The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-16
Three german
WARSHIPS SUNK
Big Naval Engagement Takes Place In
South Atlantic Ocean Oft
Falkland Islands
HEAVY LOSS FOR TEUTONS
Great Rejoicing Heard In London
Over victory-Allies Gain In
France-Warsaw Threatened

London.-A British squadron, under
Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee
chief of the war staff, engaged a Ger
man squadron under Admiral Count
Won Spec, off the Falkland islands, in
the South Atlantic, and won a victory
which is being acclaimed throughout
all England.
The armored cruisers Scharnhorst
and Gneisenau and the protected CRUZ
ser Leipzig, three Of the German war
ships, that had menaced British ship
ping and part Of the squadron that
sank the British cruisers Good Hope
and Monmouth in the Pacific on No
vember /, were destroyed, while the
cruisers Dresden and Number, the
two other vessels comprising the Ger,
mar squadron, made off, and, accord
ing to latest accounts, are being pur-
sued. Two GOLFERS were captured.
Details OF Battle
The official announcement follows:
AT 1880 a. m, on December 8, the
Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Nurnberg,
Leipzig and Dresden were sighted near
the Falkland islands by a British
squadron under Vice Admiral Sir
Frederick Sturdee.
"An action followed, in the course OF
which the Scharnhorst, flying the flag
Of Admiral Count Won Spec; the
Gneisenau and the Leipzig were sunk.
The Dresden and Nurnberg made off
during the action and are being pur-
sued.
1.-TWO golfers 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 Leipzig"
The statement makes reference to
survivors rescued from the Gneisenau
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-
sumed that Count Won Spec, his off,
GERS and men went down fighting.
The British casualties we're light,
but beyond the fact that the British
squadron was commanded by Vice
Admiral Sturdee, no information Is
vouchsafed regarding the ships . en-
gagged, and newspapers are enjoined
not to speculate al "other combina-
lions may be effected"
Rejoicing In London
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
in London over the victory and the
general impression is that 1t will be
completed, as the admiralty would not
be likely to send ships that could not
overtake the Dresden and Nurnberg,
which are slow and also at a disad.
vantage because of their small coal
capacity.
The British squadron left England
without the knowledge Of the general
public and until his name was men
toned it was believed that Vice AID
miral Sturdee was serving in home
waters. 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
Pacific and South Atlantic Of German
warships. It is believed, therefore,
that the British commander is at the
head Of a formidable squadron.
Allies Gains In France
Observation-Disclosures Of German
troops from the west to strengthen
their armies in the east has enabled
the allies to resume the initiative
along the front reaching from the
Swiss border to the North sea, and
while they have not made any mark
ed advance they have been able, &C.
cording to official announcement, to
organize and consolidate positions
won from the Germans who claim
to have inflicted heavy losses, par
ticularly in the Argonne and north
of Nancy. Flanders now is consider.
ed fairly safe from German attacks,
which, when they do materialize, it Is
believed here, will be directed more
at the French soldiers.
1t is apparent from the various
official reports that there are con-
verging German movements on War
saw from the north and the center,