THE GOEBEN'S ESCAPE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2371, 29 January 1915, Page 5

THE GOEBEN'S ESCAPE

THE GLOUCESTER IN A TIGHT CORNER. The "Western Daily Mercury," Plymouth, has received further details of; the engagement between H.M.S. Glou-"' cester and the Goeben and Breslau ins the Mediterranean. At the outset of hostilities the Glou« cester was ordered to lie in wait for the Goebeu and Breslau,. which warships were known to bo in the neigh- ■; bourhood of ■ the Straits of Messina,'' and if she found them to shadow them. : One night she saw the two vessels coming out, and set off to follow them. , Both German vessels being more heavily armed than the Gloucester, she : did not attack thorn, but shaped her course to keep them in view in the' expectation that reinforcements would \ arrive in tho morning. J. During the night the Breslau sud-' denly stopped, and after firing several, torpedoes at the Gloucester, disappear--, el in another direction. At daybreak' the Gloucester found herself in an uncomfortable position between tho two Germans, and no sight of any help ar-. riving, Captain Kelly decided to try? conclusions with the Breslau. Six shots \ somo of which found ..thoir mark werej fired, tho Breslau replying, but with-; out effect excopt slight damage to one. ot tho Gloucester's cutters. By this time the Goeben had been drawing in and oponed firo, but hen shots were short. Ad-j miral was communicated with-by wireless to the effect that, tho Gloucester was in action, and shortly after the Gloucester drew off,'as it was'-impos-sible for her to engage both tho enemy's ships at once. The engines were pufr'.at full speed, and by some remarkableseamanship tho Gloucester managed to* throw - off her opponents."- —~ ■ ; Captain Kelly's coolness when, in action and ability during"(ho "retirement'.: wero admirable:- When the vessel was being fired on during the: night she avoided all the torpedoes by .steerine a zig-zag course, thus making the ship a most difficult target: Opinions appear to differ as to tho extent of the damage to tho Breslau, for the range was so wide that it'was impossiblo"to see ' properly what had happened. Howovcr, i ono shot appeared to land on the qunrterdeck, while other obviously did a lot of damage.to /" "