Rome, Apr, 26.
('RAPHIC details of the second battle of Narvik, between British and German naval forces, on April 13, are contained in an official description of the engagement issued by the Admiralty last night, The Admiralty statement says: "The weather was misty with low clouds and drizzle when at noon on April 13 a British naval force steenied up the head of the Westfjord towards Otof Fjord, and Narvik.
The force consisted of the destroyers Icarus, Hero, Foxhound, Kimberley, Forester, the Tribal Class destroyers Bedouin, Punjabi, Eskimo and Cossack, and the battleship Warspite, commanded by Vice-Admiral Whitworth. To take such a large ship through the long narrow approach to Narvik was a feat of! na igation attended by great risks, because it was known German destroyers lurked in the Fjords, and'it was not known what traps had been laid, though air reconnaissance and accompanying destroyers reduced the dangers.
"A German destroyer appeared out of the mist at 12.26. Four! British destroyers opened fire, but the enemy turned away and disappeared. At 12.45 another German. destroyer appeared, followed shortly by others, "The first German destroyer made obstinate resistance, but was subject toa murderous fire from the fears and three Tribal destroyers.
"In eight minutes she was ablaze forward, amidships and aft, but one gun Kept firing until silenced by the Warspite, "More enemy destroyers appeared, until_six were zigzagging' ahead of the British forces, and a veritable dogaght ensued, -with all ships fung rapidly and making large alterations course to dodge salvoes and to keep guns bearing. German salvoes fell close to British ships at this period, ut owing to skilful manq@uvring, ino ship Was hit.
"A. Heinkel bomber was seen, but It kept well out of range. at the cost of three British destroyers, the damaged British withdrew, leaving the Ivanhoe and "Kimberley possession of the fiords,
vivors ofthe destroyer Hardy from. {ater the Ivanhoe Feseued sur~ Ballanger. The Ivanhoe landed 24 armed men, who took control hospital and school where the Hardy's wounded had been accommodated.
"During the night 120. Germans entered the town and promptly" surrendered to the 24 men, The Nor-Wwegian authorities were anxious that these Germans should "be Kept in
emo provided the Nor stady, and when the Ivanhoe party Weglans—mostly miners—with rifles and ammunition, to enable them to Guard the large body of German Running Fight Begins "The action developed into a ning fight, with the enemy retreating all the time and beginning to show. damage. The half-four after 2 p.m. was decisive. An extract from the bridge of a British destroyer say:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.