o f cordite).
Private Thomas M illing to n , R .M .L .I., No. Ch. 17417,
Private W illia m J . Beirne, R .M .L .I, N o . Ch. 13540.
First W riter Albert W . Stone, O .N . 346080 (P o .).

I also beg to record the services rendered by the following

Officers and M e n of H .M . Ships under my orders :

H .M .S. Laurel

H .M .S. Fearless.
Mr, Robert M . Taylor, G unner, for coolness in action under heavy fire.

T he following Officers also displayed great resource and

energy in effecting repairs to Fearless after her return to harbour,
and they were ably seconded by the whole of their staffs :
Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Charles de F. Messervy,
Mr. W illia m Morrissey, Carpenter,

H.M .S. Goshawk.

Commander the H o n . Herbert Meade, who took hi* D ivision into action w ith
great coolness and nerve, and was instrumental in sinking the G erm an Destroyer
V 187, and with the boats of his D ivision saved the survivors in a most chival
rous manner.

H .M .S. ferret.
Commander Geoffrey M ackw orth, who w ith
seconded Commander Meade, of Goshaiv

Frederick Pierce, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 307943,

who was on watch in the engine room and behaved with
conspicuous coolness and resource when a shell exploded
in No. 2 boiler.

his

Division

most gallantly

Commander Frank F. Rose, who most ably com

manded his vessel throughout the early part o f the action,
and after having been wounded in both legs, remained
COMMODORE
on the bridge until 6 p.m ., displaying great devotion to
R. Y. TYRWHITT.
duty.
Lieutenant Charles R . Peploe, First Lieutenant, who took command after Com
mander Rose was wounded, and continued the action till its dose, bringing hu
Destroyer out in an able and gallant manner under most trying conditions.
Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Edward H . T . Meeson, who behaved with
great coolness during the action, and steamed the ship out of action, although she
had been very severely damaged by explosion of her own lyddite, by which the
after funnel was nearly demolished. H e subsequently assisted to carry out repairs
to the vessel.
Sam Palmer, Leading Seaman (G .L . 2) O .N . 179529, who continued to fi^'ht
his gun until the end of the action, although severely wounded in the leg.
Albert Edm und Sellens, Able Seaman (L .T .O .), O .N . 217245, who was sta
tioned at the fore torpedo tubes ; he remained at hi* post throughout the entire
action, although wounded in the arm, and then rendered first aid in a very able
manner before being attended to himself.

H.M.S. {Maidstone,

G unner H . Sturdy, C hief Stoker, O .N , 285547, an*

Alfred B ritton, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 2 S9893, who both showed great

October l j y 1914.

coolness in putting out a lire near the centre gun after an explosion had occurred
there 5 several lyddite shells were lying in the immediate vicinity.

Sir, In compliance w ith T heir Lordships* directions, I have

the honour to report as follows upon the services performed
by Submarines since the commencement o f hostilities :

W illia m R . Boiston, Engine Room Artificer, 3rd class, O .N . M . 1369, who

showed great ability and coolness in taking charge of the after boiler room during
the action, when an explosion blew in the after funnel and a lhell carried away
pipes and seriously damaged the m ain steam pipe.

Three hours after the outbreak of war, Submarines E 6

(Lieutenant-Commander Cecil P. Talbot) and E 8 (LieutenantCommander Francis H . H . Good hart) proceeded unaccom
panied to carry out a reconnaissance in the Heligoland Bight.
These two vessels returned w ith useful information, and had
the privilege o f being the pioneers on a service w hich is
attended by some risk.
D uring the transportation of the Expeditionary Force the
Lurcher and Firedrake and all the Submarines of the Eighth
Submarine Flotilla occupied positions from which they could
have attacked the H igh Sea Fleet, had it emerged to dispute
the passage of our transports. T h is patrol was maintained
day and night without relief, until the personnel of our A rm y
had been transported and all chance o f effective interference
had disappeared.
These Submarines have since been incessantly employed on
the E nem ys Coast in the Heligoland B ight and elsewhere,
and have obtained m uch valuable information regarding the
composition and movement of his patrols. T h e y have occupied
his waters and reconnoitred his anchorages, and, while so
engaged, have been subjected to skilful and w ell executed anti
submarine tactics; hunted for hours at a time by Torpedo
Craft and attacked by gunfire and torpedoes.
A t m idnight on the 26th August, I embarked in the
Lurcher, and, in company with Firedrake and Submarines
D 2, D 8, E 4, E 5, E 6, E 7, E 8, and E 9 o f the E ighth
Submarine Flotilla, proceeded to take part in the operations in

W illia m H . Gorst, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 305616.

Edward Crane, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 307x75.
H arry W ilfred Hawke?, Stoker 1st class, O .N . K . 120S6.
Jo h n W . Bateman, Stoker 1st class, O .N . K . 12100.
These men were stationed in the after boiler room and conducted themselves
w ith great coolness during the action, when an explosion blew in the after funnel,
and shell carried away pipes and seriously damaged the m ain steam pipe.

H.M .S. Liberty.

T he late Lieutenant-Commander Nigel K* W . Barttelot commanded the
Liberty w ith great skill and gallantry throughout the action. H e was a moat
promising and able officer, and I consider his death a great loss to the Navy.
Engineer Lieutenant-Commander Frank A. Butler, who showed m uch resource
in effecting repairs during the action*
Lieutenant Henry E . Horan, First Lieutenant, who took command after the
death o f Lieutenant-Commander Barttelot, and brought his ship out of action in
an extremely ab.e and gallant manner under the most trying conditions.
M r. Harry Morgan, G unner (T ), who carried out his duties w ith exceptional
coolness uuder fire.
C hief Petty Officer James Samuel Beadle, O .N , 171735, who remained at his
po&t at the wheel for over an hour after being wounded in the kidneys.
Jo h n G alvin, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 279946, who took entire charge,
under the Engineer Officer, of the party who stopped leaks, and accomplished his
taik although working up to his chest in water.

H.M.S. Laforey.
M r. Ernest Roper, Chief Gunner, who carried out his duties w ith exceptional
coolness under fire.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Y ou r obedient Servant,
R . Y . T Y R W H I T T , Commodore (T).

14

the Heligoland Bight arranged for the 28th August. T h e

Destroyers scouted for the Submarines until nightfall on the
27th, when the latter proceeded independently to take up
various positions from which they could co-operate with the
Destroyer Flotillas on the following morning.
A t daylight on the 28th August, the Lurcher and Firedrake
searched the area through which the Battle Cruisers were to
advance for hostile Submarines, and then proceeded towards
Heligoland in the wake o f Submarines E 6, E 7, and E 8,
which were exposing themselves w ith the object o f inducing
the enemy to chase them to the westward.
O n approaching Heligoland, the visibility, which had been
very good to seaward, reduced to 5,000 to 6,000 yards, and
this added considerably to the anxieties and responsibilities of
the Commanding Officers o f Submarines, who handled their
vessels with coolness and judgm ent in an area which was
necessarily occupied by friends as well as foes.
Low visibility and calm sea are the most unfavourable con
ditions under which Submarines can operate, and no oppor
tunity occurred o f closing w ith the enemys Cruisers to w ithin
torpedo range.
Lieutenant-Commander Ernest W . Leir, commanding Sub
marine E 4, witnessed the sinking o f the Germ an Torpedo
Boat Destroyer V 187 through his periscope, and, observing a
Cruiser of the Stettin class close, and open fire on the British
Destroyers which had lowered their boats to pick up the sur
vivors, he proceeded to attack the Cruiser, but she altered
course before he could get w ithin range. After covering the
retirement o f our Destroyers, which had had to abandon their
boats, he returned to the latter, and embarked a Lieutenant and
nine men o f Defender, who had been left behind. T he boats
also contained two officers and eight men of V 187, who were
unwounded, and eighteen men who were badly wounded. As

