South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-14
Germans Forced Naval Battle
in Pacific Ocean Which Ended
in Loss of Kaiser's Cruisers

Gneisenau fred the first salvo. two
forward guns Tie fire was cOnCen-
trated on the Good Hope. The Ger
mans continued firing - simultaneous
VolleyS in the same manner at 10000
meters. The Good Hope could not at
tirst reply on account Of the heavy sea.
For a time the German shots fell wide
for the same reason. The opposing
forces continued steaming from north
TO south but the Germans followed
more TO the southwest When the dis
tance was reduced to about 5000
meters the Good Hope began TO reply,
but could only do SO with two 9-inCh
guns Her eight 6-inch guns were on
such a low line that they were rem
dered useless by the gale.
After the Good Hope had fred
three Volleys a German projectile
struck her tower. Fire followed and
obliged her TO cease firing. The Good
Hope turned to the starboard. and the
Monmouth came forward TO cover her
and take up the fight The distance
was reduced TO 5000 meters. The
German ships were able TO use both
six and eight-inch guns
Now the contest was between the
Monmouth and the Glasgow, and their
four adVerSaries. The OtrantO lay fur
ther out TO sea damaged. Two OF
the German armored cruisers con
-
guns on the Monmouth. At the first
broadside four shots went home. The
second broadside hOled the Monmouth
and stopped her fire. She then fOun-
dered after the Scharnhorst. with two
more shots. completed the ruin.
English Gunnery Poor.
THE English gunnery. according TO
the Germans, was poor. The Mon
mouth only was able to get a shot be
tween the two forward guns of the
Cneisenau Some damage was done
by another shell from the Monmouth
which penetrated the interior cabin,
but did not explode. When the Mon
mouth went down the opposing forces
were at q distance of 4, 500 meters.
Up to this time the German ad-
miTal was engaged in getting nearer
the enemy Dominating by the good
fire from the first he gave up the idea
of using tOrpedoes, but had sunk the
Monmouth he feared the Good Hope
or the Glasgow might endeavOr to tor
pedo him. He therefore changed his
course slightly TO get nearer the coast,
az the same time keeping up a hot fire
on the remaining British vessels. The
Glasgow damaged soon sheered Off
THE Good Hope, hit by more shells.
began to burn seriously. \ big eX-
plosion was heard and the vessel turn
ed toward the west This was at 1:14
p. m. when the Good Hope was at n
distance of $500 meters.
Good Hope Disappears.
Might had almost completely fallen
and the Good Hope disappeared into
obscuritY. Admiral Spec detached
the Nurnberg to search for the Good
Hope, but could find neither vessel
nor Indication of her having founder
ed.
During the night the Germans in
tercepted wireless messages from the
Glasgow calling the Coop Hope, 10
which there was no reply. The Ger
mans made no attempt to save the sur
vivOrS of the Monmouth, as il was inn
possible to launch boats An officer
of the Gneisenau said they fred go
shots from their heavy guns and 40 hit
the enemy The conditions were all
against the English-the storm. un-
favorable conditions for navigation
and practical inferiority of the guns"