AN ECHO OF THE FALKLAND FIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1916, Page 10

AN ECHO OF THE FALKLAND FIGHT.

A BRITISH PRISONER'S STORY. Captain J. S. Eagles, now commanding the four-master schooner Golden Gate, trading out of 'Vancouver, now tells for the first time what he witnessed of the engagement between Count Von Spree's squadron and that commanded) by Admiral Sturdce. He was a prisoner of war on board the Seydlitz, his then command (the four-masted schooner Druinmuir, belonging to Victoria, 8.C.) having been captured on December 2, 1014, by the Leipsic, and sunk four day* later, after having been stripped of her fittings, coal and cargo. Thence he was transferred from the Leipsic to the Seydlitz, and he was assured that hfc> personal effects would bo sacred. The first night he locked his door. The next day the Germans sent carpenters aboard and took the door off the hinges. He laid his fountain pen on the table for a moment while he lit his pipe. When he turned back to the table someone had stolen the pen. Someone took -his boots, and left a very much worn pair in their place. After that the captain slept in his clothes. The fleet headed for the Falkland Islands, very much to Captain Eagles' surprise. "You're not going up to the Falklands, are you 7" he asked the German captain. "There's nothing there that can stop us," was the'reply; "and, besides, there is a big pile which will be very, very acceptable." The fleet continued on its way. At 0 o'clock on the inorning of the battle Captain Eagles came on deck, and saw the misty outlines of the islands. The fleet was steaming in three lines, with,two vessels in the first lino, three vessels one mile a>t,ern, and the two colliers in the rear.

BRITISH FLEET APPEARS. About 10 o'clock a faint smudge of black smoke appeared on the horizon. "You're going to have to fight for that coal heap," said Captain Eagles, grimly, to the German commander. The German licet continued its course. Presently another ominous black smudge appeared; then another and another, until there were five of those prophetic clouds along the horizon, moving forward from the direction of Port Stanley. Then the German fleet suddenly swerved and began to run. Immediately the distant black clouds .took on enormous proportions, and the British llect leaped forward in pursuit of the German squadron. 'Presently the funnels of the British ships were raised, then their deck houses were plainly visible. The engines of the German ships were racing as they had never raced before, but the lean greyhounds which followed gained with amazing speed. For three and a half hours tho chase continued. Then, at a distance of five miles, the first shot was tired from the foremost of the pursuers. "It was a single-ship action," said Captain Eagles, 'his face lighting with pleasure at the recollection. '"Bach British ship sank a German ship. The Invincible sank the Scharnhorst, the Inflexible sank the Gueisenau. The Glasgow put the Leipsie out of action in 22 minutes, and the Kent sank the Nuremberg. Two -ships- were captured, and two (the Dresden and the Seydlitz) escaped." NO SURRENDER. During the action the aSeharnhorst wirelessed to the Seydlitz, saying, "We're done for." She sank in two minutes, with every soul on board. Just prior to this Admiral Sturdee Jiad signalled the Scliarnhorst, asked them to lower their flag, so that he might save the crew from destruction. No reply was/received, and tho ship continued to fight gallantly until she sank. The Scliarnhorst went down with £75,000 in English gold which she had! taken from captured' English ships. "She lies in 200 fathoms of water, and if anyone wants to get rich quick they can dive through that 1200 ft of water," said Captain Eagles, with a twinkle in his eye. He thinks tliat by this time the gold has been flattened like a pancake by sea action. The first question asked Captain Eagles when he boarded the German warship as a prisoner was, "Have you any money?" "Yes, I have." "How much?" "About 40 cents." Even the Germans laughed heartily.