New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-11
British Fleet, Nine Strong,
Included Lion and
IndefatigabIe.
ENGAGEMENT LASTED
ABOUT FIVE HOURS
Won Spec on Way Home
When Caught-Insur-
anCe Rates Drop.


er Nurnberg, which withdrew from the
battle off the Falkland Islands last
Tuesday and attempted 20 make her
escape in company with the cruiser
Dresden while the British warships
under Nice-Admiral Sir Frederick Dove
ton Sturdee were sinking the srmored
cruisers Scharnhorst and Gncisensu
and the protected cruiser Leipzig, was
hunted across the water by units Of the
British feet and sunk the same day.
This information was contained in q
statement Of the British Official Press
Bureau to-day. The statement added
that search for the Dresden was still
proceeding. The text of the communi-
cation follows:
"A further telegram has been re-
ceived from ce-Admirsl Sir Freder-
lex Doveton Sturdee reporting that the
Nurnberg was also sunk on December
s, and that the search for the Dresden
is still proceeding.
"The action lasted for five hours, with
intervals. The Scharnhorst sank after
three hours and the Gneiserau two
hours later. The enemy's light cruisers
scattered, and were chased by our cruis-
ers and light cruisers.
"No loss Of any British vessel is re-
ported"
Expect To Get the Dresden.
Although the Official Press Bureau
says the British wsrships are still
seeking for the last one of Admiral
Count Won Specs vessels, unofficial re-
ports received in Buenos Ayres say
that the Dresden has been cornered in
the Strait Of Magellan, the tortuous
waterway leading from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific at the southernmost point
of continental South America. Whether
these reports be true or not, IT Is. be-
lieved in Admiralty circles here that
the Dresden, even though she is
somewhat faster boat than any Of those
sunk in Tuesdays battle, eventually
will be brought to action.
The impression prevails among naval
men that Admiral Count Won Spec, re-
alizing that he could no longer keep
out of touch with the British and Jap
anese fleets patrolling the Pacific, de-
cided to enter the Atlantic and make
run for home, in the hope that at
least some of his ships would get
through the British line. This move. IL
is said, was anticipated BY the Ad-
miralty, and Vice-Admiral Sturdee was
sent south TO head OF the Germans be-
fore they could get well into the Allan
tic and scatter. which would have made
their capture more difficult
The destruction of majority of the
ships Of the German squadron had an
immediate effect on insurance rates,
and the government rate for insurance
of cargoes against war risk was re-
duced to-day from two guineas TO one
and one-half guineas per cent. One
member Of Lloyds who recently had not
been accepting any business resumed
operations.
Buenos Ayres, Dec. 10.-The German
cruiser Dresden, the only warship OF
Admiral Count Won Specs squadron 70
escape after the battle with the Brit
ish squadron under command Of Ad-
miral Sir Frederick Sturdee, has been
cornered in the Straits Of Magellan,
according 90 advices obtained through
well informed circles to-day.
The naval division commanded by
Admiral Sturdee is understood TO in
clude nine warships, notably the Brit
ish battle cruisers Lion and indefauga-
Bile.
The papers Of Buenos Ayres express
qualification over the British naval
victory for the reason that II frees
commerce in the South Atlantic from
the danger Of capture and normalizes
composed Of the armored cruisers San
Martin. Pueyrredon and Garabaldi. has
been sent 10 the coast OF Patagonia.
The Nurnberg had displacement Of
3,450 tons and a complement Of 295
men. Her length on the waterline was
oO4 Ieet ana Ter Dedm ~ leet. Snc
carried ten 4.1-inch guns, eight o.
pouhders (, machine guns and two
torpedo tubes.
The Dresden has complemens OF
36l men. Her armament consists Of
ten 4.l-inch guns, eight 5-pounders and
four machine guns. She also is
equipped with six submerged II. 7-ineh
torpedo tubes. Her displacement =
3 500 tons. She is 3s7 feet long and
has a beam of 43 l-3 feet. Her speed
is about 25 knots.
The British battle cruisers Lion and
lndefatigable, reported 10 be part of
Frederick Sturdee's
squadron. displace 26.350 tons and
1880 tons respectively. The Lion
was built in 1910. is $50 feet long, s6Is
feet beam and has draft of 80 feet.
The Lion carries eight l3.5-inch guns
and sixteen 4-inch guns and IS
equipped with three 2i-inch torpedo
tubes. Her complement consists Of one
thousand men and she is capable OF
speed Of 2S knots.
The battle cruiser lndeiatigable v
SIS fee; long. 1874 feet beam and 27&
feet deep. She was constructed at
Devonport in 1911 a ] has speed Of
Hnrhr DEAD cn1tNN ,.f.-rH -.