And The Winner Is…..
Dear Reader’s,
Another month has passed and with the start of the new one it brings the results from previous Your Opinion Counts post. I appreciate the fact that many of you responded to the post and the results are quite favorable. The list of this month’s winner’s is below:
In first place with a total of 10 votes is………Jesus!
In second place with a total of 7 votes is…….. Albert Einstein!
Tied for third place with a total of 4 votes are………Mahatma Gandi, Johannes Gutenberg and Isaac Newton!
Last but not least coming in at fourth place with 2 votes are………Eli Whitney, Thomas Aquinas and Stephen the Great!
Thanks again for all you readers who participated and come back soon!!!
WWI:Battle of Jutland Part 2
The first clash between the two naval powers happened on the 31st of May at about 2:20 in the afternoon. The opening shots were fired by the advance guard of Admiral David Beatty light cruisers who had spotted Rear Admiral Friedrich Bodicker’s scouting ships and light cruisers and opened fire. At the time of Beatty’s first sighting of the Germans,Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper, having seen Beatty and his advance guard, turned and retreated back to the German Main Fleet. Trying to get a better strategic position, Beatty turned his light cruisers in a south by southeast direction, on a path that was parallel to Hipper’s at 3:31 p.m. Hipper however was unaware that Admiral Beatty had signaled Admiral Hugh Evan Thomas to follow with a squadron of four Elizabeth- class super dreadnoughts. At a range of 49,500 feet, the two battle cruiser forces opened fire on each other. The start of the battle did not go well with Admiral Beatty, for within 50 minutes Beatty’s flagship the HMS Lion had fallen. The Lion-Class HMS Princess Royal led by Rear Admiral Osmond Brock also took heavy hits. The HMS Tiger came in close encounter with the German SMS Moltke and was severely damaged along. Along with the battle cruisers, numerous other lightly armored British battle cruisers fell to the German onslaught.
Now I know you’re probably thinking, wait up a moment did I miss something weren’t the British supposed to be winning with their superior numbers and ships. Well actually, although the Germans had a smaller amount of ships, they made up for it with their extreme firepower. Germany was winning the battle at this point because of three main things: 1. Bigger guns. 2. Accurate gunnery. 3. Superior ammunition. The German SMS Seydilitz armed with 10 × 280 mm (11.2 in) / 50 caliber guns (5 × 2), 12 × 150 mm (5.9 in) guns, 12 × 88 mm (3.45 in) guns, sunk the British HMS Queen Mary along with the help of the SMS Derfflinger, armed with 8 × 30.5 cm (12″) SK L/50 in 4 twin turrets, 12 × 15 cm (5.9″) SK L/45 in 12 single turrets, 4 × 8.8 cm (4×1) in 4 single mounts, and 4 × single 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes. The Indefatigable, another ship fallen victim to the relentless German attack, exploded and capsized at 4:00 because a shell hit her(ammunition dump). Only two survivors were left from the Indefatigable. The HMS Queen Mary sank 20 minutes later. That’s it the British couldn’t have possibly survived that type of attack, right? Wrong. In fact not only did they survive the attack but they came back with a vengeance. The British damaged the German ships: Seydlitz, which was hit 24 times, Derfflinger which suffered 26 hits, and the Lutzow which took a total of 24 hits and had to be scuttled because it was taking in too much water from its shell holes. Hipper now had five ships against Beatty’s four, but there was still Evan Thomas coming up with the super dreadnoughts.Even though he was conscious of the fact that the Germans had the firepower advantage, Beatty courageously uttered four famous words, “engage the enemy closer”. Vice-Admiral had spotted Evan Thomas’s super-dreadnought 5th Battle Squadron and a running fight took place. Both sides took substantial hits from the fight. Beatty, at this time in the battle, was to the left of the German squadron as the ships all raced southward in what became classically known as the “Run to the South”. Two main fights raged on. One was between the super dreadnoughts and the other heavy cruisers and the second was between the light cruisers and scouting ships.Commodore Goodenough’s 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron which was ahead of Beatty’s squadron, sighted Scheer’s battleships and sent a radio message to Admiral of the Home Fleet, John Rushworth Jellicoe, who oversaw the entire Battle of Jutland, saying that he had sighted the enemy fleet and that it was heading North. Jellicoe, who commanded the main British fleet, now approached in parallel formations from the northwest. Beatty turned back to Jellicoe and his fleet after being told that the German fleet was 12 miles ahead and attempted to signal Evan Thomas but couldn’t because of poor visibility and the order was delayed until the super dreadnoughts were extremely close to the German fleet. This resulted in the super dreadnoughts being severely damaged as they turned back.
