Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-18
STORY OF WAR IS
BAD FOR ENGLISH
Commander S Account
Shows Gross BIundering
On His Part



. correspondent Of the United Press.)
New York, Nov. 1S.-Although Nov
ember l was the date on which Admiral
Won Specs quintet of German fighting
vessels defeated and partly destroyed
Admiral. Craddock's British cruiser
squadron off the Chilean coast, the
story of the battle has but Just reached
England in an official report from the
captaino the Glosgow, one Of the
British ships engaged.
This report made sorry reading for
Englishmen, meaning, as it does, that
the British commander under estimated
his enemy and allowed himself to be
outmaneuvered.
To the British public the report from
the Glasgow's commander undoubtedly
would cause far graver uneasiness If the
censor had permitted publication in
England Of the story of the dread
nought Audacious destruction. Naval
laundering such as had been thought
impossible on the part of the highly
trained Officers Of the British fleet is
inevitably sggested hv these disasters.
Campus Out In II.
The mystery concerning the fate Of
the British battleship Canopus is in.
ferentially cleared by the report from
the Glasgow. The report saws that Ad.
miral Craddock sicnalled to the Can.
opus ''I am going to attack the
enemv.'
This message must have been sent nv
wireless and the apparent meaning is
that the Canonus. which was attached
to Admiral Craddock's squadron and
shonld have given aim an offensive
snnerioritv over the Germans. was some
distance away either delayed bv hiqh
seas or ENGAGED in scouting for the
enemv'c ships in different direction
Instead Of delaying the battle until he
was Joined bv the hnttleship. with II,
10 inch guns, Craddock showed fight
Immediately.
German Ships Swiftest
OF course the question arises as tc
whether the Germans would have
awaited the Canopus' arrival. There
was not one of their vessels which could
not make better time, by several knots
than the British battleship. Would mol
Won Spec have escaped without diff
ficulty If Craddock had delayed7 HI
might, but the question is strategic
one. A heavily armored battleship hav
ing joined his squadron, II was Grad
docks problem to catch the Germans
under such circumstances that he coult
make use Of its heavy artillery.
II was also Won Spec problem Il
come upon the British cruisers when tn,
! I'onn11fu. nhnnnk a.,I l., ke
ceeded. Having been taken at such
disadvantage, it would seem TO hav,
been Craddock's business to have re
tired He had been given the Canopu
to make use Of its superior guns. VIII,
should he have engaged the Germans n
a time, when this superiority was lack
ing--when, indeed, the Germans wer
superior to his own forcel
Was outmaneuvered
Admiral Craddock's reputation as
naval commander was high, yet he di,
not only rush into an engagement
against the heavier German artillery
but he also allowed himself to be out
Unanswered concerning so important
matter as the rapidly disappearin
light. Won Spec IS report mentioned tn
Germans success In covering the BIRTHS
with their backs to the light. sTh
Glasgow report confirms this, admittin
that the British ships were silhouette
against the sunset, while It was dii
fieult for their own gunners to see tn
Germans.
As final strategic blow, the Gel
mans began "iamming" the atmt
, sphere with their wireless, apparentI
to prevent Cradlock from summonin
the Canopus while the battle was !
progress,
p The entire affair was deplorable frol
G the standpoint of British naval prestig