Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-10
TWO GERMAN SHIPS
CAUGHT AND SUNK

Continued from Page One
the South Atlantic, are pursuing the
Nurnberg and the Dresden, which es-
capped. although damaged, after the battle.
It Is officially stated that the scharn-
horst, the Gneisenau and the Leipzig were
sent to the bottom and the loss II life
is estimated at 1000 men and officers.
Thus does Britain avenge the loss in
the South Pacific on November 1 of the
Good Hope and the Monmouth, with Rear
Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock and the
men OF the two cruisers.
The announcement OF the victory was
accompanied by an injunction to news
papers to forego discussion of the possi-
bic formation OF the British squadron
since "other combinations may be effect
ed"
NINE SHIPS IN PURSUIT.
There are believed TO have been nine
warshIps in the British fleet under Vice
Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee, which de-
feated the German feet under Admiral
Graf Won Spec in the South Atlantic off
Falkland Islands on Tuesday. with the
loss OF nearly 1000 lives.
The battleship Canopus, which arrived
too late TO take part In the engagement
of Chill on November 1. when two Eng
lish cruisers were sunk. is believed to
have played part in the sinking of the
German hrmored cruisers Scharnhorst.
Gneisenau and Leipzig. -s.
The CRnopus, however, Is relatively
slow ship, her best recent speed being
but 1876 knots while OF the German
squadron the GnelBenau had n speed OF
24.s knots; the scharnhorst, 2l knots; the
Leipzig, 3.7 knots, and the Dresden and
Nurnberg, which escaped, about 25 knots
each.
SISTER SHIPS ENGAGED.
Although the Admiralty has remained
silent on the composition OF Vice Admiral
Sir Frederick Sturdee's feet It Is under
stood that among the other ships en-
gagged against the Germans were the
cruisers shannon, Minotaur and Defence,
These three are sister ships of 1850 tons
displacement but they are rated at from
2l.5 to 231 knots Unless the German
ships are so foul. a result OF long
service In tropical waters, that their speed
has been greatly reduced, these Britishers
will have some difficulty in oyerhauling
the Dresden and Nurnberg.
The British, however, probably have
still faster cruisers In the South Atlantic,
II Is not unlikely that one OF these is the
Invincible, rated at 2s.6 knots. and with
a displacement OF 1880 tons, which was
reported to have left her home base some
time ago.
GERMAN MERCHANTMEN SUNK.
The Buenos Aires dispatch adds;
"a wireless message 10 the Ministry of
Marine from the commander OF the Argen-
A.. n.
that three German merchantmen were
sunk by either British or japanese mem
Of-war on the coast OF Terra Del Fuego
at the southern extremity OF South Amer
lea, on Sunday. There were five armored
ships and a transport in the feet. One
OF the German ships was sunk In the
roadstead OF Pieton Sunday morning and
the other two were sent TO the bottom
Sunday evening outside the harbor OF
Plantation, One OF the steamships be-
longed 10 the Cosmos Line"
Rejoicing over the victory swept
through the British Isles like wildhre.
and today Vice Admiral Sir Frederick
sturdee was acclaimed as the national
hero OF the hour, Warm tributes 20 the
British navy were paid by the press
and many buildings were decorated
with fiags In honor Of the signal vic
tory.
According TO the Admiralty none OF
the British ships suffered severe dam
age from German shells and the cas-
ualties in the English fleet were light.
Naval experts say that the victory Is
another tribute TO the master seaman
ship OF the British nayigators. the
pluck OF the officers and sailors and
the accuracy OF the gunners.
In addition 10 the Dresden and the
RuFnberg only two German warships are
now unaeeounted for In those waters
the Karlsruhe and the strassburg-al-
though strong rumors have reached Lon
don that the Won der Tam also Is In the
South Atlantic. Also there may be one
or two armed merchantmen which the
Allies have not rounded up.