The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-11-07

, transport Otranto, which escaped de
struction, survived the damage suffered
is not known. The whereabouts alst
Of the German cruisers Leipzig and Bre
men remains in doubt.
Further details of the first really inn
portant naval battle of the war became
known from statements made by Ger
man officers. The latter did not hest
tate to commend the bravery OF the
Britishers in the uneven combat and in
timated that. an effort to save lives
would have been made if the weather
had permitted.
he engagement was fought in the
teeth of norther that assumed almost
hurricane proportions. Small boats
could not have lived in the sea. The
heavy weather initiated against the
large ships and the Good Hope found
her guns almost useless because of the
ships roll.
The German China fleet, the cruisers
Scharnhorst, Gnesenau and the Nurn-
berg, had rejoined the cruisers Leipzig
and Bremen, which latter had been de-
tached to patrol the coast north Of Val
paraiso. The units proceeded southwark,
apparently well aware of the rendez-
vous of the British off Conception bay.
At the same time the British cruisers
Monmouth and Glasgow, accompanied by
the transport 0tranto, moved north to
meet the flagship Good Hope. The Brit
ishers evidently were not aware of the
proximity of the Germans and they met
off Coronel
II was 6 o'clock Sunday night when
the Germans sighted the three British
ships. The latter attempted to alter
their course, evidently with an inten-
ton TO approach the coast and gain ter
ritorial waters and so avoid an unequal
match. The Germans, however, headed
them off and forced the battle.
At the moment that the German guns
were trained, the Good Hope was seen
coming at full speed and through good
seamanship she managed to Join the
ether British ships. The Britishers had
come about and the two squadrons sailed
southwark in parallel lines, the Germans
being nearer the coast. Gradually the
two lines came nearer to each other
end the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sim
let 90 their ~ eight-inch |
guns, which they concentrated on the !
Good Hope. The firing continued for |
several minutes without damage The |
German shots fell short and the Good |
Hope had such a roll that she could |
not reply. The smaller cruisers were
far out Of range.
Slowly the sea fighters drew in nearer
and when the two units We're but 5000 /
yards apart the Good Hope fired her
two nine-inch guns. She was still unable
to use her eight eight-inch guns, which.
on the gun deck. were SO near the wa
terline that as the vessel rolled they
we're almost awash.
A terrible broadside from the Scharn-
1orst and Gneisenau crippled the British
flagship and her engines stopped. The
Monmouth, recognizing the distress of
ler companion, made a dash to cover
The Good Hope, but by that time the
distance separating the two squadrons
lad been reduced to 5000 yards. and
he Germans were able to bring all their
hips into action and 10 use all the guns
# the five vessels These were directed
irst against the Monmouth, Glasgow
nd Otranto. The Otranto, badly dam A..
ged, escaped in the gathering darkness ,
nd soon afterward was followed by the !
ilasgow, which also had been put out Of ,
ction bnt continued apparently sea {
rorthy
The five German ships continued their /,
tack on the Monmouth and Good Hone !
util in few minutes the former sunk. / r
y this time only $500 yards separated
he fighters
The Good Hone badly damaged. hung
n until an explosion occurred on board
er. She withdrew 10 the westward at
80 O'Clock. A. she disappeared flames :,
ere seen on board her. Whether her j
.ew was able 20 stop the fire, OF II the !,
lplosion sunk her, Is not known. The =
smes died down and she was not seen !,
rain.
The Nurnlerg searched until day-
teak for the wounded ship. when the
erman officers concluded she had been i
- with an her crew Tho only trace y
.und 81 the Britishers was IN the wire. &
s. message in which TIE Glasgow called :,
1successfuliv for the faRshin.
u was impossible % save any Of TIE 4
pw Of the Monmouth a. the Germans I
Md not put over their small boats in Z
e fare ~ tho gale and the Monmouth
I'D not have lowered her beats.
Contrary r. fret reports the Glas.
- f8 not reach Corenel - Taiea -
ian. ~ "a the Oraut8 nnf Chilean =
Ff The GcrmHn feet with the ~ 4
ption of tbs Leipzig Hn8 prrmrn. ST. 4.
rrttuE n here saiie8 aeafn Wefnas-
lf thar bad ans wgr1 ~ ere tnip-
: and Hrerran thrF 80 not make Il
.0ur The transport Fruz Etd a.
a~aa Fl titn tsar 81 nHneatiur night