Daily Mirror Headlines: The Battle of Jutland, Published 3 June 1916

Greatest naval battle in history in North Sea

British lose three battlecruisers, three cruisers and eight torpedo-boat destroyers.

Two German dreadnoughts sunk - Foe battle cruiser blown up, another disabled and stopping and third seriously damaged.

Enemy cruiser and six destroyers sunk - Our losses include Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible, Defence and Black Prince, and Warrior abandoned.

Foe Fleet Avoid Long Action With Our Main Force

Three German Battleships Hit Repeatedly, Two Cruisers Disabled, U-Boat Rammed and Sunk

Press Bureau, Friday 7pm, The Secretary of the Admiralty makes the following announcement: On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 31, a naval engagement took place off the coast of Jutland. The British ships on which the brunt of the fighting fell were the battlecruiser fleet and some cruisers and light cruisers, supported by four fast battleships. Among these the losses were heavy.

The German battle fleet, aided by a low visibility, avoided prolonged action with our main forces, and soon after these appeared on the scene the enemy returned to port, though not before receiving severe damage from our battleships.

The battlecruisers Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible and the cruisers Defence and Black Prince were sunk. The Warrior was disabled and, after being towed for some time, had to be abandoned by her crew. It is also known that the destroyers Tipperary, Turbulent, Fortune, Sparrowhawk and Ardent were lost, and six others are not yet accounted for.

No British battleships or light cruisers were sunk.

The enemy's losses were serious. At least one battle cruiser was destroyed and one severely damaged; one battleship reported sunk by our destroyers during a night attack; two light cruisers were disabled and probably sunk. The exact number of enemy destroyers disposed of during the action cannot be ascertained with any certainty, but it must have been large.

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe's Estimate of German Losses in Jutland Fight

Admiralty, 1.30am: Since the foregoing communiqué was issued a further report has been received from the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet stating that it is now ascertained that our total losses in destroyers amount to eight boats in all. The Commander-in-Chief also reports that it is now possible to form a closer estimate of the losses and damage sustained by the enemy fleet.

One Dreadnought battleship of the Kaiser class was blown up in an attack by British destroyers, and another Dreadnought battleship of the Kaiser class is believed to have been sunk by gunfire. Of three German battle cruisers, two of which it is believed were the Derflinger and the Lutzow, one was blown up and another heavily engaged by our battle fleet and was seen to be disabled and stopping, and the third was observed to be seriously damaged.

One German light cruiser and six German destroyers were sunk, and at least two more German light cruisers were seen to be disabled. Further, repeated hits were observed on three other German battleships that were engaged.

Finally, a German submarine was rammed and sunk.

British Pursuit of Foe Fleet

Copenhagen, Friday: The Captain of the Danish steamer Naesborg, which today arrived here, gives me the following account concerning the battle in the North Sea: 'When the Naesborg was on her voyage from Leith to Denmark on Wednesday afternoon, and was 95 miles west of Hanstholm, a few small British warships appeared, pursued by the German Fleet. Suddenly the British warships turned and steamed westwards, violently shelled.'

'In a few minutes a large number of British Dreadnought cruisers appeared from the north and west. The British then began attacking the German ships, which were reinforced by a large number of warships coming from the south along the west coast of Jutland. At this time a violent fight commenced. The sky seemed to be filled with smoke, and the sea was in a state of uproar. Shells fell around the Danish steamer, which was several miles away.'

'During the fight the cannonading was so violent that the crew of the Naesborg could not stand erect on the deck. The British Dreadnoughts formed a line in advance of the other ships.'

'The crew of the Danish steamer saw several large warships sunk, but was unable to state whether they were British or German.'

'At last,' added the Captain, 'the German Fleet withdrew southwards, pursued by the British. Suddenly several British warships appeared, coming from the west.'

The German Fleet was divided into two parts, of which one escaped southwards. The fate of the other fleet is not known.

The Dutch steamer and two Danish schooners - Lauritz and Senita - were, while the fight was in progress, right in the midway of the opposing fleets.

