Show BRI TISH SINK effle GERMAN WARSHIPS FIRST IMPORTANT NAVAL ACTION OF WAR RESULTS IN VICTORY FOR englishmen two cruler cruisers and two torpedo boat destroyers sent to bottom while one cruller cruiser flees afire and in sinking condition london two german cruisers and two german torpedo boat destroyers we were re unk sunk by the british fleet on august 28 A third crul set iset afire and left sinking this the first sea battle ot of the world war occurred off helgeland Hel goland no british ships were lost in the battle attle and the british loss of life was not heavy in addition to the two torpedo boat destroyers and three cruisers many of the german torpedo boat destroyers were damaged twenty nine killed and thirty eight wounded was the price in men paid by the british for or the naval acton an official statement issued sunday night says saya that of 1200 men composing pas ing the crows crews of the five german warships unk sunk off Helio goland only were saved the attack on the german fleet off helgeland Hel goland was initiated by british destroyers according to accounts given by the crews of the vessels which participated the destroyers gt got fairly close to the germ german hips before they were discovered then d a from the german ships and forts was opened on them and they gradually drew the german cruisers toward the sea for a time the germans were in a position which gave them the advantage british destroyers having to bear the brunt ot of the battle during one of the hottest phases ot of the fight two british destroyers got in between two german cruisers which feared to fire upon the british lest they hit each other while four british destroyers engaged a third german cruiser and put her out ot at action finally tho british battle crushers and light cruisers arrived on the scene and quickly pat an end cud to the light the liberty one ot of the british destroyers st when took part in the battle 0 off if helgeland Hel goland was hit bit by a shell w which aich shattered he her r mast and tore battered away part rt of her bridge first ot of all and then smashed her searchlights and killed her commander lieutenant commander Bart ellot and william butcher his signal man accounts of the battle say it was perfect lit in execution as well as la plan led at dawn by a tearless fearless small detachment the destroyers crept within the german lines between helgeland Hel goland and the german coast the bight ot of helgeland Hel goland la Is inside inaldo the fortula formidable able defenses of helgeland Hel goland island which was waa ceded to germany lit in 1890 the estuary of the river elbe into which the kiel canal rows lows opens out into this bay helgeland Hel Rel goland itself Is the base for torpedo craft but it Is apparent from the official report that the fighting took place much nearer the german mainland than helgeland Hel liel goland athla la moro more remarkable because Hel Itel Is IB tho the center ot of a chain of fortified fortl llod islands that are supposed to make the waters inside tho the chain impregnable to atta attack cli by such a large force as sir david beatty took nylah uh him |