FALKLAND ISLANDS BATTLE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 155, 5 March 1915, Page 3

FALKLAND ISLANDS BATTLE.

| ADMIRAL STURDEE'S ACCOUNT. BATTLE OPENS AT 9?. MILES. Vice-Admiral Sturdee's despatch says the Gneisenau and Nurnberg were first sighted eight miles away, and two other of the enemy 20 miles away. The Gneisenau and Nurnberg approached with their guns trained on the wireless station until the Canopus opened fire across the low land at eleven thousnad ya.rds. They seemed about tc attack the Kent, when the Invincible and the Inflexible were sighted, then they immediately altered tfreir course, and speeded away to join their consorts. The British left the harbour at 9.45. The visibility was at the maximum.. The sea was calm, and it was bright and clear with a light breeze. By 11 the enemy' funnels and bridges were just above the horizon. The Bristol and the Macedonia were detached to destroy the three transports reported at Port Pleasant. The enemy still maintaininfe- his distance, I decided to attack with the Invincible, Inflexible and Glasgow, and opened fire at 12.47 at 16,500 yards. The Leipzig turned to the south-east with the Nurnberg and Dresden. The Kent and the Glasgow followed. The battle-cruisers, chasing the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, forced them to return tlie fire at. 1.30. The enemy at 2 o'clock turned fen points to starboard, and there was a second chase until forced to open fire at 2.55, when the Scharnhcrst was afire forward. It was net serious, though the fire slackened perceptibly. She turned at 3.30 for the purpose of bringing the starbeard guns into action.

EFFECT OF BRITISH FIRE. The eii'ect of our fire was now ap parent. At times a shell would cause a laifge hole to appear in the sider, through which could be seen the dull red glow of flames. At 4 o'clock the Scharnhorst, whose flag was flying tc the last, suddenly listed heavily to pert. -Within aroinute it was clear she was doomed. The list increased very rapidly until she lay on'her beam ends and disappeared at 4-17. DETERMINED BUT INEFFECTUAL. The Gneisenau continued a effort to fight two battle-cruisers. One shell struck the Invincible at 5-15. This was the Gneisenau's last effective effort. Soon she had a heavy list to starboard, the steam pouring from escape pipes and smoke from shell fires was everywhere, I ordered the "Cease fire," but the Gneisenau re-opened with a single gun. Her flag was flying until 5-50. The Gneisenau heeled over at 8 o'clock very suddenly, showing the men gathered on her decks, then walking on her side as she lay a minute on her beam-ends.

, EFFORTS AT RESCUE. The survivors had been ordered to secure hammocks and other floatable articles. When she sunk probably there were 200 unwounded, but the shock of the cold water drowned many within sight of th. 3 boats. Every effort was made to save life. The Invincible rescued 103, but 14 were buried the following day with full military honours. SINKING THE LEIPZIG. Meanwhile the Glaspow, steaming ahead, forced the Leipzig to alter her course enabling the Cornwall to open fire. The Kent, owing to the excellent and strenous endeavours in the Nurnberg at 5 o'clock and the Nurnberg was afire at 6-3. When she sank at 7-20 a group of men stood on her deck wavirj'i, - the German ensign. The Kent lost four killed and twelve wounded, mostly caused by one shell. The Dresden escaped owing to the necessity of the Glasgow stopping the Leipzig. The weather changed at 4 o'clock to cloudy assisting the Dresden. The officers and men carried out their orders with admirable efficiency and coolness. AN HEROIC SERGENT. Sergent Mayes of the Kent, receives the conspicuous Gallantry medal. A shell burst and ignited cordite charges in a casemate. A flash of flame went down the hoist into the ammunition passage. Mayes picked up the charge of cordite and threw it away. Then he flooded the compartment, thus preventing a disaster which might have lost the ship. Prisoners state that six hundred of the Gneisenau's crew were killed and wounded when their ammunition baeame expended.