The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
GERMAN CRUISERS
 SUNK BY BRITISH
 FOUGHT ID THE END
First Detailed Account of Naval Battle Off Falkland Islands-The German
 Squadron Was Small

Buenos Ayres, Argentine, December l1. The German cruisers sunk off the Talk land Islands December 8 apparently were taken unawares by the British at time when neither side was expecting an en- counter. First detailed accounts of the battle, which reached here today from Puerto Gallegos, Patagonia, say the Ger mans were on their way to seize the Falk- land Islands, British possessions, when they came unexpectedly upon lone Brit ish warship. Other members of the Brit isl fleet. which were taking on supplies from the islands. quickly closed in and the fate of Admiral Won Specs squadron soon was sealed
 Tho story of the battle was told by pas senGers on the British steamer orissa, which arrived at Punta Arenas from Call lao, Chile. They say that the Germans i Hers refusing to surrender. Losses of the
 British were placed at eight men. Formidable Squadron It was a formidable British squadron | which faced the Germans. Included in it were the battleship Canopus the battle l cruisers Invincible and Infiexible and the cruisers Kent. Cornwall. Carnarvon, Bris- tol and Glasgow. The German squadron | consisted of the five crusers-Sharnhorst Geisenaau, Leipsiz, Nurnberg and Dres- l den.
 l The British squadron arrived at Port | Stanley, Falkland Islands, December 2 to take on supplies. The next morning the | Canopus, guarding the entrance to the port, sighted a hostile warship. Four others quickly came into view and were
 recognized as the squadron of Admiral
 yon Spec The German warships had left
 the Chilean islands of Juan Fernanez Mo- veEber 15 to take possession of the Falk- | land islands and destroy the wireless sta | ton.
 l Only the Canopus was visible at first to the Germans and they steamed straight
 at her. The Canopus opened fire and the
 other British warships rushed to her as- | sistance.
 l The Scharnhorst, Kneisenau and Leipsiz
 formed in battle line and the Nurnberg
 and Dresden dropped back.
 Concentrate Fire 1 The British concentrated their fire on 1 the Scharnhorst, Admiral yon Spee's flag | ship. When 1t became evident that she was doomed her crew assembled on the | forward deck. The Scharnhorst refused
 to surrender. and after an hours fight ing plunged beneath the waves. The crew l pr eserved its formation as the ship went | down. and they cheered as the waters | closed about them.
 The Glasgow engaged the l4eipsiz and l sank her. The Gneisenau went down sd
 miles from Port Stanley. The Nurnberg | attempted to escape. but after a pursuit of two hours was sunk The Carnarvon pursued the Dresden. but was not swift enough to overhaul her and the German l washp escaped
 ] After the battle the British picked ur 1ss Germans, inclutiing few officers. of
 these 100 were from the crews of the two German colliers. An opportunity to sur render was offered the colliers, but it was refused and they were sunk.
 1 The cruiser Cornwall was damaged | slightly below the water line. None of the other British warships were damaged. On December 10 funeral services were
 held by the squadron for tho eight Brit ish sailors killed.
 1 The British admiralty report of the bat 1 tie stated that only seven men of the Brit l ish squadron lost their lives. | -e.-