The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-16
FLEET DESTROYED
GERMAN SHIPS GO down OFF
FALKLAND ISLANDS
Big SHIPS WIN BATTLE

Arnaments German Fleet is Sent
to Bottom One by One-Great
Britain Halls Victory as Just Re
venge for Ships Lost In Battle.
A British squadron, under Vice Ad-
riral Sir Frederick Sturdee, chief OF
the war staff, engaged a German
squadron, under Admiral Count Fon
Spec, of the Falkland Islands, in the
South Atlantic, Tuesday and won a
victory which is being acclaimed
throughout England.
London reports officially: "At 7:30
a. M. Son the Sth Of December, the
Scharnhorst, Gnesenau, Nurnberg,
Leipzig and Dresden were sighted
near the Falkland Islands.
can action followed, in the course
OF which the Scharnhorst, flying the
aag Of Admiral Count van Spec; the
Gne;senau and the Leipzig were sunk.
The Dresden and Nurnberg made OF
during the action and are being pur-
sued.
Two Golfers also were captured.
"The vice admiral reports that the
British casualties are very few in
number.
'sSole survivors have been rescued
from the Gneisenau and the Leip-
Zig"
On Thursday another statement is
sued was as follows: "a further
telegram has been received from Vice
Admiral Doyoton Sturdee reporting
that thes Nurnberg was alse sunk on
December s and that the search for
the Dresden is still proceeding"
The battle in which the Scharn-
horst, Gneisenau and Leipzig were
sent to the bottom, according to an
admiralty report, lasted five hours
with intervals. The Scharnhorst
sank In three hours and the Gneise-
nan two hours later. No loss of any
British vessel has been reported by
the admiralty.
Ruenos Aires reports: The German
cruiser Dresden, the only warship OF
Admiral Count yon Specs squadron
10 escape after the battle with the
British squadron under command Of
Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee. has
been cornered In the Straits Of Ma
gellan.
London reports: The British cas-
uait;es were light, but beyond the
fact that the British squadron was
commanded by Vice admiral Sturdee,
no information is vouchsafed regard
ing the ships engaged, and newspa-
pers are en5oined not te speculate as
'osher combination may be effected" ~
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
In London over the victory and the
general impression is that it will be
completed, rs the admiralty would
not oe likely TO send ships that could
not overtake the Dresden and Nurn-
berg, which are slew, and also at
disadvantage because OF their small
coal capacity.
The British squadron left England
without the knowledge Of the general
public, and until his name was mem
toned it was believed that Vice Ad-
mirai Sturdee was serving in home
waters. TIE fact that he was taken
from the post Of chief Of the war
staff is indicative Of the determine
ton OF tho British government to
clear the Pacific and South Atlantic
Of German warships. It is believed,
therefore, that the British command
er is at the head OF a formida Bile
squadron.
T3,a ShSs,c. IN %he Rattle
London reports: The armored
cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
and the protected cruiser Leipzig,
we're three Of the German Iarships
that had menaced British shipping,
and part Of the squadron that sank
the British cruisers Good Hope and
Monmouth in the Pacific on Novem-
Der /.
AS the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
each carried q complement OF 765
men; tho Leipzig, 26S; the Nurnberg,
322, and the Dresden, 26l, the total
German loss is estimated at not far
from 1900 men, although the actual
losses to the Dresden and Nurnberg
are not yet known.
were the largest vessels Of the Ger
man feet. They were sister ships OF
1850 tons displacement, 450 feet
on the waterline and were rated at a
mean speed Of % 1-2 knots. Each
carried q complement of 7o5 men and
was armed with eight S.2-inch guns.
SIX 5.9-inch guns, twenty 24-pound-
ers, four machine guns and four tor
pedo tubes.
The Leipzig had displacement OF
$3.50 tons and carried 2S6 men. She
was 341 feet long on the waterline.
had beam of 43 1-2 feet and was
rated at % knots. Her largest guns.
OF which she carried ten, were Al
inch. She had also ten 1-pounders.
four machine guns and two torpedo
tubes.
Buenos Aires reports: The naval
division commanded by Admiral
Sturdee is understood to include nine
warships, notably the British battle
cruisers Lion and Irdefatigable. The
cruisers Lion and Indefatigable dis
place 26,350 tons and 1880 tons re-
spectively.
The Lion was built in 1910. is $50
feet long, Sc feet beam anC has q
draft Of 80 feet. She carries eight
13.5-inch guns and sixteen 4-inch
guns, and is equipped with three 21-
inch torpedo tubes. Her complement
consists Of one thousand men and
she is capable Of travelling 2S knots
an hour.
The Indefatigable is SIS feet long
79 1-2 feet beam and 27 3-4 feet
deep. She was constructed at Daven'
port in 1911, and has a speed of &c
knots. The Indefatiga ble's armament
consist Of s 12-inch guns, 16 4-inct