Arizona republican., 1914-12-10
Greatest Naval Engagement Since That Off Heligoland Results in Sinking of Three German Warships and Capture of Golfers
THE BRITISH
 CASUALTIES LIGHT
Announcement of the En- gagement and Victory Re ceived in Hundred Word Message and Brings Re joicing in London
ASSOCIATED PRESS p1spArcHl

LONDON, Dec. A British squad ron under the command of Vice Ad- miral Sturdee, chief of the war staff, engaged the German squadron under Admiral Von Spec off the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic yester- day and won a victory that was ac- claimed throughout England. The armored cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneis- enau and the protected cruiser Leip- zig, the three German Warships which have been menacing British shipping and part of the squadron which sunk the British cruisers Dresden, Nurn- berg and two other vessels of the German squadron, made off during the fight and according to latest ac- counts are being pursured. Two col Hers were captured. It is believed that few Of the Germans were rescued.
 The announcement of this engage ment and victory, which is the most important naval engagement of the war, with the exception of that off Helgoland last August was made this evening in statement from the ad miralty of less than a hundred words. The announcement follows:
 "A seven thirty in the morning on the eighth of December, the Scharn- horst, Gneisenau, Nurnburg, Leipzig and Dresden, were sighted near the Falkland Islands by the British squad ron under Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee An action followed in the course of which the Scharnhorst, fly ing the flag of Admiral Count Von Spec, the Gneisenau and the Leipzig were sunk. The Dresden and Nurn- burg made off during action and are being pursued. Two colliers were also captured. The vice admiral reports that the British casualties were very few in numbers Some survivors were rescued from the Gneisenau and Leip- zig"
 The statement making reference to some survivors from the Gneisenau and Leipzig but no mention being made of any of the crew of the Scharnhorst which was the flagship of the German admiral, being saved, il is thus presumed that Won Spec, his officers and men went down fight ing. The British casualties were light, but beyond the fact that the British squadron was commanded by the Sturdee there was no information re- garding the ships engaged. and the newspapers were enjoined not to spec lulate as other combinations may be effected
 The greatest enthusiasm prevails in London over the victory and the gen
 eral impression is that it will be con- pleted as the admiralty is not likely to send ships that can not overtake the Dresden and Nurnburg, which are twenty-four knot and twenty-three knot vessels respectively and probably
 even slower after long service. They
 are at q disadvantage also because 1 of their small coal capcity. The Bri- ! tish squdron left England without the 1 knowledge of the general public and until his name was mentioned it was 1 believed that Sturdee was serving in home waters.
 1 The fact that he was taken from
 the post of chief of the war staff is
 indicative of the determination of the British government to clear the Pa cific and South Atlantic of all Ger
 man warships. It is believed, there | fore that the British commander is at
 the head of formidable squadron. In addition to the Dresden and Nurnburg only one German warship
 the Karlsruhe-is now unaccount
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