The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-12

London, Dec. "a British squadron
undo" Vice Admiral Sir Frederick
Stur1ce, chief Of the war staff, en-
gagged a German squadron under Adj
miral Count Won Spec, Off the Falk
land islands in tho south Atlantic yes.
tcrday and won q victory. which is
being acclaimed throughout England.
The armOred cruiser Scharnhorst,
and Gnciscnau and the protectedI
cruiser Leipzig, three of the Germani
Uarships that had menaced British,
shipping, and part of the squadron
that sank the British cruisers Good
Hope and Monmouth in the Pacific.
on November /, were destroyed, whilos
the cruisers Dresden and Nurnberg,l
the two other vessels comprising the
German squadron, made off, and, ac-
cording to latest accounts, are being
pursued. Two cOlliers We're captured.
The announcement of this victory.
which was the most important navai
engagement OF the war except that
off Holigoland last August, was made
tonight in a statement by the admi-
rally Of less thran 100 words.
The following announcement was
issued by the official information
bureau:
AT 7.30 a. m., on the Sth Of De-
cember, the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau.
Eurnberg. Leipzig and Dresden were
sighted near the Falkland islands by
n British squadron under Vice Ad-
miral Sir Frederick Sturdee.
can action followed, in the course
of which the Scharnhorst, flying the
flag Of Admiral Count Won Spec, the
Gneisenau and the Leipzig We're
sunk. The Dresden and Nurnberg
made off durlng the saStt s..Is q. ). ! end as ;
being pursued. - -
1.-TWO cOlliers also were captured.
"The vice admiral reports that the
British casualties are very few in
number.
Some survivors have been rescued
from the Gneisenau and the Lcipzig."
The statement makes reference TO
SurviI ors rescued from the Gneisenau IL
and the Leipzig, but no mention is
made Of any of the crew Of the
Scharnhorst, flagship Of the German
admiral. being saved, and it is pre-
surned that Count Won Spec, his oGi-
Gers and men went down lighting.
TIE British casualties were light,
hut beyond the fact that the British
squadron was commanded by Vice
Admiral .flurGcc no information is
vouchSafed regarding the ships or
gaGcd and newspapers are cnjoincd
not to speculate as "othcr combina-
tion3 may be effected"
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
in London over the victory and the
general impression is that it will be
completed, as the admiralty would not
De likely 10 send ships that could not
oVcrtakc the Dresden and Nurnhcr..
which are slow and also 1T q disad-
vantage because of their small coal
capacity.
|hc british squadron left England
without knowledge OF the general
public and until his name was mcn-
toned it WAS believed that Vice Al.
m!rai StU!dpc was serving in home
wa &terS.
The :act that ne was taken from
me post of chief Of the water staff is
indicative OF the determination of the
t'ritish government to clear the Pa
ciiic and south Atlantic OF Goruan
Warships. Il is believed, therefore,
that the British commander is at the
head ot Il Formidable squadron.
in addition to the Dresden and
Nninborg only one German ship--thc
karlSruho--nuW is unaccountcd for in
thc"c waters. although there may H..
one or two utlncl merchantmen which
ihc allies have not rounded up.
rs the Srharnhorst and Gnciscnai
ca"h carried a complement Of 7G5. the
Leipzig. 2GS, the Nurnbrrg 322 and thy
Dresden PSI. the total German loss j.;
estimated "a not far from 2.O0o men.
although the actu"l losses To the
Dresden and Nurnbcrg are not We,
rH"vn.
ETc Scharnhorst. Gnciscnau and
! i."irHiE, with the cruisers Nurnl.cyg
and Dresden, composed the German
laciiic fleet, which in the cnyaGr-
m"nt with the fri,ish squadron under
tear AClniral .,.r Chliy,op'c.
;'radock off tine coast Of Chile. 30
N"mhcr !, sanl; the british cruisers
M'nm"V,h and Good Hope with tine
'"SS o. ah"rt l.50o men. Since that
'iMo IriliFh 0ud Japnncec squaIrons