he could not embark the latter, Lieutenant-Commander Leir

left one o f the officers and six un wounded men to navigate the
British boats to Heligoland.
Before leaving he saw that they
were provided w ith water, biscuit, and a compass. O ne Ger
man officer and two men were made prisoners of war.
Lieutenant-Commander Leirs action in remaining on the
surface in the vicinity of the enemy and in a visibility which
would have placed his vessel within easy gun range of an
enemy appearing out o f the mist, was altogether admirable.
T his enterprising and gallant officer took part in the recon
naissance which supplied the information on which these
operations were based, and I beg to submit his name, and that
of Lieutenant-Commander Talbot, the Commanding Officer
of E 6, who exercised patience, judgment, and skill in a dan
gerous position, for the favourable consideration of Their
Lordships.
O n the 13th September, E 9 (Lieutenant-Commander
M ax K . Horton) torpedoed and sank the German Light
Cruiser Hela six miles south of Heligoland.
A number o f Destroyers were evidently called to the sccnc
after E 9 had delivered her attack, and these hunted her for
several hours.
O n the 14th September, in accordance with his orders,
Lieutenant-Commander Horton examined the outer anchorage
of Heligoland, a service attended by considerable risk.
O n the 25th September, Submarine E 6 (LieutenantCommander C . P. Talbot), while diving, fouled the moorings
of a mine laid by the enemy. O n rising to the surface she
weighed the mine and sinker ; the former was securely fixed
between the hydroplane and its guard ; fortunately, however,
the horns of the mine were pointed outboard. T he weight
of the sinker made it a difficult and dangerous matter to lift
the mine clear without exploding it. After half an hours

T he short steep seas which accompany westerly gales in the

Heligoland Bight made it difficult to keep the conning tower
hatches open. There was no rest to be obtained, and even
when cruising at a depth of 60 feet, the Submarines were
rolling considerably, and pumping i.e., vertically moving
about twenty feet*

patient work this was effected by Lieutenant Frederick A . P.

Williams-Frecman and Abie Seaman Ernest Randall Cremer,
Official Number 214235, and the released mine descended to
its original depth.
O n the 6th October, E 9 (Lieutenant-Commander M ax K .
Horton), when patrolling off the Ems, torpedoed and sank the
enemys Destroyer, S 126.

I submit that it was creditable to the Com m anding Officers

that they should have maintained their stations under such
conditions.

T he enemys Torpedo Craft pursue

tactics which, in connexion with their
shallow draft, make them exceedingly
difficult to attack with torpedo, and
Lieutenant-Commander Hortons success
was the result of much patient and skilful
zeal. He is a most enterprising submarine
officer, and I beg to submit his name for
favourable consideration.

Service in the Heligoland B ight is keenly sought after by

the Com m anding Officers o f the E ighth Submarine Flotilla,
and they have all shown daring and enterprise in the execution
of their duties. These officers have unanimously expressed to
me their admiration o f the cool and gallant behaviour o f the
officers and men under their command. T h ey are, however,
of the opinion that it is impossible to single out individuals
when all have performed their duties so admirably, and in this
I concur.

Lieutenant Charles M . S.
Chapman, the Second in
Command of E 9, is also
deserving o f credit.

T he following Submarines have been in contact w ith the

enemy during these operations :

Against an enemy whose

capital
vessels have never, and
C O M M ODO RE R. J. B. KEYES.
Light Cruisers have seldom,
emerged from their fortified harbours, opportunities of deliver
ing Submarine attacks have necessarily been few, and on one
occasion only, prior to the 13th September, has one of our
Submarines been within torpedo range of a Cruiser during
daylight hours.

D
D
D
D
E
E
E
E
E

1 (Lieutenant-Commander Archibald D . Cochrane).

2 (Lieutenant-Commander A rthur G . Jam eson).
3 (Lieutenant Comm ander Edward C. Boyle).
5 (Lieutenant-Commander Godfrey Herbert),
4 (Lieutenant-Commander Ernest W . Leir).
5 (Lieutenant-Commander Charles S. B enning).
6 (Lieutenant-Commander Cecil P. T albot).
7 (Lieutenant-Commander Ferdinand E. B. Feilm ann).
9 (Lieutenant-Commander M ax K . H o rto n).

I have the honour to be, Sir,

D uring the exceptionally heavy westerly gales which

prevailed between the 14th and 2 ist September, the position
o f the Submarines on a lee shore, w ithin a few miles of the
enemys coast, was an unpleasant one.

Y o u r obedient Servant,
ROGER

26

K E Y E S , Commodore (S).

G E R M A N RAID O FF YARM O UTH .

H A L C Y O N ATTACKED.
T he Secretary o f the A dm iralty made
announcement on November 3, 1914:

the following

Early this morning an enemys squadron fired on the

Halcyon, a coastguard gunboat engaged in patrolling, w ith the
result that one man was wounded.
T he Halcyon having reported the presence o f these vessels,
various naval movements were made, as a result o f which they
retreated rapidly, and although shadowed by the light cruisers,
they could not be brought to action before dusk.
T he rearmost Germ an cruiser, in retirement, threw out a
number of mines, and submarine D 5 was sunk by exploding one
of these. T w o officers and two men who were on the bridge of
the submarine, which was running on the surface, were saved.
Nothing else has happened during the day in home waters,
except that the gunboat flotilla has been available in support
of the Belgian left flank.
The bombardment o f Akaba, in the Red Sea, has already
been reported.

[The incident referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 took place

off the East Coast, near Yarmouth.
When the hostile craft appeared in our home water* off Yarmouth
they immediately opened a terrific fire shorewards, striking the
Halcyon but doing little damage. The attack was made early in
the morning, and firing lasted less than half an hoar. One of the
shells fell about a mile from the shore, and the stories of shells
falling on the beach were untrue. The German ships flew no
flags, and it is interesting to record that a friendly fisherman,
thinking the vessels were British, hailed them gleefully by waving
his teapot. His overtures were not received in the spirit meant,
the Germans returning the salute by shaking their fists at him.
They hoisted their flags before firing over 100 shots, a few of

which damaged the Raleycn*s wireless and bridge a* the escaped

out of range. Cne enemy cruiser dropped mines, and later in the
morning, whilst patrolling, Submarine D 5 sank quickly after
striking one. Two steam drifters came to grief in the larae way.]

G E R M A N C R U IS E R M IN E D .
T h e German cruiser Torcf^ sank on November 4 through
striking the chain o f mines blocking the entrance to Jahde Bay,
on which is situated the great naval port o f Wilhelmshaven.
A n armoured cruiser of 9350 tons, she was built at Hamburg
in 1904, and her armament consisted of four 8*2-in. guns,
10 6*9in. guns, 14 3*4-in. guns, and four submerged torpedo
tubes. More than half the crew of 616 were saved.

THE EMDEN DESTROYED.

K O N IG S B E R G T R A P P E D .
T h e German cruiser Emden , having escaped from Kiao-Chau
before the Japanese and British war vessels had completed their

investment, conducted a raiding cruise (shown on map) and

destroyed many British trading vessels, and actually bom
barded Madras. As is shown in the message of the Secretary
o f the A dm iralty, however, the Emden was hunted down
on November 9, at Keeling Cocos Island, and destroyed.
T h e Secretary o f the A dm iralty made the following an
nouncement on November 10, 1914:
After the whereabouts o f the I^nigsberg was indicated by
the attack on the Tegasus on September 19, a concentration
o f fast cruisers was arranged by the Admiralty in East African
waters, and a thorough and prolonged search by vessels in
combination was made.
T his search resulted on October 30 in the Ktinigsberg being
discovered by H .M .S . Chatham (Captain Sidney R . DruryLow e, R .N .), hiding in shoal water about six miles up the
R ufigi River, opposite Mafia Island (German East Africa).
O w in g to her greater draught,
the Chatham could not reach
the Konigsbergy which is pro
bably aground, except at high
water. Part of the crew o f
the Kdnigsberg is landed and
entrenched on the banks of the
river. Both the entrenchments
and the fQtnigsberg have been bombarded by the Chatham,, but
owing to the dense palm groves amid which the ship lies, it is
not possible to estimate the damage.
Pending operations for her capture or destruction, effective
steps have been taken to block the Konigsberg in by sinking colliers
in the only navigable channel, and she is now imprisoned and
unable to do any further harm. T h e fast vessels which had
been searching for her are thus released for other
service.

HOW THE EMDEN WAS CAUGHT.

