The Falklands Fight

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 5

The Falklands Fight

POWERFUL BRITISH SHU'S. THE LinN PRESENT. AN AMERICAN REPORT. While no statement lias been authorised l>y the British Admiralty us to the composition of the British squadron which won the victory off Falkland Islands, New York newspapers, publish u report that nine warships were present, among them being several of the most powerful vessels of the British Navy. Wireless despatches received in New York indicate that instead of being on board the Invincible, a battle-cruiser of 17,500 tons, Vice-Admiral Sturdee was on board the Lion, ranking as a battbcruisor with 2(i,350 tons displacement. The Lion was the flagship of YiceAdmiral (acting) .Sir David Beatty the youngest rear-admiral ini the British Navy.

Wireless reports also say that the battle-cruiser Indefatigable of 18,750 tons, commanded by Vice-Admiral Sackvillo 11. Garden, also was in the British squadron. Previous reports had mentioned the Invincible and' the Canopns as being in the pursuit of the Germans, but they are not mentioned in the fragmentary wireless despatches which have been picked up ■ from the region of the naval battle. A wireless message was received at Monte Video that the great naval battle actually began in Argentine waters, that the Germans were surprised while steaming southward to avoid their pursuers, and were compelled to give battle. The battle opened early in the morning of a Tuesday, perhaps at half-past seven o'clock, by the more powerful of the British vessels opening fire with their long-range guns. The Lion carries eight 13.5-in guns of the most recent pattern. They have an estimated accurate range of eight miles. For some, reason not yet explained, the Germans veered off the coast and started towards the Falkland Island. It is believed the Germans did this because they feared a Japanese squadron had passed through the Strait of Magellan and w:is coming northward along the coast. That the British fire was terribly effective is shown by the fact that Admiral von Spee, directed his squadron to separate, according to wireless despatches, so the British could not concentrate their five. The Nurnberg and the Leipsic, the lightest of the German vessels, sped away to the west. The Scharnhorst, the Gneisenau, and tie Dresden spread out. The Leipsic, her hull rank with marine growth for many months, was soon set afire by the '2in. guns of the British ships.

There is excellent reason to believe that the Lion, and perhaps the Indefatigable, and the Invincible, centred the lire of their big guns—among the most powerful in the British Navy—upon the Scarnhorst, flagship of Admiral von Spee, and the Gneisenau, the most powerful vessels of the German squadron. This running battle continued for five hours, until half an hour after noon. That everything aboard the British va',~ sels proceeded like perfect clockwork is indicated by the light British casualties. None were set afire, and every one was kattle-fit when the long engagement ended. When the Scharnhorst, the Gneisenau, and tlio Leipsie had been sunk, the British squadron found itself off the Falkland Islands, after a battle that li.vl continued incessantly for five hours. Several of the swiftest British cruisers had detached themselves, and had started in pursuit of the Nurnberg and the Dresden. The newspapers and the vast commercial interests in New York expressed gratification over the British naval victory. This frees commerce in the South Atlantic from the danger of capture, and normalises navigation. Slumping businefj had been almost ent'roly suspended since the British squadron under Rear-Admiral Craddock was defeated and the Germans had control of the South Atlantic and the South Pacific.