In this time Beatty, who at this point was still parallel to Admiral Hipper’s squadron, turned in the northeast direction, going across the front of Jellicoe’s fleet. British Rear Admiral Sir Horace Hood was at the front of the fleet with his 3rd Battle Squadron which was made up of three battle cruisers and two light cruisers. Horace mistakenly raced to the southeast to assist Beatty thinking that he was still ahead. Upon seeing gunfire from the west, Horace turned in that direction and was caught in a battle with Admiral Hipper’s destroyers and cruisers. Unfortunately, Hood was caught under fire by both Hipper and Scheer and the British ships turned out to be quite unreliable. Hood’s flagship was hit at 6:34 p.m after which it promptly exploded in two and sunk with everyone, including Sir Horace Hood, onboard. The Defence and the Warrior also were sunk. Even after all this the British Grand Fleet maneuvered its way in front of the entire German High Seas Fleet. The British pulled off the classic maneuver called crossing the T. An extreme tactical advantage to the British because Scheer’s fleet was positioned like the vertical stroke of the T while the British were positioned like the horizontal stoke of the T. Not only were the British blocking the Germans way but the British could also could fire at the Germans more than the Germans could fire at them. The British had nice clear lines of fire and the Germans ships were stacked up in a line. Surely, this was the end for the Germans.
Your Opinion Counts!
World Cup Results Part 2
As the second extra time period starts people are beginning to wonder if this will lead to the penalty kicks. So far in the game, Spain has been pressuring Netherlands and keeps getting real close to the goal. Kudos to Netherlands too for putting up such amazing defense. Johnny Heitinga given a red card, his second yellow and leaves the field. Netherlands is left with 10 players total. Xavi takes another crack at the goal from 21 m but his shot goes wide and Maarten Stekelenburg takes the goal kick. Foul committed by Gregory van der Wiel on Andrés Iniesta. Gregory van der Wiel given a yellow card. At 111 minutes Jesus Navas goes for a goal shot but the goal kick is taken by Maarten Stekelenburg . Arjen Robben is called offside. Foul committed by Fernando Torres on Gregory van der Wiel. Maarten Stekelenburg takes a free kick because they only have 10 players. Finally at 115 minutes Andrés Iniesta of Spain, assisted by Cesc Fábregas, shoots right footed, and scores right into the left side of the goal. A clean, perfect goal executed by an great player. The Spanish fans roar with joy. The Spanish team pile up on each other, hugging, crying, and shouting from happiness. Joris Mathijsen is none to happy about the outcome of the game and argues with the referee. The Spanish team has made history, winning the first World Cup for Spain. They will go on to receive the World Cup trophy, the 19th time its been awarded.
World Cup Results
Finally the moment the world has been waiting for has arrived. Netherlands and Spain squaring off at the final match of the World Cup at Soccer City, Johannesburg. Almost 85,000 have showed up for this match all waiting in high anticipation for the results. For the Netherlands, this is the 3rd time they make it to the finals, also making it in 1974 and 1978. Spain however has never made it into the finals but made it into 4th place in 1950. I will recap about the last hour of the game going over the most important events, starting from the unsuccessful header by Sergio Ramos to the game wining kick by Andres Ineista, giving Spain its first World Cup win. After Sergio Ramos’s unsuccessful header, Andres Ineista committed a foul on Mark Van Bommel by pushing him, giving Johnny Heitinga a free kick which he took with his right foot. What seemed like a perfect goal for Andres Ineista was fouled by Mark Van Bommel who threw him on the floor. Arjen Robben went for the goal but was caught between two Spanish players, goalie caught the ball. Sergio Busquets committed a foul on Gregory van der Wiel and Arjen Robben was given a yellow card. At 86 minutes, Cesc Fábregas was substituted on for Xabi Alonso. At 87 minutes Joris Mathijsen committed a foul on David Villa. Andrés Iniesta took a free kick with right foot. At 89 minutes it seemed that Netherlands would score its first goal but Robin van Persie of Netherland was called offside giving Spanish Carles Puyol, a free kick which he took right footed. At 90 minutes, injury time was announced, adding three minutes to the 90 that had gone by so far. A goal kick taken by Iker Casillas of Spain at 93 minutes but no goal was scored.
After a tough 90 minutes, neither team had yet scored a goal. The period ended after a short break, and the teams went to 15 minutes extra time, with David Villa of Spain attempting a goal kick that went wide at 91 minutes. Spain was now constantly attacking Netherlands goal with a corner kick taken by Xavi of Spain and then a left footed shot on the goal taken by Cesc Fabergas. It seemed that the ball would go in but for the breathtaking save by Netherlands goalie Maarten Stekelenburg who slide kicked it out of the goal. Both Spain and Netherlands have never scored have never scored a goal in extra time. Wesley Sneijder took a corner kick which Joris Mathijsen headed, followed by Iker Casillas of Spain who attempted a goal shot. Lets go ahead 5 minutes to Xavi of Spain who attempts a corner kick followed by David Villa being called offside and a free kick taken Netherlands Maarten Stekelenburg. Fabergas takes a free kick and then takes another kick at the goal but the shot goes wide and Maarten takes a goal kick. Edson Braafheid of Netherlands is substituted for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The end of the first extra time period has arrived and still no goals.
