Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1926 A LINK WITH THE PAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 October 1926, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1926 A LINK WITH THE PAST

i'HK interesting message received yesleitloy from our Auckland correspondent, in reference loi the approaching visit to Nelson of Mr Charles Robertson of the Falkland Island/,, whose father left tins city for the most southerly and loneliest of British Crown Colonies in 1894, awakens thoughts of the one salient event which will for ever be associated with the history of the Falkland Islands—namely the memorable naval batlie, fought between the. squadron of Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee and that of the German Admiral son Spec, on December Uth, 1914, which engagement Mr Robertson witnessed from his island home. ll was a naval victory which fires flu- imagination, because of its completeness and its tragedy. When war broke mil Von Spec's squadron was based in Kiao-ehan, Germany's territory i'i China ; but when liie Japanese, faithful to their alliance vith Britain, declared war.on Germany, I he German Admiral at once put to sea Willi all his siiips, lest he should be bottled up in Kiao-chau by the vastly .superior Japanese fleet. There was at the lime much speculation as to the course Von Spec would steer, and the use In which he would put his opportunity of damaging British interests in the Pacific. In I he meantime New Zealand troops seized Germany's important colony of Western Samoa, and the warships (includinu; (he "Australia") which convoyed I he troops in I hat wellplanned expedition, set off at full spued lu find Von Spec's ships. Bui amid (lie myriad islands of the Pacific (he German Admiral found it easy to elude his pursuers, both Japanese and British, and for weeks absolutely nothing was known of his whereabouts. And then suddenly

he turned up at Samoa. Possibly he nunc to see if the German colony there was .safe, mid with a view to protecting its members, but when he found Iho islands in possession of the British ho

sailed away without, bring a shot. The great question was whether he would raid the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. At this distant date, when all the- principal facts are known and can be assembled, it appears that there was nothing to have prevented the German Admiral from indicting serious damage to I his country and Australia, except ono llfing- -inability to replenish his supplies of ammunition. Cut off from his base, there was no place where, he could iv-lill his magazines if he emptied them by bombarding the fortified ports of Australia and New Zealand. Von Spec's plan was something quite different and more useful. He proposed to leave tiic Pacific, for the Atlantic, \vhere he would form a base in the Falkland Islands, whence he would operate with a view to doing British trade and prestige as much damage as possible. It, has been said that it was part of his plan to create a military force by thawing on the quarter-of-a-million Germans resilient in the southern province, of Brazil (the Rio Grande do Sul) and to transport them to South Africa with a view to invading that Dominion. But wbclher that was so or not, he wasn't to leave the Pacific without opposition. While he was cruising down llie coast of Chile he was met by Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock with the armoured cruisers "Good Hope" and 'Mi nmonth" and one small cruiser. Though he was out-numbered and outgunned the gallant British Admiral decided to fight, with the result that both tho "Good Hope" and "Monnrqfiith" were sunk with all hands; the small cruiser alone escaping. After this tragic action there was nothing to prevent Von Spec from pursuing his course round Cape Horn, but he first landed in Chile, where he was entertained by his admirers at, a banquet, the room and table being profusely decorated with (lowers in honour of the victor. When the German Admiral beheld the, beautiful floral display, he said that his friends doubtless desired to do him honour, but they would have done better to nave used their flowers to do honour to his death. That was early in November, 1914. Within a month he had fought his last light, off the Falkland Islands. On the morning of December 7th Sir Dovelon Sturdee arrived at Port, Stanley in the Falkland Islands. His squadron consisted of (lie battle-cruisers "Invincible" and "Inflexible," and the (i niseis 'Carnarvon", "Cornwall",

'Kent", "Glasgow", and "Bristol." They had been preceded by colliers, and they immediately began to replenish their bunkers. It was well they lost no lime in doing so, for at 8 o'cloc knext morning Von Spec's squadron appeared. If consisted of the armoured cruisers "Scharnhoist" and "Gneisenau" and ihe cruisei'is "Dresden", "Nhtrnberg", and "Leipzig." At. first the German Admiral appears to have contemplated closing the guardship ("Kent") at the entrance of the harbour, but, when he saw inside the battle-cruisers "Invincible" and "Inflexible," he turned and left the Falldands with the utmost possible speed. He cannot bo blamed for this, lor there was no doubt that the contest was unequal. When the British ships had cleared the harbour, which was not till nearly 10 o'clock, the Germans were hull down, steaming in a south-east direction under all the steam they could raise. At 10.20 a.m. tf>«< W-itish Admiral made the signal for a general chase. With the "Carnarvon" tho battle cruisers attended to the "Seharnhurst" and "GneisenaTi," while the

"Glasgow", "Cornwlill" and "Kent" gave their attention lu the three German cruisers. Tho "Bristol", which apparently had not finished her coaling, was told off to sink some. German colliers or transports which had appeared off Port Pleasant. The. first shot was fired at 12.55 p.m. at a range, of about 16,000 yards. At 4.5 p.m. the 'Scharnhorst" was sunk. At, 6 p.m. a similar fate, overtook the "Gneisenau." At 7.27 p.m. the Nurnberg" was sunk, at, 9 p.m. the

"Leipzig." The 'Dresden,'" which possessed superior speed, escaped in the darkness: to be overtaken and gunk subsequently in the vicinity of the island of Juan Fernandez. Thus was destioyed Von Spec's entire squadron. Thus were avenged Sir Christopher Craddock and the brave crews of the "Good Hope" and the 'Monmouth." With Von Spec perished his two sons, who were serving under him on the "Scharnhorst.' Every effort was made by Ihe British to save their drowning enemies. Of the crew of the "Cineisenau" the "Invineible's" bonis saved 94 men. Of tho "Leipzig's" crew eighteen were, saved, including seven officers. Tie* "Kent" had four men killed and twelve wounded. Otherwise, the British ships appear to have suffered no casualties. A truly sweeping victory, which Mr Charles Robertson witnessed from the land, and concerning which he may possibly have something t i sav when he arrives in Nelson.