Another large combined operation by fast cruisers against
the Emden has been for some time in progress. In this search,
which covered an immense area, the British cruisers have been
aided by French, Russian, and Japanese vessels working in
harmony.
H .M .A .S . ^Melbourne and Sydney were also
included in these movements. Yesterday m orning news was
received that the Emdeny which had been completely lost after
her action w ith the Zhemtchugy
had arrived at Keeling Cocos
Island and landed an armed
party to destroy the wireless
station and cut the cable. Here
she was caught
a n d fo r c e d to

f i g h t

by

H .M .A .S . Sydney
(Captain
John
C.
R .N .). A sharp
action took place,
in
which
the
Sydney suffered a
THE EMDEN.*
lo ss o f t h r e e
killed and 15 wounded.
T h e Emden was driven ashore
and burnt.
H er losses in personnel are reported as very
heavy. A ll possible assistance is being given to the sur
vivors by various ships w hich have been despatched to the
scene.
W ith the exception o f the German squadron now off the
coast o f Chile, the whole o f the Pacific and Indian Oceans
are now clear o f the enemys warships.

.ii

,ii.im

Bombay^

n *vm &

; y l o n

&Momias$ck

W ^ & pcW $
JAVA

: ^CCOB HeeXirm I?
T H E R A ID IN G

C R U IS E

OF THE

EM DEN.

This M ap shows the cruise of the Emden. 1 . Area where she sank six steamers and released one; 2 . Madras shelled, September 22nd; 3. Hrre four
steamers sunk, one released, and collier Buresk taken, September 25th-29th; 4 . Five steamers sunk, one released, and collier captured, October 20th;
5 . Russian cruiser and French destroyer sunk, October 28th; 5A . Collier Pontoporos released by H .M ,S . Yartr.<jutht and the Emden* 1 supply ship capturcd,
October i6 th j 6 . Emden destroyed by H .M .A .3 . Sydney^ November 9th.

H O N O U R S O F W A R F O R E M D E N S C A P T A IN .
T h e Secretary o f the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on November 11, 1914 :
T h e Captain of the Emden (Captain von M uller) and Prince
Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern are both
prisoners and unwounded. T he losses
of the Emden in killed are reported
unofficially as 200, w ith 30 w o unded;
no further details have been received.
T h e Adm iralty have given directions
that all honours o f war are to be
accorded to the survivors of the Emden ,
and that the Captain and
Officers w ill not be de
prived of their swords,

T h e First Lord o f the

A dm iralty sent the follow
ing message to the Sydney
and to the Commonwealth Navy Board :
W arm est congratulations on the brilliant entry of the
Australian Navy into the war, and the signal service rendered
to the A llied cause and to peaceful commerce by the
destruction of the E m den
T h e following is a list o f the Emden's victims :

K illin
Diplomat

...............

4775
365
4 14 7
4*47
33H
4 3 5
4437

Pontoporss...

449

Taken and released September 1 2 .

Sunk September 1 4 .

4 6 5 7 tons

)
> Sunk September 3 0 .
j

Captured September 3 0 .
Taken and released September 3 0 .
Taken by Emden, released by
H .M .S . Yarmouth^ October 1 6 .

\
'> Captured and sunk October 2 0 ,
)

1
\
Captured October 2 0 .
)
\
Sunk, Penang, October 3 0 .
j

[This small but fast cruiser was thus brought to the end of a
daring career of destruction by H .M .A .S . Sydney* The list of
captures by the Emden included no fewer than 2 3 ships, which
she took, released or sank according to circumstances. T he value
of the captures has been estimated at 6 5 0 , 0 0 0 , the cargoes
bringing an additional 3 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 or so. Arriving off Cocos
Island the Emden sent 4 3 men on shore to the wireless to smash
the apparatus, when the Sydney appeared and the Emden departed,
leaving the 4 3 men ashore. Fire was opened, and though at first
good the Emdens gunnery failed later, and quickly losing two
funnels the boat took fire, and while the flames spread fatally the
Sydney started the work of rescue among the crew. The Sydney
was scarcely scratched in the fight. T he Emden, prior to the
appearance of the Sydney, had taken two months* supplies from
the islanders but had treated them well.]

CAPTAIN JOHN C. T. GLOSSOP,

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY.**

Lovat

Troilus
7562
Clan Grant
3948
Benmohr ...
4 86
Ckilkana ...
. 5146
Pourchbel. ..

473 ..
Exford ...
454*
Saint Egbert
55*6
Zhemtchug (Russian Cruiser) ...
Mousquet (French Destroyer)...

M R . C H U R C H I L L S
M ESSAGE.

Indus

Kabinga
Clan Matheson
King L ud ...
Foyle
Riberia
Tymeric ...
Buresk
Gryjedale...

3393 tons>
Taken and sunk in the Bay of
Bengal, September 1 0 -1 4 .

Trabbock,
3

N IG E R SUNK IN T H E DOWNS.
T he

Secretary

of

the

A d m ira lty

made

the

GERM AN
follow ing

H .M .S . N iger (Lieutenant-C om m ander A rth u r P. M u ir ,

R .N .) was torpedoed by a subm arine this m o rn in g in the

77

o f the crew were saved.

Two

destruction o f one o f the largest submarines o f the

N avy was announced on November 2 4 , 1 9 1 4 , as

follow s:
T he

Secretary o f the A dm iralty states that the German

her.

It is thought there was no loss o f life.

She was not sighted again u ntil 1 . 2 0 , when she was seen

on the surface, crew 011 deck, and flying the white flag.

H .M .S . N iger was a torpedo-gunboat o f 8 1 0 tons, built in

She was em ployed in semi-combatant duties.

after

In

three officers and 2 3 o f her crew, one only

being drowned.
The

names

o f the

G erm an officers

all about 1 0 0 boats set out immediately to the ship, which was

captured were: Capitan-Leutenant von

enveloped by a dense mist of black smoke, and though there

was a high wind and the work of rescue was dangerous, British

H e n n ig , L eu te nan t zu r see

pluck won through, and shortly after the disaster only eight were
missing. The men, it seems, were having a meal on the Niger

Neucrburg,

M arine O ber-Ingenicur Sprenger.

[The U 1 8 had a displacement on the

when violent shaking occurred, and before it was actually known

surface of 6 5 0

that the boat had been torpedoed the crew were in the lifeboats
by the captains orders. The Niger had been at anchor there for

merged ; her speeds, on the surface and

some time.

She did not sink rapidly, and it was fully half an hour

before she reluctantly went under.]

Short!)'

this she foundered just as the de

stroyer G arry came alongside and rescued

[The Niger was lying about two miles out from Deal when
torpedoed by a German submarine, in a direct line with the long
pier, where crowds had assembled at the sound of heavy fire.

yesterday m orning.
A t 1 2 . 2 0 the British patrolling vessel reported having rammed

men are severely and tw o slightly injured.

1892.

RAM M ED.

submarine U 1 8 was reported 011 the N orthern Coast o f Scotland

Dow ns and foundered.

A ll the officers and

T he
G erm an

announcem ent o n N ovem ber i i , 1 9 1 4 :

S U B M A R IN E

tons and 7 5 0 tons sub

submerged, were 1 4 and eight knots re

spectively. She earned four torpedo tubes,
and had a radius of action of 2 , 0 0 0 miles.]

LOWE (H.M.S. CHATHAM

WHO BOITLED UP THE
KONTG^TIPRG."

