Great naval battle in the North Sea

Enemy flee but forced to fight

Many hundred lives lost

British loss slight

German battle cruiser sunk

What the world had expected has happened and the proposed contribution of the German navy to the Kaiser’s birthday gift has failed to materialise.

The imperial lying machine had inspired the suggestion repeatedly that both branches of the German fighting machine had decided to celebrate the birthday of the Kaiser by a double coup, on land and on sea. Whether that of the army will be more successful than that of the navy, only time will tell.

Inflated by the importance of his cruisers at the alleged fortified coast towns of Scarborough, Whitby and the Hartleypools, Admiral Von Tirpitz decided to make a second raid on the English coast. Probably he is unaware by what a narrow margin of safety his vessels on the first occasion returned to Kiel harbour.

The meaning of the recent Zeppelin raid has now become apparent, it was in the nature of reconnaissance, a murderous reconnaissance so far as the people of Yarmouth and Kings Lynn were concerned but it appears to have been quite successful from the German point of view.

The raiders were able to report that they were able to cross the North Sea and do the return journey without molestation off rom the British fleet. The probability is that Jellicoe had information but decided to sit tight in a further manifestation of patience that has become the admiration if the world.

His justification is the brilliant work now reported by the Admiralty the news if which will be received with satisfaction throughout the empire.

The official report announced by the Secretary of the Admiralty: Early this morning a British patrolling squadron of battle cruisers and light cruisers along with a destroyer flotilla sighted four German battle cruisers, several light cruisers and a number of destroyers steering westward apparently making for the English coast.

The enemy at once made for home and at about 9.30am an action was forced between the battle cruisers Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal, New Zealand and Indomitable on the one hand and the Derffinger, Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher on the other.

A well contested fight ensued.

Shortly after 1 o’clock the Blücher which had previously fallen out of the line, capsized and sank.

Admiral Batty reports that two other battle cruisers were seriously damaged. They were however able to continue their flight and reached an area where danger from German submarines and mines prevented further pursuit.

No British ships have been lost and our casualties in personnel as at present reported are slight. The Lion which led the line having only eleven wounded and no killed.

Survivors to the number of 123 have been received from the Blücher’s crew of 888 and it is possible that some others have been saved by our destroyers.

Their Lordships have expressed their satisfaction to Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty.