Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-12-24
HOW GOOD HOPE
LOST SEA FIGHT
AdmiraIiy'S Account Of Battle
With German Squadron.
ATTACK BEGUN BY CRADOCK
Man Who Commanded Glasgow Off
Chilean Coast Declares Range Mas
Too Great For Their Guns-Wound-
ed Monmouth Soon Limped Away.
Fire on Ships Lighted Sky.

Too Great For Their Guns-Wound-
ed Monmouth Soon Limped Away.
Fire on Ships Lighted Sky.
The English admiralty has issued
the report of Captain John Luce Of the
British light cruiser Glasgow on the
battle with the German squadron off
the Chilean coast,
The Glasgow. which left Coronel on
the morning Of the day of the battle.
was advised by Rear Admiral Sir
Christopher Cradock, commander of
the British squadron. that the enemy's
ships We're to the northward. Toward
evening the Glasgow sighted smoke
and reported to Rear Admiral Cradock.
The British fleet formed in line
ahead. the Good Hope leading. with
the Monmouth, Glasgow and Otranto
following. The enemy had turned
south and were also in single line
ahead, the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
leading. Admiral Cradock signaled the
Glasgow, II am going to attack the
enemy"
1.-The enemy was at that time $4,000
yards away" says the report, "and
maintaining this range. at the same
time 'jambing' the wireless signals.
h sun was setting Immediately be-
hind the British ships, and while it re-
NAMED above the horizon the British
mad the advantage in light. but the
range was too great. When the sun
had set and the visibility conditions
were altered the British ships were
~silhouetted against the after glow, and
the failing light made the enemy diff
cult to see.
Germans Opened Fire.
The Germans opened fire at 7 O'Clock
at 10000 yards. followed in quick sue
cession by the British. The growing
darkness and heavy spray of the head
sea made firing difficult. particularly
for the main deck guns of the Good
Hope and Monmouth.
The enemy, firing salvos, got the
range quickly, and their third salvo
caused an outbreak of fire on the fore
parr of both ships. which We're con-
stantly on fire until 7:45 in the even
ing. At $50 an immense explosion
occurred on the Good Hope amidships,
the flames reaching 200 feet high. 10
tai destruction must have followed.
aft was NOW C,Jita Io,ly Doth ci1oc
continued firing at the flashes of the
opposing guns. The Monmouth was
badly down by the bow and turned
away to get her stern to the sea, sig
mailing the Glasgow to that effect.
Lose Sight of Enemy.
AT $50 the Glasgow signaled to the
Monmouth, The enemy is following
u.s. but received no reply. Under the
rising moon the enemy's ships could
be seen approaching, and as the Glas-
gov could render the Monmouth no
assistance she proceeded at full speed
to avoid destruction. At $50 we lost
sight of the enemy. At $50 we OBJ
served flashes of fire, which were
doubtless the final attack on the Mon
mouth.
Nothing could have been more ad-
mirable than the conduct Of the officers
and men throughout, although it was
most trying to receive Il great volume
Of fire without a chance Of adequately
returning it. All kept perfectly cool.
There was no wild firing. and disci.
pine was the same as at battle prac-
tice. When the target ceased to be Wis.
ible b gun layers spontaneously
ceased fire.
THE serious reverse sustained has
entirely failed to impair the spirit Of
the officers and the ships company,
and it is our unanimous wish to meet