MORE DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 2027, 28 December 1914, Page 5

MORE DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.

BRITISH SHORT OF COAL.

ONLY ONE OF- OUR SHIPS

DAMAGED,

NEW YORK? 'December 2->

The captain of the steamer Orissa states that Vice-Admiral Sturdee arrived at the Falkland Islands on November 7.' The following morning, while some vessels were coaling, another was outside the harbour on guard duty, a German warship was detected nearing the bay. A few minutes later five vessels were sighted. Yon Spec, presuming the British cruiser on guard was alone attempted to cut her off. Sho commenced action while the Germans were closing in. Meanwhile, other British ships came up and the Germans realising they were trapped formed the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Leipzig into line of battle, while the Nurnburg and Dresden dashed away. The Germans opened fire at 13,000 metres, but Vice-Ad-miral Sturdee did not reply till SOOO metres away. Soon there was a terrific bombardment, splendid weather conditions favouring the gunners. While one cruiser engaged the Leipzig in a running fight and sank her, the rest engaged the Scharnhorsi; and Gniesenau. The former sank -fter a stubborn resistance lasting an hour. The survivors were dr^wil up on the bow and refused to surrender. '

The Gniesenau made a desperate effort to escape but was battered into a hopeless wreck and foundered in two hours.

The Nurnburg was overtaken 90 miles from the scene of the engagement and quickly sent to the 'bottom.

The British failed to overtake the Dresden, and a German transport also escaped, but the colliers wero sunk after the crews had been j<:en off. Throughout the action the British were short of coal. Boats and everything that would burn were used as fuel.

One British ship was slightly damaged below the water line. The rest were unscatched. Eight British were killed in tho fiction and buried on the 10th.