The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1914-11-07
British In
Pacific Lose
To Germans
In Fierce Engagement Oft Chill
Coast German Squadron Sinks
Cruiser and ScatterS Others
Geier Must Soon Leave.

The defeat of a squadron of British
war vessels by a German squadron, off
the coast of Chill, on last Monday
evening, is the most sensational feat
ure of this weeks war news. The
first news of the engagement reached
Honolulu on Tuesday afternoon by
cable, but was promptly censored by
the Honolulu naval censor so far as
wireless transmission of any refer
ence to the event was concerned.
Mail advices bring the following from
Valparaiso conces ming the battle:
VALPARAISO, Nov. 4.-The British
cruisers Monmouth, Good Hope and
Glasgow, conveying the transport On
tranto, were engaged and defeated by
a German squadron twenty miles off
st. Maria Island in Arauco Bay, Chile,
on Monday. The German squadron
consisted of the cruisers Scharnorst
Gneisnau, Leipzig, Nurnberg and Bre-
men.
The action lasted for an hour, dur
ing which the Monmouth was sunk,
with all on board, a hurricane pre-
venting any attempt at saving the
members of the crew. The Good Hope
was damaged, escaping in a crippled
condition, while the Glasgow and the
Ontranto put into Talcahuano harbor,
also damaged.
The Scharnorst, Gneisnau and Nurn-
berg are safe in the harbor here, while
the Leipzig and the Bremen are guard
ing the entrance of the harbor of Tai
cahuano, to prevent the escape of the
Glasgow and her convoy.
The German admiral reports that
his feet sighted the Britishcrs short
ly before dusk on Monday evening, off
st. Maria. The Germans opened fire
at 5000 meters, closing in to 5000, at
which range the eight-inch guns of the
two heavier German cruisers were
most effective. After an hours fight
ing the British attempted to escape,
the Monmouth showing signs of being
badly injured. The smaller cruisers
of the German fleet closed in upon her
and deluged her with shells from their
four-inch guns, the Britisher sinking
quickly.
The Good Hope, showing between
her tunnels the effect of the German
fire, escaped under cover of the dark.
ness. The Glasgow and the Otranto
also escaped under cover of the night,
but both are believed to be badly dam
aged.
The German damage, as reported b.
the admiral is slight The Gneisau
and the Scharnorst were both per
forated by shells, but the injuries in
| ficted are inconsequential. On the
Gneisnau only two men were wound
ed.
Geier Must Soon Leave or inferno.
The little German cruiser Geier
| which has been in Honolulu harbor
| for several weeks making repairs to
her machinery, and which seemed
likely to continue there indefinitely,
has been given a definite time when
she must put to sea or inferno for
the remainder of the war. This infor-
nation has been received from Wash
ington, but the time given the yes
sci was not stated, The Japanese,
however have a report that November
10th is the date fixed.
In the meantime the formidable Jap
| auese cruiser Hizen, has continued to
maintain her vigil outside the three
mile neutrality limit, with the avowed
intention of destroying the Geier
should she see fit to leave the harbor.
The Hizen was Joined last Sunday by
another japanese war vessel, the
cruiser Asama, and by collier. ~
Small Hope for German.
Apparently the only hope of the
Geier is in the arrival Of other Ger
man war vessels before she is forced
by the neutrality of the United States
to leave her present berth; in which
case she might have a chance to sliI
away during the engagement thai
would follow. For the Geier is ante
quated and would certainly be des
royed in short order by her powerful
adyersaries did they have the oppor
tunity. The general opinion is that