NAVAL FIGHT OFF THE DARDANELLES

GALLANT DESTROYERS. PLIGHT OF THE GOEBEN.

The Secretary of the Admiralty last night issued the following: The following is a more detailed report of the events in connection with the sortie of the Goeben (Sultan Selim) and Breslau (Midilli) from the Dardanelles on Jan. 20. At 5.20 a.m., when his Majesty’s destroyer Lizard was about two miles from the north-easterly point of Imbros on patrol duty, she sighted Breslau steaming in a northerly direction to the south-east of Cape Kephalo, shortly followed by Goeben about a mile astern. His Majesty’s ship Lizard at once gave the alarm, and, opening fire, proceeded to keep in as close touch as possible with the enemy ships. Goeben and Breslau engaged Lizard at about 11.000 yards, straddling her without hitting. Goeben now sighted the monitors in Kusu Bay, on the north-east corner of Imbros, and engaged them, Breslau continuing to engage Lizard, who was prevented from closing to torpedo range by the accuracy of the enemy’s fire at shorter range. His Majesty’s destroyer Tigress now joined Lizard, and the two destroyers endeavoured to cover the monitors by forming a smoke screen, in attempting which they were subjected to an accurate fire from Goeben. Meanwhile, his Majesty’s ship Raglan had been heavily hit and sank, and the small monitor, M 28, which was on fire amidships, blew up, and finally disappeared about sis a.m. The enemy then ceased fire and altered course to the southward. Tigress and Lizard, observing that trawlers were coming to the assistance of the monitors, followed the enemy. At seven a.m., when Breslau was about six miles south of Kephalo, a large explosion was observed abreast her after funnel. Two or three minutes later three more explosions took place, and at ten minutes past seven she sank by the stern, heeling over as she went down. On seeing Breslau sink, Goeben turned and circled round her once, and then continued on her southerly course. and Lizard engaged the enemy destroyers, which hurriedly retired up the Straits, the nearest being hit repeatedly and set on fire. The Goeben continued on her southerly course until an attack by our aircraft forced her to alter course and head for the Dardanelles. In the act of turning, however, she struck a mine, which caused her to settle down aft, with a list of ten to fifteen degrees, and which considerably reduced her speed. She proceeded slowly up the Dardanelles, escorted by enemy seaplanes and the four Turkish destroyers, which had returned to her assistance. Our aircraft repeatedly attacked her, and obtained two direct hits when off Chanak. Goeben was now in such a damaged condition that she was steered for the shore, and was beached at the extreme end of Nagara Point, about 100 yards from the lighthouse. Shortly after beaching two more direct hits were made on her by our aircraft, who were heavily engaged by several enemy seaplanes. In the encounters which took place one of our seaplanes failed to return. The shore batteries at Cape Hellea then opened an accurate fire on Tigress and Lizard, who had been following Goeben, and in view of the activity of our naval aircraft the two destroyers retired out of range and proceeded to rescue the survivors of Breslau. During these operations the periscope of a submarine was sighted, and the work of rescue was seriously interfered with while the destroyers hunted the submarine. The German survivors from the Breslau expressed intense dislike for the Turks, and stated that they had hoped to be sent back to Germany on the Goeben’s return to Constantinople after the raid. Our aircraft reported on Monday afternoon that Goshen was still ashore in the same position. She is still being bombed.

TURKISH VERSION. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. CONSTANTINOPLE, Monday.

In a clever attack the Sultan Selim (Goeben) and the Midilli (Breslau) and some torpedo-boats advanced yesterday out of the Dardanelles in order to destroy enemy forces which had been located near Imbros. Two enemy monitors, the Raglan (4,500 tons, with two 14in guns) and the M. 28 (500 tons, with one 9.2in gun and one 6in gun), a transport ship of 2,000 tons, a signal station, and numerous munition depots were destroyed. Lively aerial activity reigned on both sides. An enemy aeroplane was shot down in an aerial fight, and a second was seriously damaged. The coastal batteries successfully bombarded enemy torpedo-boats. On the return the Midilli (Breslau) was sunk by striking several mines.