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Ashburton Guardian in Ashburton, Canterbury

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This newspaper page contains 40 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.

Newspaper

Ashburton Guardian

Location

Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand

Date

Jun 05, 1916

Page

5

British Admirals Report Recasts German Battle Narrative

London reports Jellicoe and Beatty offer a new view of the clash at sea. German 17 inch guns did not appear and Zeppelins were absent. The battle stretched from 2 pm Wednesday to late evening, with British battleships delivering heavy pressure and German destroyers attacking later. The piece notes heavy German losses and a cautious British retreat.

London Jellicoe Beatty Admiralty

Fleet Always Looking for Fight Phrase Echoes War Talk

The Admiralty claimed the fleet was “looking for fight” and suggested any German attack failed. The report notes the fleet chased possible German forces, searched exhaustively until Thursday, found no signs, and returned home without engagement.

Admiralty Antil

Pommern Mystery Rumors Surround World War I Loss

Experts debate the Pommern mystery with claims the 1915 Riga torpedoing reflected a new cruiser posing as Pommern to mask Kaiser's fleet losses. A semi official communication from Admiral Jellicoe to the Admiralty is cited as context.

Gault Riga

Admiralty says Warspite Marlborough and Acasta to be seen safe in port

The Admiralty informed neutral journalists they would have an early opportunity to view the Warspite Marlborough and Acasta safely in port, signaling reassurance amid wartime tensions.

Admiralty Warspite

Mist Aids Germans as British Fleet Fights in Hooded Chase

Report describes a British battle in dense mist where Admiral Beatty held off German battleships and a lone Zeppelin. Eleven British battleships took part, with Queen Mary Invincible and Indefatigable reported blown up. Jellicoe arrived, German ships pursued, and most vessels returned safe. Torpedo hit Marlborough but she reached home.

Admiral Beatty Manmurring Admiralty Beatty Saya Hood Jellicoe Jellicos Marlborough Invincible Germany

Victory Not Disaster Admiral Beatty’s Bold Action

A distinguished Admiral praised as the most brilliant naval action of the war says Admiral Beatty with 14 capital ships faced 87 enemy vessels and forced them back to port, declaring it neither disaster nor mere chance but a victory.

Beatty

Effect on the Navy's Strength

London reports that American journalists questioned the Admiralty about how actions would affect U S naval strength. The reply claimed no impact on battleships and noted losses are inevitable in modern naval warfare due to lack of time to rescue survivors.

London Admiralty

Germans Praise British Bravery Citing Respectful Admiration

An Admiralty official stated that the Germans showed no fault in their actions and expressed a wish that the Germans would come out again soon, acknowledging British bravery in the fight.

Admiralty

Admiralty Communique Eases Public Anxiety After Battle

Public feeling shifted as initial Admiralty report calmed fears about the battle. Germans attempted a dramatic stroke at the coast or a breakout, but Beatty’s vigilance and Jellicoe’s fleet arrival blunted the blow while British battle cruisers bore heavy losses.

Admiralty Asa Priday

Eyewitness Recalls Terrifying Sea Battle and Losses

Amsterdam dispatch reports Elbing captain refuses interview calling the battle the most terrible he imagined. Rescues describe a stupendous sea earthquake scene as ships sank under heavy fire. Eleven men rescued from Franen Lob states engage from 74 to 10.80 then torpedoed. Nineteen reached a raft. nine died on the raft.

Amsterdam Elbing

British Victory Narrative Amid Naval Battle Commentary

The French and Dutch press declare a British victory in the recent battle, noting the navy’s continued supremacy. While acknowledging losses of ships and lives, they emphasize the battle’s broader effect in reasserting British naval power opposed by German forces.

Les Jericoe

Beatty’s Daring Manoeuvre Sets British Ships Against German Fleet

The report notes German force far larger but British gunners held advantage as weather and coast hampered visibility. Beatty then pressed to delay the German fleet, with Hood joining in aboard Invincible Indomitable and Inflexible. The Invincible displayed gallantry before sinking in the fierce action.

London Beatty Hood

Night Naval Battle Pageantry Amid Staunch Defenses

In a night action the Valiant and Barham faced German forces as Warspite and destroyers battled at close range. The Valiant rammed a submarine. Allied ships exchanged shots at extreme ranges while smaller craft persisted through darkness, with the destroyer Alotille praised for courage and seamanship.