The cannonade from the fleets was so violent that people along the west coast of Jutland were prevented from sleeping during the whole night, and foregathered on the beach. (Exchange)

Ships with Wounded

Rotterdam, Friday 1.20pm: The tugboat Schelde is entering the new waterway with dead and wounded from the naval battle. (Reuters)

Amsterdam, Thursday: The tugboat Thames is expected at the Hook of Holland this afternoon with eight German sailors picked up in the North Sea yesterday. Two of them were wounded and one has died from his wounds on the way to port.

The trawler 122 is expected at Ymuiden with 15 German sailors and one wounded English survivor. The rescued Germans include a commander and two lieutenants. (Central News)

A British Success

Amsterdam, Friday: The Maasbode, commenting on the North Sea naval battle, expresses the view that it must be regarded as a British success, seeing that it is admitted on Germany's part that the German ships had to abandon an enterprise undertaken in a northerly direction and to return to German harbours. (Central News)

Amsterdam, Friday: A Berlin telegram states that the Kaiser is expected at Wilhelmshaven tomorrow to inspect the Fleet on its return from the North Sea battle. (Exchange)

Germans on Day and Night Fight

Amsterdam, Friday: The following official account of the North Sea battle was issued in Berlin today.

During an enterprise, directed towards the north, our High Sea Fleet on Wednesday last met a considerably superior main portion of the British Battle Fleet. In the course of the afternoon, between the Skagerack and the Horns' Reef, a number of severe, and for us, successful engagements developed and continued all night.

In these engagements, as far as is at present ascertained, we destroyed the great battleship Warspite, the battlecruisers Queen Mary and Indefatigable, two armoured cruisers of the Achilles class, one small cruiser and the new destroyer leaders Turbulent, Restor and Alcaster.

According to trustworthy evidence a great number of British battleships suffered heavy damage from the artillery of our vessels and the attacks of our torpedo-boat flotillas during the day battle and during the night. Among others, the great battleship Marlborough was hit by a torpedo, as is confirmed by the statements of prisoners.

A portion of the crews of the British vessels that were sunk were picked up by our vessels. Among them are two sole survivors of the Indefatigable.

On our side the small cruiser Wiesbaden was sunk by the enemy's artillery in the course of the day battle, and during the night the Pommern by a torpedo.

Regarding the fate of the Frauenlob, which is missing, and some torpedo-boats, which have not returned up to the present, nothing is known.

The High Sea Fleet returned to our harbours in the course of today. (Signed Chief of the Naval General Staff; Reuters)

[Note: it should not be forgotten that the British official statement points out that NO British battleships or light cruisers were sunk.]

Foe Admiral's Version of Battle

Amsterdam, Friday: The Director of the Naval Department (Rear Admiral Hebbinghaus) declared in the Reichstag that, according to the latest information, the whole of the German battle fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Scheer, found itself on the afternoon of May 31 faced by the British Battle Fleet, including 34 big modern units. The battle lasted until 9pm, being followed by a series of reciprocal attacks during the night between cruisers and torpedo boats.

'The result of the fighting is a significant success for our forces against a much stronger adversary,' said the Rear Admiral, amid cheers. He went on to report on the British losses as already known and added that nine or ten destroyers were destroyed, six of them being accounted for by the battleship Westfalen.

It was evident that some of the German ships had been considerably damaged, but the major portion of the fleet had returned to harbour. (Central News)

Amsterdam, Friday: At today's meeting of the Reichstag the President said: 'In the North Sea a big naval battle has taken place - the first collision between our naval forces and the pick of the English Fleet. Detailed messages are still lacking, but it may already be said that our young navy has gained a great and splendid success.

'Several of our fine ships, indeed, have been lost and many of our brave sailors have perished, but the enemy losses are several times greater. Above all, proof has been given that our fleet is able to face a superior British naval force and gain a victory for which we salute and thank our navy.' (Central News)