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*German Story of the Heligoland Fight*

[Special Correspondence of THE NEW YORK TIMES.]

LONDON, Sept. 8.--Copies of the Berliner Tageblatt have been received
here containing the German account of the recent naval battle off
Heligoland between British and German vessels.

"Regarding the sinking of torpedo boat V-187," says the Tageblatt
account, "an eyewitness says the small craft fought heroically to the
bitter end against overwhelming odds. Quite unexpectedly the V-187 was
attacked by a flotilla of English destroyers coming from the north.
Hardly had the first shot been fired when more hostile destroyers, also
submarines, arrived and surrounded the German craft.

"The V-187, on which, in addition to the commander, was the flotilla
chief, Capt. Wallis, defended itself to the utmost, but the steering
gear was put out of business by several shots, and thus it was
impossible to withdraw from the enemy. When the commander saw there was
no further hope, the vessel was blown up so as not to fall into the
enemy's hands. But even while she sank the guns not put out of action
continued to be worked by the crew till the ship was swallowed up in the
waves. The flotilla commander, as well as Commander Lechler, was lost,
besides many of the crew.

"The enemy deserves the greatest credit for their splendid rescue work.
The English sailors, unmindful of their own safety, went about it in
heroic fashion.

"Boats were put out from the destroyers to save the survivors. While
this rescue work was still under way stronger German forces approached,
causing the English torpedo boats to withdraw, abandoning the small
rescue boats which they had put out, and those who had been saved were
now taken from the English boats aboard our ships.

"When the thunder of the guns showed the enemy was near and engaged with
our torpedo boats, the small armored cruiser Ariadne steamed out to take
part in the scrap. As the Ariadne neared the outpost vessels it was
observed that various of our lighter units were fighting with the
English, which later, however, appeared to be escaping toward the west.

"The long-suppressed keenness for fighting could not be gainsaid and the
Ariadne pursued, although the fog made it impossible to estimate the
strength of the enemy. Presently, not far from the Ariadne, two hostile
cruisers loomed out of the mist--two dreadnought battle cruisers of
30,000 tons' displacement, armed with eight 13.5-inch guns