Valiant Barham Maliya Warspite Himaciot Alotille

British Fleet Drives Germans Back to Kiel Say Paris Papers

Paris newspapers praise the British fleet for driving Germany to Kiel and declare the blockade impassable. Opinions hail British naval dominance, with editors noting unchanged strategic conditions and the German attempt to overwhelm parts of the fleet failing.

Paris Jane Ze Kiel Bosgon Gaulois Dr Reinach Britain M. Pichon Ngland

Trawler Captain Witnesses Naval Action Near Heligoland

A trawler captain reported witnessing a large naval engagement on the fishing banks. He described British ships forming a fleet with German dreadnoughts, firing first at 4.16 and 4.30, smoke from two ships, and German withdrawal toward Heligoland as British reinforcements arrived by night.

John’ Brown Heligoland

British Victory Admirals Triumph Sentiment in Amsterdam

An Amsterdam report quotes German and British figures praising naval prowess after a decisive clash. The Cologne Gazet notes Britain’s fleet as invincible, while German officials telegraph pride in the fleet’s power and potential world impact. The Prussian Diet highlights Kaiser’s message of strength and national honor.

Amsterdam Cologne Gazebic Rgaine Britain Nelson Union Jack England Oll Germany

British Fleet Reports Heavy Allied Losses at Sea

Sir John Jellicoe reports heavy enemy losses with German battleships derfflinger and tautzow sunk or damaged. Kaiser class dreadnoughts blown up by British destroyers. German cruisers and destroyers sunk or disabled, plus a submarine rammed and sunk.

London John Jellicoe Derfflinger Tautzow Brown

German claims on North Sea battle and losses

Berlin reports an official account of the North Sea clash stating torpedo damage to the battleship Marlborough, and German ships rescued parts of sunken British crews including two survivors. It notes the cruiser Wiesbaden sunk by enemy fire and the Pommern torpedoed at night as the High Sea Fleet returned to port.

Berlin Anne Wiesbaden Pommern High Sea

Loss of battleship admitted by German report

German report claims the battleships Westfalen Marlborough and others were sunk. British Admiralty admits loss of a dreadnought in the same exchange.

York Admiralty Westfalans Marlborough

Admiralty Denies German Loss Claims in War Update

The Admiralty refutes Berlin’s claim that the Warepite and Adlasta were lost and returned to harbor. It lists eight destroyers missing and names Nomad Nestor and Shark as added losses. The assertion of a submarine torpedoing three German merchant ships without warning is officially denied.

Arondon Tiisie Admiralty Warepite Nestor Shark

King's Birthday Message From Grand Fleet Honors Jellicoe

London reports Admiral Sir John Jellicoe sent a birthday message to King George expressing humble duty and hope that victory will restore peace. The King, deeply touched, mourns brave losses among friends and notes the German High Seas Fleet escaped decisive defeat due to misty weather.

London Sir John Jellicoe King George Grand Fleet Flest

Fragmented wartime note on German mine field losses and ships

In Portsmouth a perplexing report references Jost as commissioner and hints at German forces dividing their attack. One account claims a British squadron pressed Reds and smaller vessels, driving them toward a German mine field where most were lost.

Jost Portsmouth

British naval supremacy vouched by Churchill in London

Churchill asserts British fleet superiority based on Dreadnoughts 13.5 inch guns and newer ships. He notes losses of Wiesbaden and Elbing, praises Queen Mary and third-order ships like Black Prince with Defence and Warrior, and stresses continued fleet mobility and safer, decisive sea control amid weather and night.

London Winston ‘Churchill

War at Sea A German fleet pursued by British ships

London reports eye witnesses at sea describing a clash where two German warships were sunk shortly after opening action. The John Brown skipper says British battleships chased the fleet south, searchlights blazing and shells flying. A German battleship sent a distress signal and fled at high speed as dawn approached.

London John Brown O& He Wss Asia Aring

Destroyers Open Action Near Hanstholm in Major Naval Duel

Danish steamer Bjord reports being stopped 1240 miles west of Hanstholm by a German destroyer. British destroyers opened fire as a German fleet approached. Hundreds of German shells landed near the Britons who fled. Five large German dreadnoughts and many cruisers and destroyers were observed. the battle raged with cannons heard late into the evening.

Copenhagen Bjord Hanstholm Naisborg Franstholm Dewn Owere i Stedimmg

Loss of senior officers aboard Invincible reported

The High Commissioner notes that Rear-Admirals A. A. Hodd and R. K. Arbuthnot were lost. Also aboard was the Hon. Horace Lambert Alexander Hood, the Rear-Admiral on the Invincible, with June 1915 dated dispatches referencing Lond. news.

