FALKLAND ISLANDS BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1915, Page 8

FALKLAND ISLANDS BATTLE.

AN INTERESTING SIDELIGHT. . A letter from the Falkland Islands throws an interesting sidelight on the naval victory which Sir Doveton Sturdee won over Von Spec's squadron on December 8 last. It seems that a Stockport lady, Mrs. Felton, wife of the manager of a large sheep farm at Fitzroy, East Falkland, was instrumental in considerably helping the British Admiral. When the British squadron was outside Stanley Harbor, Mrs. Fulton received information that a portion of the German fleet had eome in sight. She immediately sent a maidservant and house-boy to the top of a ridge to look out. "They came Hying back," she writes, "to say there were two boats and an auxiliary cruiser south-west of East, Island. I rang up tlie headquarters of the authorities and told them. I then sent the girl back to tne ridge with the boy and a notebook and pencil and told her to send me messages of what they were doing. In this way I kept the authorities in touch of all that was moving, and the information was conveyed by wireless to Admiral Sturdee. We can never be too thankful that our fleet was here in time. If the Germans had taken the place it would have taken England months to regain it." In recognition of Mrs. Felton's scrivces, the following letter was sent to the Governor of the Islands from the Colonial Ofliee:—"l have the honor to inform you that the Lords of the Admiralty have decided to present to Mrs. Felton and her maids pieces of ;plate, suitably inscribed, in recognition of the services rendered by them to the British squadron the day*of the naval battle off the Falkland Islands. A silver salver for Mrs. Felton and a silver teapot for eacli of the maids will be sent to you at an early date. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have requested that, in presenting these ornaments you will convey to the recipients an expression of their lordships' appreciation of the service which they rendered to his Majesty's Navy in forwarding valuable information to the' squadron under Sir Doveton Sturdee on December 8, 1914. I should be glad if you would add that as Secretary of State I desire to associate myself fully with their Lordships' expression of application and thanks—L. Harcourt." I