Cast of Combatants
Admiral of the Grand Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe
Born: December 5, 1859
Place of Birth: Southampton, Hampshire
Died: November 20, 1935.
Attributes:
-When Jellicoe joined the Royal Navy, he first served on the HMS Britannia as a cadet.
-In the course of 42 years, Jellicoe became the Admiral, a position he was appointed when on August 4, 1914.
-Served in the Urabi Revolt(1879-1882), Boxer Rebellion(1899-1901) and WWI (1914-1916)
–Was the Commander of the Grand Fleet during WWI. Head of the British Grand Fleet during the Battle of Jutland.
-Promoted to Viscount in 1918 and then Admiral of the Fleet in 1919.
-A year later he became Governor-General of New Zealand and served there for 4 years.
-By 1925 Jellicoe was made Earl, the last promotion of his life, for he died 10 years later in 1935.
Admiral of the German High Seas Fleet Reinhard Scheer
Born: September 30,1863
Birthplace: Obernkirchen, Hesse.
Died: November 26, 1928
Attributes:
-By the young age of 15, Scheer joined the Kaiserliche Marine( Imperial Navy), as a cadet on the ship SMS Niobe.
-Earned the highest honor from the Kingdom of Prussia, the Pour le Merite (Blue Max).
-In 39 years of service, Scheer advance to the rank of Admiral.
-Launched in the year 1933, the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer, was named after Reinhard Scheer to honor him.
– The Admiral Scheer ship was very decorated, having served in the Spanish Civil War and throughout WWII as a commerce raider.
WWI:The Battle of Jutland Part 1
The Battle of Jutland also known as the Battle of Skagerrak was a naval engagement between the German High Seas Fleet of the Kaiserliche Marine, led by Admiral Scheer, and the British Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy, led by Admiral Beatty, 60 miles off the coast of Jutland, Denmark from 31 May – 1 June 1916. Now before I begin to explain the battle, let me tell you a little about the advantages of each forces. The British Royal Navy had 28 dreadnought class battleships compared to High Seas Fleet’s of 16. A dreadnought is a battleship that was first built-in 1906. The difference between the dreadnought and ships built earlier on was that it had two revolutionary features: an ‘all-big-gun’ armament scheme and steam turbine propulsion. The first of the dreadnoughts, the Royal Navy’s HMS Dreadnought, was launched in 1906 and had such a big influence that battleships built after it were referred to as ‘dreadnoughts’, and battleships built before 1906 became known as pre-dreadnoughts. The Royal Navy also had nine battle cruisers to the High Seas Fleet five, 26 light cruisers to Germany’s 11 and 73 destroyers to the High Seas Fleet 61. Each side also had about 45 submarines but they declined to use them.
Now, I know you’re probably thinking that this must have been a pushover for Britain to handle especially with all their advantages. But actually the Germans held their own. Although the High Seas fleet had a smaller force than the British Navy, their ships all had bigger guns onboard, superior ammunition, and a higher accuracy rate than that of the British ships. Still, with all their technical superiority, the Germans knew they could not engage the British out in the open because of the British vast fleet. Vice-Admiral Scheer’s plan was to goad a smaller British force out into the open and then beat them with superior numbers. In short, the Germans wanted to break the strength of the British Navy and end their chokehold on the North Sea.
Scheer sent five battle cruisers, (1st Scouting Group), and four light cruisers, (2nd Scouting Group), led by Rear Admiral Friedrich Bodicker. Bodicker was accompanied by two flotillas of destroyers. They were to sail north to Norway under the command of Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper from Wilhelmshaven,Germany (Whew, that’s a mouthful). The Germans were to set out from Wilhelmshaven,Germany and ambush British Admiral David Beatty’s battle cruiser squadron at Rosyth, halfway up Britain’s eastern coast. The Germans would destroy the battle cruiser squadron before reinforcements from Scapa Flow, Scotland could arrive. The plan seemed flawless but as it happens plans sometimes go awry. This plan went wrong because the Germans didn’t consider the fact that the British could intercept their “secret messages” and break their “secret codes“. The British knew the entire plan and in preparation, THE ENTIRE BRITISH GRAND FLEET, set off for Norway’s southwestern coast. The Germans were in for a surprise.
Notable Historical Moments 
