NAVAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 194, 25 January 1915, Page 6

NAVAL BATTLE.

THE FALKLANDS FIGHT. IT.PORTS IN RECENT AMERICAN PAPERS. From American newspaper files which were received in Sydney last week were secured some particulars of the naval engagement off the Falkland Island last mouth, under Vice-Admiral Sturdee, Chief of the War Staff, engaged and defeated the German squadron under Admiral Count von Spec. The Gnoiseiiau, Scharnhorst, Leipzig, and Nurnbcrg were sunk, and the Dresden was pursued to the coast of Chile, where she is reported to have gone ■ashore. THE BERLIN VERSION. According to Berlin advices, a Ger- ] man seiui-oflicial statement was given out as follows: | "Regarding the naval battle off the Falkland Islands, it transpires that our cruiser squadron, soon after the battle with Sir Christopher Cradock's ships off Coroncl, put into the harbor of Santiago de Chile, and left there after a stay of less than twenty-four hours for an" unknown destination. It is assumed that the squadron steamed southward to seek tile British battleship Canopus and the light cruiser Glasgow. "Meanwhile, it appears from the English newspapers, a very strong British squadron was dispatched to search for and destroy our cruiser squadron. Nothing certain is yet known by us concerning the battle. It is reasonable to conclude, however, that the ScharnhorstGneisenau and Leipzig were sunk while the D.vsden and Nurnberg succeeded in escaping.

SUPERIORITY OK BRITISH FLEET. "In view of the superiority of the British licet, which consists particularly of big, fast, well-arnv..l ships, there seems little chance that our two cruisers can long evade pursuit. We must, therefore, also reckon with the loss of both of these ships. "It is hardly to be expected that accurate information will be given from British sources of the course of the conllict or of the composition of the British squadron. "It should not be forgotten that our squadron was for four months on the high seas, and that without being able to make use of cablegrams or other means of communication, it assembled and dealt a heavy blow to the enemy's fleet. No protected harbor was at the disposal of our ships for most necessary repairs, and there was no dock for the cleaning of their keels. They succeeded, nevertheless, in getting supplies of provisions and coal for four months withI out falling into the enemy's hands."

GERMAN NAVY PRAISED. The German newspapers discuss the loss of the German cruisers in a tone of keenest sorrow, but with complete resignation. They express patriotic pride in the previous achievements of these warships and express the opinion that Coroncl, where they defeated the British cruisers Good Hope and Monmouth, will bulk larger in naval history that the battle of the Falklands. The North German Gazette says that the cruisers stood an unequal contest with honors, fully meeting the high expectations that the Fatherland bad (placed in the squadron's efficiency and mora] power. "That England needed an eight-fold preponderance in fighting the five German cruisers," says the Koelnische Volks Zcitiiug, "illustrates better than anything else that the British Admiralty fears the Germans navy. We continue to trust in the efficiency of our warships, the bravery of our bluejackets, and the pre-eminent ahility of oui naval leaders."

The Rhenisch Westfaelische Tages Zeitung says:—"Admiral Count von Spee and his brave heroes covered himself and Germany with imperishable fame. They achieved more than the most sanguine expectations." The Hamburger-Naclirichten says:— "The ships could have taken refuge in a neutral harbor and been disarmed and their crews imprisoned, but the Germans on them would never have consented to this. They were resolved on risking their lives in'achieving deeds for the sacred flag of their Fatherland, under which they served so long; they were determined to show what the German Navy is made of. The heroic death of these courageous men will be unforgettable as long as Germans live on earth and cherish German sentiments."

PEACE OP PACIFIC RESTORED. Replying to his congratulations on the victory of the British squadron over the Germans off Falkland Islands, Mr Winston Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, cabled to the Japanese Minister for Marine as lows:--"With the sinking of the Scharnhorst, Gueisenau, Leipzig, and Nurnberg, the whole German squadron, which had its base at Tsing-Tao at the outbreak of war, has been destroyed, and the base itself reduced and captured. "This event marks the conclusion of the active operations in which tlnj Allied fleets have been engaged in the Pacific for four months. k Though it has fallen to a British squadron in the South Atlantic to strike the final blow, it was largely owing to. the powerful and untiring assistance rendered by the Japanese fleet that this result has' been achieved.

"Had the enemy turned west again, the honor would have rested with the Japanese and Australian squadrons, moving forward in the general combination. "The peace of the Pacific is now for the time being restored, and the commerce of all nations can proceed with fafety throughout the vast expanse from the coasts of Mozambique to those of Smith America. The expulsion of the Germans from the east is conmlcte, and with and vigilant arrangements by all, a return to them should be rendered icxtremcly difficult and hazardous. "I take the opportunity of your Excellency's cordial message to express on behalf of the British and Australian navies earnest recognition of the invaluable naval assistance."

SCITARXTIORST HIES GAME. - Advices from Buenos Ayrea on Decembcr 17 stated that the German cruisers were sunk oil' the Falkland Islands on December Bth, apparently being taken unawares by the British, at tlie time when neither side was ex. pecting an encounter. After the engagement began, the British warships concentrated their fire on the Scharnhorst, Admiral von Spee's flagship. When it became evident that she was doomed, the crew assembled on the forward deck. The Scharnhorst refused to surrender, and after an hour's fighting, plunged beneath the waves. The crew preserved its formation as the ship went down, and cheered as the waters closed about ! thent. The first detailed accounts of the battle, which came from Puerto Gallegos, Patagonia, say that the Germans were on their way to seize the Falkland Islands, British possessions, when they j came unexpectedly upon a lone British warship. The other members of the

' British fleet were taking in supplies j from neighboring islands at the time. Before the Germans were aware of the /•strength of their opponents, these ships ."closed on them, and the fate of Admiral I von Spee's squadron was soon sealed. I - The story of the battle was told by ' passengers on the British steamer Orissa j which arrived at Punta Arenas from . Callao, Chile. They say that the Germans fought bravely to the end, even I the colliers refusing to surrender. Losses of the British were placed at eight men. I RUN INTO BRITISH SQUADRON. ; The British squadron arrived at fort ; Stanley, Falkland Islands, on December ' 7th, to take on supplies. The next morning a batleship, which was guarding the entrance to the port, sighted a hostile I warship. Four others came quickly into view, and were recognised as the squadJ ron of Admiral von Spec. The German j warships bad left the Chilean islands of ■ Juan Fernandez on November 15 for the } Fallkand Islands, to take possession of the islands, and destroy the wireless station.

' Only one battleship was visible at first to the Germans, who steamed, straight at her. She opened fire, and the other British warships rushed to her assistance. The Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Leipzig formed in battle line. The Nurnberg and Btresden, however, dropped back from the firing line. The British squadron then concentrated its fire on the Scharnhorst, and she went down after an hour of fighting. A cruiser engaged the Leipzig and sank her. The Gneisenau went down 80 miles from Port Stanley. The Nurnberg attempted to escape, but after a pursuit of two hours was sunk. lA British vessel pursued the Dresden, but was not swift enough to overhal her, and the German warship escaped.

GERMANS PICKED UP AS SHIPS GO DOWN. After the battle, the British picked Tip 104 Germans, including a few officers. Of these survivors, 100 were from the crews of the two German colliers. An opportunity to surrender was offered to the colliers, but it was refused, and they were sunk. On December 10th, funeral services were held for the eight British sailors who were killed, in the presence of the commanders and crews of the squadron. (The. British Admiralty's report of the battle stated that only seven men of the British squadron lost their lives).