8.50 p.m., lost sight of enemy. 9.20 p.m., observed 75 flashes

of fire, which was no doubt final attack on {Monmouth .
N othing could have been more admirable than conduct ot
officers and men throughout. T hough it was most trying to
receive great volume of fire without chance o f returning it
adequately, all kept perfectly cool, there was no w ild firing,
and discipline was the same as at battle practice. W h e n tar
get ceased to be visible, gunlayers spontaneously ceased fire.
T h e serious reverse sustained has entirely failed to impair the
spirit o f officers and ships company, and it is our unanimous
wish to meet the enemy again as soon as possible.
[A vivid account o f the action in which the Good Hope and
the {Monmouth were lost was written by an officer who was
on the Glasgow^ the ship which, when the action had been
decided by the sinking of the two British cruisers, succeeded
in getting off and in warning the Canopus. I t appears from
his account that the Qood Hopey Qlasgow, {Monmouthy and the
armed liner Otranto were searching the South American Pacific
coast as far south as the Straits o f Magellan in the hope of
finding the Leipzig , D resden, and ZhQirnberg, when they heard
that the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were coming across from
the Pacific Islands to join the smaller Germ an cruisers.
T h e Glasgow was the first to sight the combined German
squadron, some seven hours after leaving Coronel, in Chile.
W e put on speed and approached them until we made out four
cruisers in line ahead, the two big armoured cruisers leading and
two three-funnelled cruisers following in open order.
T h e Glasgow ran back to inform her ow n ships, and first
picked up the {Monmouth and the Otrantoy and then the Good
Hopey advised by wireless, came up an hour or two later
as the sun was getting low* T h e enemy were to the east
of us, all proceeding south, they having the advantage both in
guns and light, we being silhouetted against the horizon.
It

succession by Qood Hopey Monmouth , Qlasgoy.

T w o Squad
rons were now converging, and each ship engaged opposite
number in the line. G row ing darkness and heavy spray of
head sea made firing difficult, particularly for main deck guns
of Qood Hope and Monmouth, Enem y firing salvos got range
quickly, and their third salvo caused fire to break out on fore
part of both ships, which were constantly on fire till 7.45 p.m .

MONMOUTH.

7.50 p.m ., immense explosion occurred 011 Qood Hope amid

ships, flames reaching 200 feet high.
T otal destruction must
have followed. It was now quite dark.
Both sides continued firing at flashes of opposing guns.
Monmouth was badly down by the bow and turned away to
get stern to sea, signalling to Qlasgow to that effect. 8.30 p.m .,
Qlasgow signalled to {Monmouth 4<Enem y following us, but
received no reply. U nder rising moon enemys ships were now
seen approaching, and as Qlasgow could render {Monmouth no
assistance, she proceeded at full speed to avoid destruction.

34

was impossible to improve the positions, and, says the writer,

I did not think he (Admiral Cradock) would engage till
next day. However, the ships gradually closed, the foremost
German cruiser opening fire at 6.40 p.m., and the British
ships replying twenty minutes later. T h e enemy made
good and deadly shooting, mostly directed against the flagship
(Good Hope) and the Monmouthy our next ahead. There was
not much doubt about the result.
The Sldonmouth was the first to suffer, and sheered off out
of the line. Shortly after the Good Hope was seen to be on
fire. She fell more and more out o f line, when suddenly
(about 7.30 p.m.) <can explosion occurred about her after
funnel, blowing up debris and flames 200 feet high.
Soon after I could see nothing of her, and she never fired
again. T h e German cruisers in the gathering darkness
directed their fire at the Glasgow, and she had a miraculous

escape, for she was struck at the water-line by five shells, but
no fire resulted. T h e last she saw of the Monmouth after
that ship steamed to the north-west was flashes o f gun fire
and the play of a searchlight. T h e Glasgow turned eventu
ally to the south to warn our old battleship the Canopus,
which could hardly hope to successfully fight five ships.]

35

M ap showing the acene of the engagement* in which Admiral Cradock went

down w ith the Good Hope and Monmouth} and where Vice-Admiral Stuidee
had hi* revenge by linking the ScHarnhant^ Gneiteruuf L<ip*t% wad NUmbtrg.

V ICE-AD M IR AL STU R D EES VICTO RY.

T h e enemy's light cruisers scattered, and were chased by

our cruisers and light cruisers.

T h e Secretary o f the Admiralty made the following an

nouncement on December 9, 1914:

N o loss o f any British vessel is reported.

A t 7.30 a.m. on December 8, 1914, the Scharnhorst,

Gneisenau, d^JXrnberg, Leipzig, and Dresden were sighted near the
Falkland Islands by a British Squadron under
Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee.
A n action followed, in the course o f which
the Scharnhorsty flying the flag o f Adm iral
G ra f von Spee, the Gnetsenau, and the
Leipzig were sunk.
T he Dresden and the O^Urnberg made off
during the action and are being pursued.
T w o colliers were also
captured.
T h e Vice-Admiral reports
!THVS that the British casualties are
very few in number.

[ It is interesting to note that the British Admiral in com

mand had a bare five weeks before been occupying the position
o f Chief o f Staff at the Adm iralty.]
The following are details of the sunk vessels : ,
S c h a r n h o r s t . A n armoured cruiser o f 1 1 , 6 0 0 tons, with a
complement of 7 6 5 . Completed in 1 9 0 7 , and had a speed of 2 1
knots. Her armaments were eight 8*2 in., six 6 in., twenty 2 4 -pdr.,
and four machine guns, and she had four submerged torpedo tubes.
G n e i s e n a u . _ A sister ship o f the Scharnhorsty completed in the
same year. She was, however, speedier than the Scharnhorsty and
recently did over 2 4 knots. H er armament was similar.
L e ip z i g ___ A cruiser of 3 , 2 5 0 tons, completed in 1 9 0 6 . She had
a complement of 2 8 6 , carried ten 4 * 1 in., ten i-pdr., and four
machine guns, and had a speed of 2 3 knots.

Some survivors have been

rescued from the Gneisenau and
the Leipzig *
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR F. D. STURDEE.
A supplementary announce
ment was made by the Secretary of the Admiralty on
December 10, 1914 :

N u r n b e r g . Cruiser o f 3 , 4 5 0 tons. Was completed in 1 9 0 8 ,

had a speed of 2 4 knots, and a complement o f 2 9 5 , and carried
ten 4 i-in., eight 5 -pdr., and four machine guns.

[The casualties on the victorious squadron, which were, as

Vice-Admiral Sir F., D . Sturdee had previously reported, very
light, included seven men killed, o f w hom four were men of
the Royal M arine L ig h t Infantry, one able seaman, and another
seaman of the Royal Naval Reserve, and a stoker petty officer.
T w o other able seamen were severely wounded, one o f them
dangerously, and a signalman and a shipwright were also
severely wounded. A ll the men, except one who came from
Chatham, were Portsmouth m en.]

A further telegram has been received from Vice-Admiral

Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee, reporting that the O^Urnberg
was also sunk on December 8, and that the search for the
Dresden is still proceeding.

The action lasted for five hours, with intervals.

T h e Scharnhorst sank after three hours, and the Gneisenau
two hours later,

36

TH E LOSS OF H.M.S. BULW ARK.

A BRITISH SUBMARINE'S EXPLOIT.

The tragic loss o f the Bulwark on November 26, 1914, was

announced in the House o f Commons by M r. Churchill the
same day in the following terms:

T U R K IS H B A T T L E S H IP T O R P E D O E D
IN T H E D A R D A N E L L E S .

I regret to say I have some bad news for the House. T h e

B ulwark t battleship, which was lying in Sheerness this morning,
blew up at 7.53 oclock. T h e Vice and Rear Admirals, who
were present, have reported their conviction that it was an
internal magazine explosion which rent the ship asunder. There
was apparently no upheaval in the water, and the ship had
entirely disappeared when the smoke had cleared away. A n
inquiry will be held to-morrow which may possibly throw more
light on this occurrence.

T h e Secretary of the Admiralty on Monday, December 14,

1914, made the following announcement:
Yesterday Submarine B 1 1, Lieutenant-Commander Norman
D . Holbrook, R .N ., entered the Dardanelles and, in spite of
the difficult current, dived under five
rows o f mines and torpedoed the
T urkish battleship Messudiyeh, which
was guarding the mine-field.
A l
though pursued by gunfire and torpedo-boats, B 11 returned safely, after
being submerged on one occasion for
nine hours.
W h e n last seen the Messudiyeh was
sinking by the stern.
[T o have taken a submarine, feel
ing its way blindly, along the bottom
of the channel, evading the moorings
of the mines, is to have accomplished
a feat of splendid seamanship and
nerve. T his was not the first time
l ie u t v c o m m a n p e h n o r m a n
that our submarines had crept under
*>. holbrook, r.n., v.e
hostile mine-fields: an exploit of this
kind was performed by Submarine E 6, Lieutenant-Commander
E . C . Talbot, which actually fouled the moorings of a Ger
man mine-field in Heligoland Bight.
T h e Messudiyeh, though an old ship reconstructed, and of no
great fighting value, was o f considerable size and was indeed the
third effective ship of the O ttom an Navy.]

