Drawn by Philip Dadd, from a sketch
by G. H. Davis.
Copyright of The Sphere.
Rescued by Submarine. A Strange Incident during the Naval Action off Heligoland.
Letter 28.—From a gun-room officer on H.M. battle-cruiser “Invincible,” to his parents at Hove:
The particular ship we were engaged with was in a pitiful plight when we had finished with her. Her funnels shot away, masts tottering, great gaps of daylight in her sides, smoke and flame belching from her everywhere. She speedily heeled over and sank like a stone, stern first. So far as is known none of her crew was saved. She was game to the last, let it be said, her flag flying till she sank, her guns barking till they could bark no more. Although we suffered no loss we had some very narrow escapes. Three torpedoes were observed to pass us, one, it is said, within a few feet. Four-inch shells, too, fell short, or were ahead of us. The sea was alive with the enemy’s submarines, which, however, luckily did no damage. They should not be under-rated, these Germans. They’ve got “guts.” That cruiser did not think apparently of surrender.
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