Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-18
GERMAN SAILORS CHEER
AS WATERS COVER THEM
Crew on Won speas FJsgslip Pre-.
serves Formation. as Doomed
Vessel Goes Down.
ALL REFUSE TO SURRENDER
Kaiser's Cruisers, Sunk OF Falkland
Islands OH December 8, Taken Un-
awares by British at Time When
Neither Side Expects Encounter.

BUENOS AIRES. December 1.-THE
German cruisers sunk off the FallS-
land Islands on December S. apparently
were taken unawares by the British at
time when neither side was expect
Ing an encounter. First detailed ac-
counts of the battle. which reached
here to-day from Puerto Gallegos.
Patagonia. say the Germans were on
their way to seize tho Falkland
Islands, British possessions when they
came uneXpectedly upon n lone British
warship. Other members of the Brit
ish neet which were taking on sun
plies from tho islands. quickly closed
In. and the fate Of Admiral von Specs
squadron soon was sealed
The story of the battle was told by
passengers on the British steamer
0rissa, which arrived at Punta Arena
from Callao. Chile. They say that the
Germans fought bravely to the end.
even the colliers refusing to surrender
Losses of the British were placed at
eight men.
II was a formidable British squadron
which faced the Germans. Included In
IT we're the battleship Canopus. the bat
tie cruisers Invincible and Infiexible
and the cruisers Kent Cornwall, Car
narvon. Bristol and Glasgow The Ger
cruisers Scharnhorst. Gneisenau, Leip-
zig, Nurnbcrg and Dresden.
The British squadron arrived Mt Port
STANLEY. Falkland Islands. on December
10 to take on supplies. The next morn
ing the CanopuS, guarding the entrance
10 the port. sighted a hostile warship
Four others quickly came Into view
and were recognized as the squadron
of Admiral Won Spec. The German
wnrshtps had left the Chilean Islands
or Juan Fernandez on November Is to
take possession of the Falkland Islands
and destroy the wireless station.
OTHER wARsHIPs RUSH
TO AID OF CANOpITS
Only the Canopus was visible Mt first
to the Germans. and they steamed
straight at her. The Canopus opened
lire ana me other British warships
rushed to her assistance
The Scharnhorst, Gnelsenau and Leip-
zig formed in battle line and the
NurnbcrS and Dresden dropped back
The British concentrated their fire
on the ScharnhOrst. Admiral Won Spee's
iaEship. When it became evident that
she was doomed. her crew assembled
on the forward deck. Tho Scharnhorst
refused to surrender. and, after an
hours lighting. plunged beneath the
waves The crew preserved its forma-
tion as the ship went down. and cheered
as the waters closed about them
The Glasgow engaged the Leipzig
and sank her The Gneiscnau went
down eighty miles from Port Stanley
The Nurnberg attempted to escape, hut
after pursuit OF two hours was sunk
Tho Cnrnarvon pursued the Dresden
but was not swift enough to overhaul
her.
After the battle, the British picked
up 1874 Germans. including a few Of
hcers. OF these. 100 were from the
crews OF TIT. two German colliers. An
opportunity to surrender was offered
tho Golfers. but 1t was refused, and
they were sunk.
Tho cruiser Cornwall was damaged
slightly below the water line None OF
the other british warahips was dam
aged.
On December 10 funeral services
were held by tho squadron for the
eight British sailors killed
The British admiralty report OF the
battle stated that only seven mon of
the British squadron lost their lives.