South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-12
CRAD0CK' s FLEET
FOUGHT BRAVELY
Though 0utnumbered by Ger
man Ships, the British
Speed to Attack.
By G. Ray spencer.

BY &. Ray spencer.
international News Service:
An angry sun is setting down in
the west. The coast OF Chile is
pounded by a heavy sea and "a
mighty gale is blowing down from
the north.
OF the island of Santa Maria on
this Sunday afternoon in November.
1914. grim. gray fleet is speeding
in lire abreast down the Chilean
coast. This fleet. by a strategical
stroke. has concentrated from all
points of the compass. IL flew the
German naval ensign and repre-
sented the only German high seas
fleet in being outside Of Kiel
The armored cruisers Scharn-
horst and Gneisenau and the small
cruisers Nurnberg, Dresden and
Leipsic are laying long streams Of
wind worried smoke as they buffet
their way southwark.
The lookouts suddenly ring furi-
ously 70 the decks and report an
enemy feet making south TO north
and rapidly bearing down. This was
at a little past i'm the evening. The
fleet is made out 70 be British. Com
posing the group are the cruiser
Monmouth. the light cruiser Glas-
cow and the armed steamship OF
ranto
The small British fleet is navigat-
ing it's course with a view TO meet
ing the Good Hope. a battle cruiser
of the line. with Rear Admiral Sir
Christopher Cradock on board. 1t
was this officer who represented
Great Britain at the American oc-
cupation of Vera Cruz.
CradocI's Signals to Attack.
AS the fleets sight each other the
English squadron changes its course
from south to north 70 south TO the
coast. probably 10 gain territorial
waters and avoid a disadvantageous
engagement. The German ships
commanded by Admiral Count Won
Spec. seeing the manoeuvre, if gain
ed would benefit the English, passed
between them and the coast TO force
the fight At the same time the
Germans altered their formation
from line abreast to line in file, the
ScharnhOrst leading, followed by the
Gneisenau and the smaller units. At
this moment the Good Hope is sight
ed approaching from the west at
full speed She is able 70 place her
self in line with her compapions
and straightaway breaks the famous
signal Of Admiral Cradock, Il am
going TO attack the enemy"
Sir Christopher Ctadock, stepped
! in the traditions Of Nelson. Colling-
wood and Rodney, deemed it the
! duty of a British admiral TO close
with the enemy when found and re-
" upon the skill. seamanship and
bravery Of British seamen for the
issue.
The two fotillas following almost
parallel lines. steamed toward the
south, the Germans between the
English and the coast and nosing
closer every moment.
Germans tire First.
At $50 the officer at the Scharn-
horst's telexmetre reported the dis
lance from the Good Hope as TO-
800 metres.
At 6:32 the Scharnhorst and Gnei-
| senau fired the first, salvO, two for
/ ward guns, two starboard and two
| stern guns. The fire was concen-
trated on the Good Hope. The Ger
mans continued fcing y simultan-
/ eous volleys in the same manner at
5000 metres.
The Good Hope could not at first
reply on account Of the heavy seas.
I For a time the German shots fell
wide for the same reason. As the
/ Germans edged nearer and nearer
and the distance was reduced 10
! 5000 metres. the Good Hope began
/ 10 reply. but could only utilize two
I nine-inCh guns. Her six-inch guns
were on such a low line that they
/ We're rendered useless by the gale.
! The storm. too, was rushing the
smoke from the German tunnels di-
rectlv against the British, and the
/ German manoeuvres had placed the
English against the crimson sun
shining through from the lowerine
clouds thus making them an ideal
/ target.
Flagship Damaged.
After the Good Hope had fired
three volleys q German proiectile
struck her tower. Fire followed and
Obliged her 20 cease firing. The
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