Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-05
JAPANESE RUSH
SHIPS TO MEET
GERMAN FLEET
Allies Hope Eastern Fleet
Will Arrive in Time to
Prevent Destruction of
Their Shipping Through
Canal.
rrRow STAFF oonnEsroNprrr.1

WASHINGTON. Nov. 5,-Frenoh and
English merchant vessels passing through
the Panama Canal for the west coast OF
South America are in serious danger. IL
Is believed In diplomatic circles here, Of
being destroyed by the German warshIps
which defeated the British squadron off
the coast Of Chill. sinking the Monmouth
and disabling the cruiser Good Hope, the
flagship OF Admiral Cradock.
Fear Is also expressed that the German
cruisers will prey upon Japanese COM
merce in tho Pacific There is a belief
IN Official circles that n Japanese feet
may be dispatched to the west coast Of
South America to engage the German
cruisers.
When American bluejacIcets and ma
rines were landed at Vera Cruz last
April, the Dresden, one of the German
warships which participated in the naval
engagement or Chilli, was anchored in
the haroor within short distance of tho
British cruiser Essex, then the flagship
of Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, who
was in command of the defeated British
squadron.
VALPARAISO, Chilli. Nov. 5.-The Ger
man squadron that defeated Rear Ad-
miral Sir Christopher Cradock's British
warshlps off Coronel, Chill, on Sunday
evening are likely to be engaged at any
moment with a fleet OF eight Japanese
war vessels. The Japanese are known
TO have been at Easter Island, 200 miles
west of where Sundays battle was
rtaN
suing the Germans.
The Scharnhorst. the Gneisenau and the
Nurnberg, of Admiral Graf Won Specs
German squadron, were at Easter Island
on october 16, nine days before the Japan
ese arrived there.
When the Scharnhorst. the Gneisenau
and the Nurnberg arrived here and re-
ported the battle of Sunday evening they
took on board additional provisions, and
their officers let it be known on shore
that they had TO leave at once to intercept
British steamship bound down the
coast. 1t is now believed, however, that
they were in hurry to got away to
prevent being bottled up by the superior
Japanese feet.
Because of the battle on Sunday and
the defeat of Rear Admiral Cradock's
squadron. British shipping on the west
coast of South America Is demoralized.
Vessels flying the English flag which
were more numerous than all others, arc
remaining in ports, while those British
steamships which have Chilian mail car
rying contracts venture at sea only under
the protection of Gillian torpedobo s.
The correspondent for the London
Times here has been called before the
Chilian Cabinet TO explain statements
credited to him that the Chilian Govern
ment is hostile to British interests and
has facilitated the operations OF the Ger
man fleet.
This has added new sensation to that
which has stirred the city since the bait
tie of Sunday evening. Fears are ex-
pressed that complications with Great
Britain may result, but the Government
is taking every precaution to prevent
this.
LONDON, Nov. 6.-The Admiralty has
issued a statement. in which it says it
has received from German sources details
of a naval engagement off the Gillian
coast in which the British cruiser Mon
mouth was sunk and the cruiser Good
Hope severely damaged. The statement
says the Admiralty has no confirmation
OF the report
The Admiralty announces that one Of
hcer and 20 men were lost in the sink