High Commissioner Lond the Ton A. A. Hodd Robt K. Arbuthnot Horace Lambert Alésander Hood The Invincible

Admiralty confirms officer casualties in warships

The first list of officer casualties from the Admiralty shows vast losses aboard ships. All officers on the Queen Mary vanished except four midshipmen, and the Invincible crews lost all but Commander HE E Dann reuther and four juniors. The Indefatigable Defence and Black Prince also report officer deaths, while the Warrior saves all but one. Admiral Sir Percy Scott's eldest son John, a midshipman, drowned in the Defence.

London Admiralty HE. E. Dannreuther Percy Scott John

Distressing Scenes Reported in English Ports

Distressing scenes were witnessed in many English ports as reports describe chaos and fear. The account cites multiple observers noting turmoil and distress across several locations.

Tlondon

Zeppelins Assist Firefighting Efforts Reported

London telegrams say fire from Zeppelins began at 4 pm Wednesday, peaked between 6 and 8 pm, and ceased later that evening as Allied defense continued.

London

British and German Fleet Battle Near Schleswig

In a late clash off Schleswig a British flotilla pursued German ships southward as a large German fleet reinforced by battleships from Wilhelmshaven met the British battle cruisers from the west and north. A fierce fight followed with Zeppelins aiding, ships damaged and crews wounded as both sides suffered losses before the British withdrew.

Wal Kélmshaven Zeppelins Ofsita Schleswig Ponte

Zeppelins Destroyed in Ring Raid

Report states two Zeppelins were destroyed by ring forces as their airships were encountered. Details remain scant, but the loss underscores ongoing aerial combat in the region.

German ships badly damaged in heavy sea clash

Report from Copenhagen says ships were badly damaged with most vessels returning. Preparations for the Wilhelmshaven meet on Saturday were disrupted as the storm and high seas affected the fleet.

Copenhagen Hag Ab Wilhelmshaven

Mine Dropping Witnessed Near Blaavand Shuk

Report from London notes during retreat German submarines dropped many mines. Fishermen at Eabjerg saw a large cruiser strike a mine about 50 miles northwest of Blaavand. Only a few men were saved.

London Eabjerg Blaavandshuk

Lost German cruiser Elbing reported split after battle

Fragmentary text suggests the German cruiser Elbing landed near a police state area with survivors and officers. a belief persists that the ship was torn apart by its own guns. Unclear details and garbled OCR obscure exact location and outcome.

Elbing Prwe Tate Stake Thoring Anit Ling Offic

British Destroyer Shark Survivors Recount Action

Danish steamer Hull six survivors report the destroyer Shark acted as a decoy in the engagement. Shark torpedoed in her oil tanks, steering gear damaged, guns knocked out except one manned by the commander and two sailors. The commander lost a leg and went down with his ship.

Averé

German Destroyer Losses Reported by Survivors

Three German sailors from the destroyer No. 48 claim they are the sole survivors of their ship. They say about 20 German destroyers were destroyed, though they provide few details and remain reticent.

Copenhagen

German Warships Refuse Danish Waters Refuge in Disputed Note

Damaged lines describe German warships sighted near Danish territorial waters seeking refuge as a 24 hour notice to leave expired at noon today. The fragment notes tense diplomatic exchange and possible naval incidents in Danish area.

Wes

Australia and New Zealand in action report

Fragmentary dispatches from Edinburgh suggest Australia and New Zealand participated in a naval action, with casualty reports limited to referenced ships and not fully detailed in the fragment.

London Edinburgh Australia New Zealand

Hundreds of Bodies Sighted After Warship Wreckage Found

Report states hundreds of British and German bodies seen near wreckage on the water’s surface. Fishermen describe thick zones of debris and submarine remains. Dutch harbors report steamer arrivals and seas strewn with evidence of a widespread disaster.

Blaavand Anc

British naval battle stirs London press and public

The British press in London reacts with varying tones to a naval engagement. Early editions report arrests and Admiralty candor as Sir John Jellicoe's account shapes a calmer, more confident immediate view of the enemy’s losses and Britain's performance.

London Britain Admiralty John Jellicoe

Also Mentioned on This Page

Press Association FLEET Jon Jellicoe the Warspite Une Cerman Churchill Nieght David Werknow Dnes Ofeics Survivors Holland
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