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
LONDON, Sept. 25.--The report to the Admiralty on the sinking of the
Cressy, signed by Bertram W.L. Nicholson, Commander of the late H.M.S.
Cressy, follows:
"Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report in connection with
the sinking of H.M.S. Cressy, in company with H.M.S. Aboukir and Hogue,
on the morning of the 22d of September, while on patrol duty:
"The Aboukir was struck at about 6:25 A.M. on the starboard beam. The
Hogue and Cressy closed and took up a position, the Hogue ahead of the
Aboukir, and the Cressy about 400 yards on her port beam. As soon as it
was seen that the Aboukir was in danger of sinking all the boats were
sent away from the Cressy, and a picket boat was hoisted out without
steam up. When cutters full of the Aboukir's men were returning to the
Cressy the Hogue was struck, apparently under the aft 9.2 magazine, as a
very heavy explosion took place immediately. Almost directly after the
Hogue was hit we observed a periscope on our port bow about 300 yards
off.
"Fire was immediately opened and the engines were put full speed ahead
with the intention of running her down. Our gunner, Mr. Dougherty,
positively asserts that he hit the periscope and that the submarine
sank. An officer who was standing alongside the gunner thinks that the
shell struck only floating timber, of which there was much about, but it
was evidently the impression of the men on deck, who cheered and clapped
heartily, that the submarine had been hit. This submarine did not fire a
torpedo at the Cressy.
"Capt. Johnson then manoeuvred the ship so as to render assistance to
the crews of the Hogue and Aboukir. About five minutes later another
periscope was seen on our starboard quarter and fire was opened. The
track of the torpedo she fired at a range of 500 to 600 yards was
plainly visible and it struck us on the starboard side just before the
afterbridge.
"The ship listed about 10 degrees to the starboard and remained steady.
The time was 7:15 A.M. All the watertight doors, deadlights and scuttles
had been securely closed before the torpedo struck the ship. All the
mess stools and table shores, and all available timber below and on
deck, had been previously got up and thrown over side for the saving of
life.
"A second torpedo fired by the same submarine missed and passed about 10
feet astern. About a quarter of an hour after the first torpedo had hit
a third torpedo fired from a submarine just before the starboard beam
hit us under the No. 5 boiler room. The time was 7:30 A.M. The ship then
began to heel rapidly, and finally turned keel up, remaining so for
about twenty minutes before she finally sank, at 7:55 A.M.
"A large number of men were saved by casting adrift on Pattern 3 target.
The steam pinnace floated off her clutches, but filled and sank.
"The second torpedo which struck the Cressy passed over the sinking hull
of the Aboukir, narrowly missing it. It is possible that the same
submarine fired all three torpedoes at the Cressy.
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