The loss o f the ship does not sensibly affect the military
position, but I regret to say the loss of life is very severe.
O nly twelve men are saved. A ll the officers and the rest
of the crew, who, I suppose, amounted to between 700 and
800, have perished.
I think the House would wish me to express on their
behalf the deep sympathy and sorrow with which the House
has heard the news, and the sympathy they feel with those
who have lost their relatives and friends.
[In violence and horror the explosion was unprecedented. The
band of the Excellent Gunnery School was playing for breakfast
and some men were drilling on deck when it occurred. A great
sheet of flame and quantities of debris shot upwards, and when the
smoke cleared away the battleship had disappeared from the sea,
leaving only wreckage flung far and wide. Fourteen N .C .O s and
men were saved. About 3 0 bodies were recovered from the Medway
next day. T he Bulwark (Captain G u y Slater) was a representative
ship of the older pre-Dreadnought type. Laid down at Devonport
in March, 1 8 9 9 , and launched in the following October, she was
completed for service in 1 9 0 2 . She cost slightly over 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 .]

37

The Navy Assists the Army.

G E R M A N S S H E LLE D IN TH E TR EN CH ES.

O T only have His Majestys ships kept the seas clear

for ordinary traffic and inflicted severe losses on the
enemy, but naval guns on monitors and battleships have
rendered great service in assisting to defeat the advance
Germ an A rm y in Belgium, as w ill be gathered from the fol
low ing official messages:

GOOD WORK OF TH E T H R E E MONITORS.

T h e Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 22, 1914:
O n the 18th inst. requests for naval assistance were made
to the A dm iralty by the Allied Commanders. In consequence,
a naval flotilla, mounting a large number o f powerful longrange guns, came into action at daybreak on the 19th off the
Belgian coast, supporting the left of the Belgian A rm y and
firing against the right o f the German attack, which they were,
by their position, able to enfilade.
T h e Germans replied by
shells from their heavy guns, but ow ing to the superior range
o f the British Marine artillery practically no damage has been
done.
T h e three monitors, which were building in British ports
for Brazil and were acquired on the outbreak of war, have

proved particularly w ell suited to this class o f operation. A

heavy bom bardm ent o f the G e rm a n flank has been maintained
w ith o u t intermission since the m o rn in g o f the 1 9 th, and is
being continued to-day.
Observation is arranged from the
shore by means o f naval balloons, and all reports indicate that
of substantial
the
losses have been inflicted upon the enejny, and that
the fire is w e ll directed an d effective against his batteries and
heavy guns.
Yesterday a considerable explosion, probably o f an a m m u n i
tion w agon, follow ed upon a naval shot.
T h e naval losses
have so far been very sm all considering the damage done and
the im po rtant assistance rendered to the B elg ian left flank.
A l l reports received by the A d m ira lty show the courage and
determ ination w ith w h ic h the B elgian A r m y , anim ated by the
K in g in person, is defending the last few m iles o f Belgian soil.
T h e naval operations are under the co m m a nd o f RearA d m iral the H o n . Horace L . A . H ood, C .B ., M . V . O . , D .S .O .
[Rear-Admiral the H on. Horace L. A. Hood, C.B.,
D .S .O ., was Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
from June last until recently, when he was appointed to be
Admiral in Command of the Dover Patrol. Born in 1 8 7 0 , he
entered the Service as a cadet in 1 8 8 3 , and served with distinction
on the Nile during the operations in the Sudan, 1 8 9 8 . H e was
formerly in command of the Royal Naval College, Osborne.]

E N E M Y SU B M A R IN E REPU LSED .

SILEN C IN G G ER M AN GUNS.
T h e Secretary of the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 29, 1914:__

The Secretary of the Adm iralty made the following an

nouncement on October 24, 1914:

British Naval Flotilla continues to support the Allied Left,

and since the morning of the 27th the firing o f 12-in. guns
has been brought to bear upon the German position and
batteries.
Reports received from the shore testify to the effective
accuracy o f the fire and to its galling character.
The flank
is thus thoroughly maintained.
Yesterday and the day before the enemy brought up heavy
guns and replied vigorously to the fire of Admiral Hoods ships.
T h e vessels only received trifling structural damage.
To-day the opposition from the shore has practically ceased,
and the preponderance of the naval gunnery seems to be
established.
T h e casualties have been very slight throughout. O ne
shell exploded on the destroyer Falcon and killed one officer
and eight men and wounded one officer and 15 men. O ne
killed and several wounded are also reported from the Brilliant ,
and eight wounded from the %inaldo. A full list will be
published as soon as possible.
T h e enemys submarines have also been reported seeking an
opportunity to attack the bombarding ships, which are covered
by British destroyers.

A ll yesterday the monitors and other vessels o f the British

bombarding flotilla fired on the Germ an right, which they
searched thoroughly and effectively in concert with the opera
tions of the Belgian A rm y ,
A ll Germ an attacks on Nieuport were repulsed.

M u ch

damage was done to the enemy by naval fire which enfiladed

the German lines, and enemy prisoners taken yesterday and
the day before testify to the heavy losses they have suffered
from this cause.

Fire was also opened in the afternoon cn

the German batteries near Ostend.

Admiral Hood now has a fine flotilla of vessels very suitable
for this work, but at the same time not o f great naval value.
D uring the day our ships were persistently attacked by an
enemy submarine, and torpedoes were fired without success
at Wildfire and {Myrmidon .
attacked the submarine.

O ther British

T h e naval aeroplanes and balloons

aided in the direction of the fire.

fine and favourable.
yesterday.

vessels again

T h e weather continued

N o losses were sustained by the flotillas

39

Naval Airmens Brilliant Work.

CO M M A N D ER SAM SONS EXPLOIT.

T h e airships remained steadily patrolling between the French

and English coasts, sometimes for 12 hours on e n d ; while
further to the east, with the assistance o f the Belgian authori
ties, a temporary seaplane base was established at Ostend, and
a patrol kept up with seaplanes between this place and the
English coast opposite.
By this means it was impossible for the enemys ships to
approach the Straits without being seen for very m any miles.
O n one occasion during one of the airship patrols it became
necessary to change a propeller blade
o f one o f the engines. T h e Captain
feared it would be necessary to de
scend for this purpose, but two of the
crew immediately volunteered to carry
out this difficult task in the air, and
clim bing out on to the bracket carry
ing the propeller shafting, they com
pleted the hazardous work o f changing
the propellers blade 2,000 feet above
the sea.

H E Secretary o f the Adm iralty communicated the

following statement for publication on September 18,

I9I4 *

O n the 16th inst. Commander Samson, w ith a small

armoured motor-car force attached to the Naval Flying Corps,
encountered a patrol of five Uhlans near Doullens, killing four
and wounding and capturing the fifth. T h e British force
suffered no casualties.

PERILO US WORK 2,000 F E E T ABO VE

T H E SEA .
T h e Secretary o f the Admiralty issued on October 2, 1914,
the following statement on the work o f the Royal Naval A ir
Service :
D u rin g the course of the war, the Royal Naval A ir Service
(Naval W in g o f Royal Flying Corps) has not been idle, air
ships, aeroplanes, and seaplanes having proved their value in
m any undertakings*
W h ile the Expeditionary Force was being moved abroad a
strong patrol to the eastward o f the Straits of Dover was
undertaken by both seaplanes and airships o f the Naval A ir
Service.

AN A ERO PLA N E CAM P.

com m ander

40

c.

r . sam son, r,n.

O n August 27, when Ostend was

occupied by a force o f Marines, a
strong squadron o f aeroplanes under
W in g Commander Samson, complete

with all transport and equipment, was also sent over, the aero
planes flying thither via Dover and Calais. Later this aeroplane
camp was moved, and much good work is being carried out by
aeroplanes supported by armed motors.
Advanced bases have been established some distance inland,
and on several occasions skirmishes have taken place between
armed motor-car supports and bands o f Uhlans. A ll these
afiairs have been successful, w ith loss to the enemy in killed
and prisoners*
T he naval armed cars and aeroplanes have also assisted
French forces o f artillery and infantry on several occasions.
D uring the course o f these actions the following officers and
men o f the Royal Naval A ir Service, Royal Marines, and
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve are reported as having been
wounded:

D ARIN G RAIDS B Y AIRM EN.

