The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915Various
History
The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
For hours Capt. Voorham of the Flora and Capt. Berkhout of the Titan,
caring nothing for risks of mines and submarines, cruised over the scene
of the disaster, and the gallant Dutch seamen were rewarded by the
rescue of 400 survivors.
Capt. Voorham, who landed all the survivors at Muiden, says:
"We left Rotterdam early Tuesday. In the North Sea we saw a warship,
which proved to be the Cressy. Not long afterward I saw her keel over,
break in two and disappear. Our only thought then was to save as many
survivors as possible. When we got to the spot where she disappeared
boats approached us and we began to get the men in them aboard. It was a
very difficult undertaking, as the survivors were exhausted and we were
rolling heavily.
"We also lowered our own boats and picked up many from the wreckage. All
were practically naked and some were so exhausted that they had to be
hauled aboard with tackle. Each as he recovered at once turned to help
my small crew to save others. Later I saw the Titan approaching and
signaled for help.
"One man was brought aboard with his legs broken. It was touching to see
how tenderly his mates handled him.
"Presently the British destroyers approached. A survivor on my ship
signaled with his arms that he was on a friendly ship, and the warships
passed on.
"Among those saved were two doctors, who worked hard to help the
exhausted men. One man died after they had tried artificial respiration
for an hour.
"My men collected all the clothes and blankets on board and gave them to
the survivors, and the cook was busy getting hot coffee and other food
for my large party of guests.
"By 11:30 we had picked up all the survivors we could see. Soon after we
saw German submarines, and, thinking it best to get to the nearest port,
called here."
Remember that Capt. Voorham had only a comparatively small ship and a
crew of only seventeen and realize the splendid work he did.
[Illustration]
*German Story of the Heligoland Fight*
[Special Correspondence of THE NEW YORK TIMES.]
LONDON, Sept. 8.--Copies of the Berliner Tageblatt have been received
here containing the German account of the recent naval battle off
Heligoland between British and German vessels.
"Regarding the sinking of torpedo boat V-187," says the Tageblatt
account, "an eyewitness says the small craft fought heroically to the
bitter end against overwhelming odds. Quite unexpectedly the V-187 was
attacked by a flotilla of English destroyers coming from the north.
Hardly had the first shot been fired when more hostile destroyers, also
submarines, arrived and surrounded the German craft.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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