The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-11-12
EXPECT BATTLE
IN THE PACIFIC
BIG ANGLO-JAPANEsE FLEET OF
WARSHIPS IS SEEKING GER
MAN SQUADRON THAT q
DEFEATED CRADDOCK,

London, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in
terest in the naval war has shifted
to the Pacific Ocean, where news of
a battle between the Anglo-Japan-
ese and German fleets is expected
at any moment. The British Admir-
atty and all military experts and
the foreign embassies are waiting
impatiently for the word that will
tell of perhaps the greatest naval
engagement of the war, an engage
ment which London hopes will sink
or silence all German influence in
the Pacific.
Even before the fall of Tsing-tao
the British and Japanese are known
to have dispatched several of their
fastest war ships across the Pacific
in search for the Germans.
The small German cruiser Geier
was interned at Honolulu on Satur-
day night, thus releasing the Jap
anese armoredi cruiser Hizen and a
outside the three mile limit. 1t is
possible they have started southeast
erly to join in the pursuit OF Admiral
.Grah Won Specs German squadron.
which defeated Rear Admiral Sir
C~ukaSlOpucT y .DIltISu
squadron off the Gillian coast last
Sunday evening.
A squadron of eight Japanese war
ships was at Easter Island, 1900
miles west of the Gillian coast, two
weeks ago and 1t is believed to be
closing upon Admiral Won Specs
squadron.
Two powerful Japanese battle
ships escorted the Japanese freight
steamship Azumasan Maru across
the Pacific. leaving her OFF the Cali
fornia coast. The steamship proceed
ed into San francisco. arriving there
on Saturday, and the battle ships
turned south.
Everything indicates a prearrang-
ed design for the allied fleets to
sweep the Pacific, all the vessels
working toward q point off the west
coast OF South America and driving
the Germans before them and fore
ing battle upon them.
Sees Two Japanese Warships.
A merchant vessel arriving at a
Peruvian port reported sighting two
large Japanese war ships on Friday.
Thus it will be seen that q Jap
anese squadron from Easter Island
two cruisers from Hawaii. two bait
tie ships from the California coast
and allied ships released from the
Tsingtao siege are closing In on the
Germans.
The Admiralty makes no secret
of its belief that ADMIRAL Won Spec
will meetia fate similar to that he
melted Quito Rear Admiral CraddOck
and that the S~charnhorst, the Gnei-
senau, the Brennan, the Nurnherg
and the Leipzig will fare worse than
did the British squadron which it
scattered.
Admiral. vons Spec, with the Scharn-
horst, the Gneisenau and the Nurn-
berg. hurrtedly left the harbor OF
Valparaiso several days ago, after re-
porting the defeat of the British
Valparaiso he heard that q Japanese
squadron had been seen at Easter
island and was proceeding In his de
lrection.
Removes Menace to Allies.
The interning OF thesGeier at Hon
olulu Eemoxes q small menace to the
Allies When her Commander accept
ed the alternative Of the United
States to inferno for the rest 0f the
war instead of putting to sea at mid
night on SATURDAY the Japanese
cruisers were relieved Of watching
for her.
ThesHsyaa, whichshas pursued the
Geier and her supply ship across the
ocean to Honolulu. and the other
cruiser, the Asama. which dropped
anchor q day later to share IN the
bulldog watch for the Geier will be!
important units In the force seeking
to crush German power In the Pa
cific. They coaled yesterday from the
collier Hatton. accompanying them.