German disaster

Battleship torpedoed in the Baltic

Brilliant Russian attack

Loss of the Albatross

For the first time in the war the Germans have lost a battleship. It is not on account of any lack of enterprise on the part of the Allied Fleets that this type of vessel has escaped destruction hitherto but simply because Admiral von Tirpitz has thought fit to keep the ‘High Sea’ fleet securely hidden behind the defences of Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Yesterday we received the sub joined telegram: Petrograd, Sunday.

The Naval General Staff reports that at 3pm, on July 2 a submarine discharged two torpedoes, which blew up a German battleship of the Deutschland type, which was leading the enemy’s line.

The five battleships of the Deutschland class are comparatively modern vessels of the pre-Dreadnought type, having been completed between 1906 and 1908.

The names ship of the class, Deutschland, was for several years employed as a flagship of the High Sea Fleet, and was fitted with a special suite of apartments for the Kaiser, who always made this vessel his headquarters when attending manoeuvres and reviews.

On the outbreak of war the Deutschland clad constituted the Second Squadron of the High Sea Fleet and was based on Kiel. The displacement was 13,200 tons, length 414 feet and engines of 16,000 horse-power were installed, giving a speed of 19 knots.

The armament was exceptionally powerful consisting of four 11in guns, 14 6.7in, and 20 21-pounder quick-firing guns with six torpedo tubes. Armour 10in thick protected the sides and 11in plating the heavy armament. Each ship cost complete about £1,200,000. The crew numbered 743 officers and men.

With reference to the Russo-German naval engagement in the Baltie, it is now learned that the Albratross, which, on being chased by the Russian Cruisers, fled into Swedish territorial waters, and went ashore on the east coast of Gothland, was a mine-laying cruiser. She was used for reconnoitring service. She was built in 1907, was of 2,200 tons, carried eight guns and had a crew of 225 men.

Owing to foggy weather, the Albatross became detached from the other German vessels. She grounded at about 150 yards distance from the coast, filled with water, and cannot be refloated.

Twenty-seven bodies, including that of the commander, Captain Loewenberg, and three officers, were brought ashore and buried in a large grave on Gothland. The wounded officers and men, all of whom are seriously hurt, were taken to hospital, and 150 unwounded men were sent to Roma, in Gothland, where they will be interned during the war.

As soon as the Russian cruisers observed that the Albatross had grounded they discontinued the pursuit and probably later on engaged in a fight with the German vessels, as gun firing was audible in Gothlabd again until noon.

A bluejacket of the Albatross says that a Russian cruiser sank during the night battle but this, according to information received here, is untrue – ‘Daily Telegraph.’ The latest information from Gothland shows that the Russians were from the start too strong for the Germans, as the Albatross was supported only by a torpedo boat. The 10,000 ton German Roon came quickly on the scene but was more than counterbalanced by the 15,000 ton Russian Rurik.