D U S S E L D O R F Z E P P E L IN W REC K ED .
T h e Secretary o f the Admiralty made the following an
nouncement on October 9, 1914 :
Squadron Commander D . A . Spenser Grey, R .N ., reports
that as authorized he carried out with Lieutenant R . L. Marix
and Lieutenant S. V . Sippe a successful attack on the DUsseldorf
airship shed.
Lieutenant M arixs bombs, dropped from 500 feet, hit the
shed, went through the roof, and destroyed a Zeppelin.
Flames were observed 500 feet high, the result of igniting the
gas of an airship.
A ll three officers are safe, but their aeroplanes have been lost.
T he feat would appear to be in every respect remarkable,
having regard to the distance over a hundred miles pene
trated into country held by the enemy, and to the fact that a
previous attack had put the enemy on their guard, and enabled
them to mount anti-aircraft guns.
T h e following M em orandum by the Director of the Ai
Department, Admiralty, was issued, dated October 11, 1914 :

Captain Cuthbert Williams, R.M .A ., slightly wounded.

Sub-Lieutenant Alexander Nalder, R.N.V.R., wounded.
Private Charles Farrant, R .M .L .I., O.N . Portsmouth, 8883,
slightly wounded.
Private Harper, Armourer, seriously wounded.
Leonard William Walsh, A.B., seriously wounded.
A ll the wounded are doing well.
Commander Samson has performed distinguished services in
this work. Captain W illiam s, R .M .A ., is also mentioned as
having shown m uch coolness and capability in a difficult
situation.
A ir reconnaissance by the naval airmen has extended for
considerable distances into the enemys country.
Squadron Commander Gerrard is in command o f a detached
squadron o f aeroplanes, and his machines have crossed the
Rhine and made the attack on DUsseldorf previously reported.
Good work has been done in dropping bombs on positions of
military importance and railway communications*

Commander Charles R . Samson, R .N ., was in command of

the Aeroplane and Armoured M otor Support of the Royal
Naval A ir Service (Naval W in g ) at Dunkerque between the
dates ist September to 5th October.
D uring this period several notable air reconnaissances were
made and skirmishes took place. O f these, particular mention
may be made o f the Aeroplane attack on 4th September on
four enemy cars and 40 men, on which occasion several bombs
were dropped; and of the successful skirmishes at Cassel on
4th September, Savy on 12th September, Aniche on 22nd
September, Orchies on 23rd September.

4*

O n the 22nd September Flight Lieutenant C . H . Collet, of

the Royal Naval A ir Service (Naval W in g of the Royal Flying
Corps), flying a Sopwith tractor biplane, made a long flight
and a successful attack on the German Zeppelin Airship Shed
at DUsseldorf.
Lieutenant Collets feat is notable. G liding down from
6000 feet, the last 1500 feet in mist, he finally came in sight
o f the airship shed at a height of 400 feet, only a quarter o f a
mile away from it.
F light Lieutenant M arix, acting under the orders o f Squadron
Commander Spenser Grey, carried out a successful attack on
the DUsseldorf airship shed during the afternoon o f the 8th
October. From a height of 600 feet he dropped two bombs
on the shed, and flames 500 feet high were seen w ithin thirty
seconds. T h e roof of the shed was also observed to collapse.
Lieutenant M arix s machine was under heavy fire from rifles
and mitrailleuse, and was five times hit whilst making the attack.
Squadron Commander Spenser Grey, whilst in charge o f a
flight o f naval aeroplanes at Antwerp, penetrated during a
3 1 hours* flight into the enemys country as far as Cologne on
the 8th October. He circled the city under fire at 600 feet,
and discharged his bombs on the military railway station.
Considerable damage was done.

A T T A C K ON FR ED ER IC K SH A V EN .
N A V A L A IR M E N S G R E A T A C H IE V E M E N T .
T h e Secretary o f the Admiralty made on November 2 3 ,1914,
the following announcement:
O n Saturday a flight o f aeroplanes, under the command of
Squadron Commander E . F. Briggs, o f the Royal Naval A ir
Service, with Flight Commander J . T . Babington and Flight

Lieutenant V . S. Sippe as pilots, flew from French territory to

the Zeppelin Airship Factory at Frederickshaven.
A ll three pilots in succession flew down to close range
under a heavy fire from guns, mitrailleuses, and rifles, and
launched their bombs according to instruc
tions. Commander Briggs is reported to
have been shot down, wounded, and taken
to hospital as a prisoner. Both the other
officers have returned safely to French
territory, though their machines were
damaged by gun fire. T hey report posi
tively that all bombs reached their objective,
and that serious damage was done to the
Zeppelin factory.
T his flight o f 250 miles, which
penetrated 120 miles into G er
many, across mountainous country,
in difficult weather conditions, con
stitutes with the attack a fine feat
of arms.
T h e following unofficial ac- s q u a d r o n - c o m m a n d e r e. f. briggs,
count adds to the record o f this
brilliant performance by British airmen on November 21:
A t 10 minutes past 10 that m orning the airmen flew off,
rising to 1400 or 1500 metres. T hey made for the Rhine,
the course of which they followed. Commander Briggs led the
flight, and as far as Schafthausen the airmen kept in sight of
each other. Here, misled by fog, Commander Briggs bore to
the left, while Lieutenants Sippe and Babington, without seeing
each other, followed the Rhine.
In sight o f Constance,
Lieutenant Sippe dipped and crossed the town just above the
level o f the houses. He made for the lake, flying two metres
above the surface, invisible in the mist. He flew on until he

had passed Frederickshaven, when he rose again. As he was

rising he caught sight o f Commander Briggs above him, already
attacking the Zeppelin stronghold, and Lieutenant Sippe could
see bombs bursting around him, fired from the ground at his
comrade. He kept steadily on, w ith shrapnel bursting around
him, and bombarded the sheds and workshops. Panic became
evident 111 the yards o f the factories.

soldiers. H e defended himself with courage and shot down seven

of the enemy with his revolver. An officer arrived at this moment,
and Commander Briggs called out, One step and you are a dead
man ! The officer replied, Surrender, and your life shall be
spared. Commander Briggs then handed over his revolver, and
when the officer saw that it was empty, and that he had been
tricked, he struck the Commander with his riding whip. At the
request of General JofFre the airmen each received the Cross of the
Legion of Honour.]

[Commander Briggs, obliged to descend, was attacked by German

The Navys World-Wide Operations.

PERSIAN G U L F ACTIO NS.

O n October 26, a French force, under Colonel Mayer, with

the co-operation of a British naval and military force, occupicd
Edea, a town on the Sanaga River, and an important station on
the railway from Duala. O n November 13 preparations were
completed for extensive operations to the north and north-west
of Duala. After a bombardment by the French cruiser B ruix
and the Nigeria Government yacht Ivy , a force of Royal
Marines seized and occupicd Victoria, the seaport of Buca, the
seat of the German Colonial Government.
O n the same day a column advancing along the Bonabcri
railway from Susa drove the enemy north and occupicd Mujuka,
a station about 50 miles from Bonaberi. Meanwhile large Allied
naval and military forces, advancing from different points,
proceeded to occupy Buea. T he occupation was effected
on November 15, the enemy being scattered in all directions.
T he German who attempted to blow up H .M .S . D w a rf with
an infernal machine was a missionary, who, when questioned as
to how he found such an action compatible with his profession,
replied that he was a soldier first and a missionary afterwards.

O n November 8, 1914, the Secretary of the Admiralty

announced that a successful operation against Fao, at the mouth
of the Shatt-el-Arab, Persian G ulf, had been conducted by a
military force from India, covered by His Majestys ship Odin ,
Commander Cathcart P. W ason; the armed launch Sirdar;
a force of Marines, w ith a maxim-gun party; and a boat from
the Ocean. T h e enemys guns were silenced after an hours
resistance, and the town was occupied by the troops and the
naval brigade. There were no naval casualties. I t is expected
that no further opposition will be met with below Fao.

