The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-30
CAUGHT UNAWAREs
GERMAN FLEET BBoUGBT ABOUT
Fight At FALKLAND ISLANDS
RAN In TO seize Prize

Ran In TO seize PRIZE |
Seeing Lone British Ship Patrolling
Harbor Where Fleet Was Coa1ing
German Warships Dashed Towards
Her, Expecting to Find Easy Prey
Big Cruisers Rushed iato Battle.
The British squadron which sank
that Of Admiral Won Spec of the
Falkland Islands on December went
into action Unexpectedly and so short
of coal that some of them had to-
burn their boats and everything else
combustible that could be spared, &C.
cording to details of the battle fur
uished by the captain Of the British
steamship Orissa, which arrived at
Punta Arenas from the Falklands
Thursday.
On the other hand, the German
ships, which apparently were bent on
seizing the islands and destroying the
wireless station, blundered into
fatal trap in the belief that they had
cornered the Canopus, the only vessel
Of the late Admiral Cradock's squad
ron they had not engaged.
"On the afternoon Of the 7th,f -
said the Orissa's captain, "an Eng
lish squadron arrived at Port Stan
ley, Falkland Islands, to take on coal
and supplies. It was commanded by
Admiral Sturdee and consisted of the
battleship Canopus, the battle cruis-
ers Invincible and InAexible, and the
cruisers Kent, Cornwall, Carnaryon,
Bristol, and Glasgow. The squadron
was bound for the Pacific.
"On the morning Of the 9Th, while
some of the ships we're in Port Stan
ley taking on supplies and others
| were similarly busy at neaghboring
islands, the Canopns cruised outside
the harbor at Port Stanley on guard
duty. The crew Of the battleship
| made out warship nearing the bay.
A few minutes later they deserted
four more ships of the German
squadron, commanded by Vice Ad-
miral Won Spec and composed Of the
armored cruisers Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau, and the cruisers Leipzig,
Nurnberg and Dresden. This divi-
sion had lett the Chilean islands OF
Juan Fernandez November Is, head
ing for Cape Horn and the Faiklands.
apparently the plan of the German
ships was to seize the islands and
destroy the wireless station.
Seeing only the Canopus cruising
along the coast, Admiral Won Spec
must have assumed that she was
alone and he promptly disposed his
squadron to cut off the battleship's
escape. The Canopus began the ac-
ton as the Germans closed in. In a
short while, however, the other Brit
ish vesselsc came around both sides
of the island at full speed and belch-
ing dense clouds Of smoke. The
Germans realized that instead OF
trapping the Calopus, they them
selves had been trapped.
"The Scharnhorst, Gneiserau and
Leipzig formed in line of battle, while
the Nurnberg and Dresden made of,
in an attempt to get beyond the range
of the British ships. Soon terrific
duel was on between the heavy cal
fber guns, splendid weather contri-
buting to the accuracy Of the shoot
ing.
"The Glasgow at once engaged the
Leipzig, and after a running fight
sent her to the bottom. Meanwhile
the other vessels devoted their atten-
ton to the Scharnhorst, which was
flying Admiral Won Specs flag, and
the Gaeisenau. TIE Scharnhorst
lsank after stubborn resistance last
ing nearly an hour, her flag stiH fly
ing, and with the survivors of heI
crew drawn up in the bow. She had
refused to surrender. The Gneise-
lnau made a desperate effort to es.
cape and had been battered into
| helpless wreck when she foundered
two hours after the fight began. The
Nurnberg was oyertaken eighty miles
from Port Stanley and quickly sunk
1.-THE Carnarvon went after the
Dresden, but was unable to overtake
her. A transport that accompanied
the German squadron also got away
The Golfers, refusing to surrender
were sunk after their crews, consist.
ing of 100 men, had taken to the
boats and been picked up.
Throughout the action the British
ships were short of coal, and used
their boats and everything else avail
able for fuel. The Cornwall was
damaged slightly below the water
line, but the remainder of the ships
were unscathed. The total casualtios
are reported to have been only eight
men killed and four wounded. On
the morning Of the 10th the funeral
Of the eight dead was held. Com
lmanders, officers. and men Of the fee
were present and the ships had their
flags at half mast"
The British admiralty report Of the
battle stated that only seven men OF
the British squadron lost their lives