NAVAL DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 9 November 1914, Page 5

NAVAL DISASTER

BRITISH SHIPS vBEATEX IK THE PACIFIC. PARTICULARS OF \ ALPARAISO FIGHT. BRITISH SHIP SUNK, AND ONE DISABLED. THE KARLSRUHE'S CAPTURES. A GERMAN* CRUISER TORPEDOED. London, November (I. ; A heavily censored story of the naval action has been received from New York. The Germans state that they sighted three British ships at six o'clock in the evening, and were forced into an engagement. Directly the German guns i were trained they saw the Good Hope j approaching at full speed. By good sea manship she joined the British vessels. The two squadrons steamed south, the Germans being nearer the coast. They gradually approached each other. The Germans' first shot fell short. When the two squadrons were COOA yards apart the Good Hope fired her nine inchers. A broadside from the Scharnliorst and Gneisenau crippled the Good Hope, and her engines were stopped. The .Monmouth made a dash to cover her, but the distance between the squadrons being reduced to 5000 yards the Germans were able to bring all their ships into action. They concentrated their fire upon the Monmouth until she sank. The slaps were now U.TOO yards apart. ;The Good Hope hung on until an explosion occurred, and then .she withdrew westward at 7.30 p.m. Flames were seen as she disappeared. The Nurnberg searched for wounded until daybreak, but was unable to launch her boats.

Valparaiso, November fi. 'Admiral von Spec, commander of the German squadron, states that the fisrlit, near Santa 'Maria Island J2SQ miles south of Valparaiso) lasted one hour in the dark. The Good Hope lied. An explosion was seen between licr funnels. It is supposed that the Glasgow was not badly damaged and escaped in the darkness. It was impossible to assist the Monmouth's crew owing to the storm. While sinking the Monmouth tried to ram the enemy. London, 'November (i.

Official. —Early in the action the Good Hope arid Monmouth were afire, but fought till dark. The Good Hope exploded and foundered. The Monmouth haaletl off, anil it is believed she is ashore. The Glasgow escaped after lighting (lie Leipzig and Dresden. The Olnsgow wan not seriously damaged, and there were few casualties. The Canopus and Otrauto did not participate in the lighting. The (Times states that a British submarine torpedoed the Yorek when returning from tit.- East Coast raid. (The Yorek was an amored cruiser of IXJ.'iO tons.) | A quantity of explosives were found | aboard the "hospital'' ship Ophelia, I cabled on (letober 20. Fifty of tin; officers and eivw were landed at Gravcsi end and scut to a. concentration cam]), i Most of tile sailors' hats bore destroyers' ; names.

Houlder's steamer La Cormitine has not been heard of for a month. Possibly she i-; a victim of the Dresden, which was recently u!f the Atlantic coast of iSoutU America. The La Corrontine 1 carried two 4.1 gnns. The passenger liberated from the Karlsruhe states that she has live wireless scouts providing her with news. The Canary Islands are the centre of the German wireless system. British patrols captured several fishing vessels in the North Sea carrying pigeons for the. dispatch of messages to Germany signalled from the English coast. The mine sweeper Mary was destroyed by a mine in the North tSca. Eight were drowned.

According to the Calcutta Englishman the cruiser Cumberland captured eight Woermann and one HamburgAmerica 1ir.03 in the Cameroons River, 'West Africa.

Captain !Nciiscn, of the Eohilla, gave evidence,at the inquest that the vessel struck, a mine and was vitally injured. She was run ashore to save life. The verdict was that the vessel struck something before grounding.

AX ADMIRALTY REPORT. Wellington, Last. Night. The following cable has been received by the Premier from the High Commissioner:— The Admiralty lias received trustji worthy information of the action on the Chilian coast. During November Ist the Good Hope, Monmouth, and Glasgow came up with the Seliarnborst, Gneisenau, Leipzig, and Dresden. Both squadrons were steaming south in a stifong i wind and considerable, sea.

The German squadron declined aetion until sunset, when the light gave it an important advantage. The action lasted an hour. Early in the- action the Good Hope and Monmouth took fire, but fought pn until dark, when a serious explosion occurred j on the Good Hope, which foundered. The Monmouth hauled off at dark. She i' WltT lffifllif.Ji^aMH—l

the whole action, fought the Leipzig and Dresden. On the enemy again approaching the wounded Monmouth, the Glas. gqw, who was also under lire from one of the armored cruisers, drew off. The enemy then attacked the Monmouth again, with wlmt result ib lot definitely known.

The Glasgow is not extensively dam. aged, and lias very few casualties. Neither the Otranto nor the Canopus was engaged. Reports received by the Foreign Ofiiee from Valparaiso state that there is a belligerent warship ashore on the Chilian coast. It is possible that this may prove to be the Monmouth. Energetic measures are being taken on this assumption to rescue any survivors. The action appears to the Admiralty to have been most gallantly contested, but in the absence of the Canopus the enemy's preponderance of force was considerable.

NO WRMCTCAGE FOUND. PROVISIONING Tire GERMAN ' SHIPS. Received 8, 430 p:ti. . London. November 7. Santiago states that no liiitish warVhrps had entered a Chilian port, and no wreckage has been found on the coast. There is no confirmation of the disasier. The Gemma steamer Mint:. Isabel departed from Valparaiso on Saturday, declaring her decimaliou a- Hamburg. It is be!it>v«-i Unu she :a provisioning the German squadron.

OUTSIDE CHILIAN WATERS " A WARSHIP ASHORE. Received S, 3 p.m Santiago, November 7. j. he loader of the Government reply"?2 to ,, a question in Parliament, alleged that the engagement waa loii'jht outside territorial waters. .vareii of the vicinity had revealed no traces of the light. The Govcrnwent had just received a telegram from the Governor of Constitucion. stating that it had been reported to .'iuii that a warship was ashore a I Punta Oivranga, and assistance had boon sent.

SECBET WIRELESS STATIONS. ' GIVE INFORMATION TO GERMAN SHIPS. Received 8, 3 pm. Washington, November 7. The British Embassy is investigating the reported secret Gerni.n wireless stations alone the South American coasts. The Embassy believts th.it tile concentration of the German forces I«wd •iue entirely to vsrcloss ni6s* tagea, evidently sent' from the Chilian states. Thn State Oepartu-ait explains that the closing of the Tmkerton wireJcps station was due to congestion of messages. The station will re-opisi shortly :

MINES IN THE BALTIC. NAVIGATION ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. Received 8, 3 p.m. CopenlfasMi, November 7. Fishermen report that German mines :n the Baltic .practically render navigation impossible. Explosions occur dailv.

SUNK BY THEIR OVS'N' MINES.

CASUALTIES TN T KIEL BAY.

Received P. 3 pm. Copenhagen, November 7. Two Gorman steamers and two Gorman trawlers were recently sunk b,v Gerinan mints in Kiel Bav.