Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-20
TURKISH CRUISER
DAMAGED |NF!GHT
W|THCzAR' R'SFLEET
Goeben Struck by Shell
Amidships and Serious
Explosion Occurs.
THEN DISAPPEARS INTO
FOG. STILL in FLAMES
Battle Takes Place Near Coast of
Anatolia on Wcdnes-
day.
PROBABLY DISABLED FOR WAR
One Russian Lieutenant and Nine
teen Sailors Killed Dur
ing Action.
THEN DISAPPEARS INTO
FOG. STILL in FLAMES
PROBABLY DISABLED FOR WAR
One Russian Lieutenant aud Nine
teen Sailors Killed Dur
ing Action.

Especial Gable to The Times Dispa tch. ]
PETROGItAD. November l9.-Thc
cruiser Goebcn, OF the Turkish, navy.
was damaged by an explosion caused
by n shell which struck her amidships
during n nava! battle with "a division
of the Russian Black Sea ncet and set
aHrc. according to an official report
by the Ministry OF Marine. The cipc-
ben nrd into tho fog and disappeared.
stu in flames accompanied by the
cruiser Brcslau. The battle occurred
on November Is, near tho coast OF
Anatolia. First news OF the engage
mcnt MAS given in an official state
ncnt issued By the Russian Ministry
of Marine TODAY.
Tho official narrative OF the on
counter relates that on November is
a division Of tho Black Sea fleet which
was returning from a cruise u Sebas-
iopol, sighted. twcnty-nvc miles cas-;
OF the Bhcrsoncs light. Turkish de-
tachment Of warships consisting OF the
Goebcn and the Brcslau
The Russian ships. Immediately. upon
sighting the two former German war
ships, and recognizing them as the
raiders whose activities brought Tur-
key Into the war, drew up In battle
lau to starboard. Tho Russian ships
opened iir,, following the motions of
the taEship. the Admiral .I;ystafrv
The initial, salro from the twelve INCL
battery of the flagship struck the Coo
ben amidships. .tn explosion was
caused as a result OF the Evstafry's
hits, and The f;oeb"n immediately broke
into names on her port side. amidships
Tho Gocben WAS slow to reply. and
as tho range WAS close. there could bc
seen Oh her decks scenes OF great con-
fusion
OTIiEI, EXIr.OSIONs
FOLLOW ON GOEBEN
Goeben. still the reply of tlf. German
cruiser was not effective. Evidently
the enemy's ships were not prepared
for action on such short notice.
Finally the German gunners on both
tho I'reslau and the Goeben got their
big guns into action. and opened with
saivos against the Hagship, which they
seemed determined to disable. None of
their shots were directed at the ac-
campaigning units of the Russian fleet.
despite the fact that all these Russian
warsh!ps Were firing into tho two
Turks
The battle lasted forty minutes,
when OF a sudden the Goeben vecred OF
and withdrew. disappearing I'm the fog
The Rreslau followed. The Russian di-
vision took up the pursuit. but the
speed OF the enemS's ships Was too
great. and the chase had to slacken
UP. One russian lieutenant and nine
teen sailors were killed and five sailors
were slightly wounded. according to
the official statement
The belief In official circles is that
the Goebcn was SO badly disabled, even
IL she survives the effect of the explo-
sions and the fire aboard her that she
Will he out OF commission for the rest
Of tho war.
The official statement lauds the
Workmanship OF the Russian gunners.
declaring they gave an excellent ac-
count of themselves.