IN W EST A FR IC A .
A communication from the Press Bureau published on Nov
ember 25, 1914, told incidentally o f the Naval Operations:
The following summary o f the military operations which have
recently taken place in Nigeria and the Cameroon is compiled
from reports received at the Colonial OflScc up to November 19.

43

M IN E R V A SH ELLS AKABA.

T h e naval landing party under Commander J . A . H.

Beresford, Australian Navy, established themselves on shore at
dawn without the enemys knowledge ; in proceeding to de
stroy the wireless station its progress was stoutly opposed, and
the party had to fight their way for four miles through the
bush, the road being in many cases mined. T h e German
officer in command of parties in the trench 500 yards from
station surrendered unconditionally.
G uns have been landed and steps are being taken to capture
the station.
O u r casualties are as follows :__
K i l l e d . Lieutenant-Commander Charles B. Elwdl, R .N ., and
two seamen Australian Naval Reserve.
W o u n d e d . Three.

A t Cairo on November 17, 1914, the following special

account o f the attack on Akaba fort was published:
In consequence o f a report received that mines had been
sent to Akaba for laying in the G u lf o f Akaba and possibly in
the Red Sea, the cruiser {Minerva was ordered to proceed to
Akaba to investigate and stop any such action. O n arriving at
Akaba the captain found it occupied by a small detachment of
troops. Negotiations for a surrender were attempted, but were
frustrated by German officers present. T he {Minerva was
compelled to open fire, confining her attack to the fort, the
post office, and Government buildings.
Later a landing party reconnoitred in the direction o f Wadiel-Ithm, and only encountered a few armed men, who rapidly
disappeared. T h e patrol returned to the town and re-embarked,
after posting a proclamation inviting the inhabitants to return
and assuring their safety. T h e town and wells were not
damaged, and there were no British casualties.

T h e German casualties are not known.

T w o German officers and five non-commissioned officers
are prisoners. Also 30 native police.
W I R E L E S S S T A T IO N C A P T U R E D .

T h e following statement was issued by the Press Bureau on

September 13, 1914 :

In a later statement the Press Bureau says that RearAdmiral Patey telegraphs that after fighting for 18 hours over
six miles of bush the Australian forces captured the wireless
telegraph station at HerbertshShe at 1 a.m . on the 12th.
T h e wireless tower and station were damaged by the enemy
and w ill be out of action for some time.

T h e Secretary o f the Adm iralty announces that a telegram

has been received from Rear-Admiral Patey, commanding the
Australian Squadron, announcing the occupation at 7 a.m.
yesterday, the 12th, of the town of HerbertshShe, in the
island of Neu Pommern (late N ew Britain), which is an island
in the Bismarck Archipelago ; this island lies due east from
Germ an New Guinea. T h e British flag was hoisted without
opposition.

T h e name of Captain Pockley, of the Royal A rm y Medical

Corps, is given among the killed, and four seamen of the
Australian Naval Reserve lost their lives. Lieutenant Bowen
is also officially stated to have been wounded.
T h e German casualties include between 20 and 30 killed.
T h e Germ an officers were taken prisoners, including the
commander, together with 15 Germ an non-commissioned
officers and 56 native police.

G E R M A N C O LO N Y RAIDED.

44

SU R R EN D ER OF TSING-TAO,

RED SEA PORT SEIZED.

W ith the surrender on November 6, 1914, of the great

German base in China, the fortified port of Tsing-tao, the
German colony o f Kiao-Chau came to an end. T he siege by
the Japanese and British forces lasted about seven weeks.

O n November 16, 1914, the Secretary of the Admiralty

issued the following announcement:
Successful operations against the Turkish garrison at Sheik
Seyd have been carried out by Indian troops, assisted by His
Majestys ship Duke e f Edinburgh.

T he Secretary o f the Adm iralty announced that the follow

ing telegram was sent by the Board of Admiralty to the
Japanese Minister of M a rin e :

T h e Turkish fort (Turba) is situated on the rocky heights to

the eastward of Cape Bab-el-Mandeb, at the southern entrance
to the Red Sea, and is close to the boundary line between
T urkish territory and the Aden protectorate.

T he Board of A dm iralty send their heartiest congratula

tions to the gallant army and navy of Japan 011 the prosperous
and brilliant issue of the operations which resulted in the fail
of Tsing-tao.

T he Sheik Seyd Peninsula consists of a group of rocky

heights joined to the mainland by a low sandy plain, the
greater portion of which is covered at high water by a shallow
lagoon. T h e guns of the port command the isthmus con
necting the peninsula with the mainland.

The Japanese Minister o f M arine replied as follows:

I fully share with you in the felicitations on the fall of
*1 sing-tao. It affords me great pleasure to assure you that the
outcome of the efforts of the Navy of our ally, in co-operation
with that of ours, during the investment of Tsing-tao was
splendid.

Three battalions of troops were landed in face of opposition,

but under cover of fire from His Majestys ship Duke of
Edinburgh, which had previously disabled Turba Fort, and
which assisted during the operations.
After landing, one and a half battalions of infantry attacked
the enemy positions, and were opposed by well-concealed
artillery and infantry fire. W h e n the hills commanding Manheli
were occupied, opposition weakened, and about 200 of the
enemy escaped by the isthmus on camels or in boats by sea.

O n November 16 the A llied troops took formal possession

of Tsing-tao.
O n the same date the Secretary of the British Admiralty
stated that information had been received that the following
enemy vessels were found sunk through explosion in Tsing-tao
on the surrender of the fortress:

Six of the enemy were reported killed, and the majority of

the remainder wounded and prisoners.
T h e forts were occupied by us, and large amounts of munitions
o f war and six field guns captured. Heavy guns were probably
put out o f action by the T>uke of Edinburgh.
O u r casualties amongst the troops are one officer and fifteen
men wounded; four men killed. N o naval casualties.

Austrian light cruiser Kaiscrtn Eftzabeth.

German gunboats lltii, Jaguar, Lucbs, Tiger, Kormortn.
German destroyer Taku.
Minelayer Rucbh,

4%

German Naval Losses up to December 8 ,1914

G U N BOA TS.

DREADNOUGHT.
N ot. t8 Goeben

Badly damaged in the Black Sea by the Russian Fleet.

C R U ISE R S .
Nov.
Dcc.

A ug. 13 MtSwe
Vaterland
Sept. 30 Soden

4 Y orck
... 9350 tom . .. Destroyed by m ine near W ilhelrmhaven.
, Sunk off Falkland Islands by British Fleet.
8 Scharnhorst... 11,600
S Gneisenau
Sunk off Falkland Islands by British Fleet.

Jaguar
Luchs
U t il...
Tiger

L IG H T C R U ISE R S .
Aug.

Sept.
O ct.
S o v.

27
28
28
28
13
8
7
ii

Magdeburg ,
R ttln
M ain z
Ariadne
H ela
K orm oran ,
Geier
Emden

Dec.

11 KBnigsberg.
8 Leipzig
8 Ntlrnberg .

4500 tons
42S0
4232
2618
2040
1650
1600
3544

335
3250
3450

...
...
...
. ..
...
...
...
...

Blown up in the Baltic by the Russian Fleet.

Sunk near Heligoland by the British Fleet.
Sunk near Heligoland by the British Fleet.
Sunk near Heligoland by the British Fleet.
Sunk in the North Sea by H .M .S . E 9,
Sunk in Kiao-Chau by the Japanese.
Interned in H onolulu by U.S.A.
Driven ashore and burnt in Indian Ocean
by H .M .A .S . Sydney.
Blockaded in E. Africa by H .M .S . Chatham.
... Sunk off Falkland Islands by British Fleet.
... Sunk off Falkland Islands by British Fleet.

DESTROYERS.
Aug. 4
28
n
n 28
Sept.
Oct. 6

. ..
U nknow n
650 tons ...
V 187
U nknow n
Seven Destroyers
T ak u
...
S 116

Sunk in the North Sea by a German mine.

