WAR HISTORY

Evening Star, Issue 20151, 16 April 1929, Page 9

WAR HISTORY

HOW THE GOBEN ESCAPED On August 1914. Ilio two British battle cruisers Indomitable and Indefatigable sailed from Malta, with a squadron unde; Bear-admiral Ironbridge, writes “ Signals,” in the ‘ Daily Mail? These two battle cruisers bad orders to shadow tho German battle cruiser Goebcn, winch was a taster and more powerful ship than either of them. Troubridge’s squadron was to watch the entrance to tho Adriatic and the Austrian fleet. The whereabouts of the Goeben was uncertain; but she known to have coaled at Brindisi on August 1. . Tbe two British battle cruisers on the following day were- ordered to steam west towards the Straits of Gibraltar. The Admiralty feared that the Goebcn might try to escape into the Atlantic and might cause immense damage to British commerce if she did. On August 4. at 9..30 in the morning, as the Indomitable steamed west, followed by tbe Indefatigable, tho British ships sighted the Goebcn and Breslau proceeding in the opposite direction. The Indomitable and Iter consort turned and took up a position astern of the Goeben and some 10,000 yards from her War had not been declared, but neither side sainted the other, and in all four ships the guns were loaded and held ready for action. What wer* tin British ships to do? They reported the position by wireless to London, whence the only order sent Ihem was to “hold” the powerful Goeben There was no iron ns of ‘‘holding” her hut by attacking and disabling her. .Moreover, tho order to “bold” was withdrawn very soon after it had been sent bv the Cabinet, and instructions were given to the British commander not to attack til! midnight of that day, when tho British nlimatum to Germany expired

It was an extraordinary situation when hour after hour passed and the three cruisers steamed in company, watching one another, alert, hut without firing. The German commander at last determined on a great effort and sent nearly all his crew to work in the bunkers so as to give tbe boilers of the Goeben the utmost supply of coal.

Several tubes in her boilers gave way and a man died of exhaustion, but the German object was attained. Tbe speed of the Gooben rose slightly and the two British battle cruisers dropped astern. At 3.50 p.m. they vanished Tbe Goeben had won the race and escaped from the British to cause immense disaster elsewhere when she readied the Dardanelles.