Sunk near Heligoland by the British Fleet.
Sunk near Heligoland by the British Fleet.
In Kiel harbour; badly damaged.
Sunk at Kiao-Chau by the Japanese.
Sunk in the North Sea by H .M .S . E 9.
Sunk in the North Sea by H .M .S . Undaunted
and Destroyers Lance, Lennox, Legion,
and Loyal.

650 tons

668
950
900
S3 1
862

Sunk off S .W . Africa by explosion.

Interned at N an king by China.
Captured W . Africa by H .M .S . Cumbeiland.
Sunk at Kiao-Chau by the Japanese.

S U B M A R IN E S .
Aug. 9
Oct. 23
Nov. 23

U 15.
U nknow n.
U 18.

Sunk in the N orth Sea by H .M .S . B irm ingham .

Sunk in the N orth Sea by H .M .S . Badger.
S unk by British patrolling vessel on N orth Coast of Scotland.

A U X IL IA R IE S .
A ug. 5

15

27

KBnigia Luise (minelayer) .

Prinz Adelbert (armed liner)
Sudmark (armed liner) . . .
Kaiser W ilh e lm der Grosse
(armed liner)
S ept.
M a i Brock (armed lin e r)...

7 Bethania (armed liner) ...

n
12 Spreewald (armed liner) ...

Oct.

14

10
12

N ov. 17

Cap Trafalgar (armed liner).

Ito lo (armed liner)
Rhios (armed liner)
Gneisenau (armed liner) ...
Graccia (armed liner)
...
M arkom annia (armed liner).
K om et (auxiliary)
. ..
R uchin (m ine layer)
...
Berlin (armed liner)

Sunk in the N orth Sea by H .M .S . Lance.

Captured at Falm outh by the British Fleet.
Captured by H .M .S . Black Prince.
Sunk off West Africa by H .M .S . Highflyer.
Captured at D uala by H .M .S . Cumberland.
Captured by the British Fleet.
Captured in the A tlantic by H .M .S . Ber
wick.
Sunk off West Africa by H .M .S . Carmania.
Sunk off West Africa by the French Fleet.
Sunk off West Africa by the French Fleet.
Sunk off Antwerp by the Belgians.
Captured by the British Fleet.
Captured by H .M .S . Yarm outh.
Captured by the Australian Fleet.
Sunk at Kiao-Chau by the Japanese Fleet.
Interned at Trondhjem* Norway.

British Naval Losses up to December 8, 1914.

BA T T LESH IP.
Nov. 26 Bulwark

I $,000 tons.

Sept. 22 Hogue

12,000 tons.

D ES T R O Y ER S .

Blown up at Sheerness as result of supposed

internal magazine explosion.

Aug, 2S Laertea, Laurel and Liberty.

C R U IS E R S .
. . . 12,000
If 22 Aboukir
12,000
22 Cressy
N ot. I G ood H ope*,. 14,100

M o n m o u th ...

9800

6 A m phio a

3 1 H erm ei

by

the

Sept.

.. . S unk at the same tim e.

.. . Sunk at the same tim e.
.. . Sunk off Chile by Germ an Fleet.

3 Speedy

S io tons

.. . Sunk in the North Sea by a German mine.

Nov. 11 Niger

810

. ..

Sept. 20 A E 1

725 tons
800

tf

Sunk off Deal by a German Submarine.

S U B M ARIN ES.

.. . Sunk at the same tim e.

Oct. 18 E 3
N o t.

3 D 5

Sept.

9 Oceanic

14 Carman i a

,,

... Sunk near Australia by accident.

. . . Sunk in the North Sea by the German Fleet.
. . . Sunk in the North Sea by a German mine.

... 3440 tons .. . M ined in the N orth Set.

1* 28 Arethusa ...
Sept. S Pathfinder ... 2940
* 20 Pegasus
Oct. *5 H aw ke
735
n

Heligoland

GUNBOATS.

Sunk in the North Sea by a Germ an Sub

marine.

L IG H T C R U ISE R S .
Aug.

Badly damaged off

German Fleet.

ft

. Damaged off H eligoland by German Fleet.

. Submarined in the North Sea.
. Sunk at Zanzibar" by the KBnigsberg.

S^oo w

A R M E D LIN E R S .

. Sunk in the North Sea by a G erman Sub

marine.

17,27410ns ... Wrecked off Scotland by accident.

. ..

... Damaged in the Pacific by the CapTrsfsljar.

Sunk in the North Sea by a G erman SufrO ct. 30 Rohiila

47

Hospital Ship, wrecked off Filey in a jale.

Honours for Distinguished Service.

Lord Chamberlain's Office,
St. James's Palace.
October 21, 1914.

T h e following promotions in His Majesty*s Fleet have been

made in recognition of the services mentioned :

To be Promoted to Commander.

T h e K in g has been graciously pleased to give orders for the

following appointment to the Most Honourable Order of the
Bath, in recognition o f the services o f the undermentioned
Officer mentioned in.the foregoing despatches :

Lieutenant-Commander M . L . G oldsm ith.

Lieutenant-Commander E. W . Leir.
Lieutenant-Commander C . P . Talbot.

To be Promoted to Lieutenant.
Sub-Lieutenant C. A . Robinson.

To be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division

of the Third Class or Companion.

T h e following Officer has been noted for early prom otion:

Captain R . Y . T y rw hitt (Commodore, Second Class), R*N.

Lieutenant-Commander M K , H orton.

Admiralty , October 21, 1914.

T h e K in g has been graciously pleased to give orders for the
following appointments to the Distinguished Service Order,
and for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross (late
Conspicuous Service Cross), in respect o f the undermentioned
Officers in recognition of their services mentioned in the fore
going despatches:

T h e following awards have also been made :

To Receive the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

E . R . Cremer, Able Seaman, O .N . 214235.

To Receive The Distinguished Service Medal.

E . E. Stevens, Chief Engine R oom Artificer (1st class), O .N . 269451 j A . C.
Sm ith, Acting Chief Engine R oom Artificer (2nd class), O .N . 270627; A . Fox,
Chief Yeom an of Signals, O .N . 194656 ; F. W illia m W alter W rench, C hief Petty
Officer, O .N . 1586305 G . H . Sturdy Chief Stoker, O .N . 285547; Edward Charles
Taylor, Chief Stoker, O .N . 283225 ; J . W . Armstrong, Engine R oom Artificer
(1st Class), O .N . 270451; W . R. Boiston, Engine R oom Artificer (3rd class), O .N .
M . 1369; J . S. Beadle, Acting C hief Petty Officer, O .N . 171733; E . Naylor, Petty
Officer, O .N . 189136; A . Hiscock, Petty Officer, O .N . 191423; A . G . A n trim ,
Petty Officer, O .N . 223207; H . Weate, Petty Officer, O .N . 174893; S. Pritchard,
Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 285152; F. Pierce,Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 307943;
A . Britton, Stoker Petty Officer, O .N . 289893; j . G a lr in , Stoker Petty Officer,
O .N . 279946; A . F . Hayes, Armourer, O .N . 342026; F. C. Langridge, Stoker
(is t class), O .N . K . 676$; S. Palmer, Leading Seaman, O .N . 179529; W . A .
M c G ill, Leading Seaman, O .N . 217484; A . E . Selicns, Able Seaman, O .N . 217245;
H . H n rlo d t, Able Seaman, O .N . 238126.

To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order.

Captain W . F. Blunt.
Lieutenant-Commander M . K . Horton.
Commander the H o n . H . Meade*
Lieutenant F. A . P. W illiam t-Freem an.
Commander F. F. Rose.
Squadron-Commander S. D . A . Grey.
Commander C, R . Samson.
Flight-Lieutenant R* L . G . Manx*
Lieutenant C. H . Collett, R .M .A .

To Receive the Distinguished Service Cross

(late Conspicuous Service Cross).
Lieutenant H . E. H oran.
Lieutenant C. M . S. Chapm an.
Lieutenant C. R. Peploe.
Chief G unner E. Roper.

Sub-Lieutenant G . H . Faulkner.

G unner R . M . Taylor.
G unner J . D . Godfrey.
G unner H . Morgan.
(A cting) Boatiwain C. Pow rli.

&