The Battle of the Falkland Islands 24

The Battle of the Falkland Islands 24

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER W. J. O'NEIL and LIEUTENANT P. A. MURCHIE,

of the Royal Naval Reserve, together with CHIEF-ENGINEER F.

DRUMMOND and 2ND ENGINEER J. MCDONALD, were all specially

mentioned in dispatches.

 

In addition to the above, twelve men were awarded the D.S.M. for

various acts of gallantry.

 

 

 

 

II

 

DISPATCH OF THE ACTION FOUGHT OFF CORONEL

 

November 1st, 1914

 

THE NAVAL FIGHT OFF CHILE

 

 

The Secretary of the Admiralty announces that the following report

has been received from H.M.S. _Glasgow_ (Captain John Luce, R.N.)

concerning the recent action off the Chilean coast:--

 

_Glasgow_ left Coronel 9 A.M. on November 1 to rejoin _Good Hope_

(flagship), _Monmouth_, and _Otranto_ at rendezvous. At 2 P.M.

flagship signalled that apparently from wireless calls there

was an enemy ship to northward. Orders were given for squadron

to spread N.E. by E. in the following order: _Good Hope_,

_Monmouth_, _Otranto_, and _Glasgow_, speed to be worked up to 15

knots. 4.20 P.M. saw smoke; proved to be enemy ships, one small

cruiser and two armoured cruisers. _Glasgow_ reported to Admiral,

ships in sight were warned, and all concentrated on _Good Hope_.

At 5 P.M. _Good Hope_ was sighted.

 

5.47 P.M., squadron formed in line-ahead in following order:

_Good Hope_, _Monmouth_, _Glasgow_, _Otranto_. Enemy, who had

turned south, were now in single line-ahead 12 miles off,

_Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_ leading. 6.18 P.M., speed ordered

to 17 knots, and flagship signalled _Canopus_, 'I am going

to attack enemy now.' Enemy were now 15,000 yards away and

maintained this range, at the same time jambing wireless signals.

 

By this time sun was setting immediately behind us from enemy

position, and while it remained above horizon we had advantage in

light, but range too great. 6.55 P.M., sun set, and visibility

conditions altered, our ships being silhouetted against

afterglow, and failing light made enemy difficult to see.

 

7.3 P.M., enemy opened fire 12,000 yards, followed in quick

succession by _Good Hope_, _Monmouth_, _Glasgow_. Two squadrons

were now converging, and each ship engaged opposite number in

the line. Growing darkness and heavy spray of head sea made

firing difficult, particularly for main deck guns of _Good Hope_

and _Monmouth_. Enemy firing salvo got range quickly, and their

third salvo caused fire to break out on fore part of both ships,

which were constantly on fire till 7.45 P.M. 7.50 P.M., immense

explosion occurred on _Good Hope_ amidships, flames reaching 200

feet high. Total destruction must have followed. It was now quite

dark.

 

Both sides continued firing at flashes of opposing guns.

_Monmouth_ was badly down by the bow and turned away to get

stern to sea, signalling to _Glasgow_ to that effect. 8.30 P.M.,

_Glasgow_ signalled to _Monmouth_, 'Enemy following us,' but

received no reply. Under rising moon enemy's ships were now

seen approaching, and as _Glasgow_ could render _Monmouth_ no

assistance, she proceeded at full speed to avoid destruction.

8.50 P.M., lost sight of enemy. 9.20 P.M., observed 75 flashes of

fire, which was no doubt final attack on _Monmouth_.

 

Nothing could have been more admirable than conduct of officers

and men throughout. Though it was most trying to receive great

volume of fire without chance of returning it adequately, all

kept perfectly cool, there was no wild firing, and discipline

was the same as at battle practice. When target ceased to be

visible, gunlayers spontaneously ceased fire. The serious reverse

sustained has entirely failed to impair the spirit of officers

and ship's company, and it is our unanimous wish to meet the

enemy again as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

III

 

OFFICIAL DISPATCH OF VICE-ADMIRAL COUNT VON SPEE

 

 

The following official report of the action fought off Coronel on

November 1st appeared in the German Press, and is interesting in the

light of being an accurate account as viewed by our enemies.

 

On comparing it with Captain Luce's account, it will be seen that

the German clocks were about thirty minutes slow on our time. Other

evidence also points to this conclusion:--

 

The squadron under my command, composed of the large cruisers

_Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_, and the small cruisers _Nürnberg_,

_Leipzig_, and _Dresden_, reached on November 1st a point about

twenty sea miles from the Chilean coast, in order to attack a

British cruiser which, according to trustworthy information, had

reached the locality on the previous evening. On the way to the

spot the small cruisers were several times thrown out on the

flanks to observe steamers and sailing ships.

 

At 4.15 P.M. the _Nürnberg_, which was detached on one of

these missions, was lost sight of to the north-east, while the

_Dresden_ remained about twelve sea miles behind. With the bulk

of the fleet, I was about forty miles north of Arauco Bay. At

4.17 P.M. there were sighted to the south-west at first two

ships, and then at 4.25 P.M. a third ship about fifteen miles

away. Two of them were identified as warships, and were presumed

to be the _Monmouth_ and _Glasgow_, while the third was evidently

the auxiliary cruiser _Otranto_. They, too, seemed to be on a

southerly course. The squadron steamed at full speed in pursuit,

keeping the enemy four points to the starboard. The wind was

south, force 6, with a correspondingly high sea, so that I had to

be careful not to be manœuvred into a lee position. Moreover, the

course chosen helped to cut off the enemy from the neutral coast.

 

About 4.35 P.M. it was seen that the enemy ships were steering

to the west, and I gradually changed my course south-west, the

_Scharnhorst_ working up 22 knots, while the _Gneisenau_ and the

_Leipzig_ slowed down. The enemy's numerous wireless messages

were 'jammed' as far as possible.

 

At 5.20 the arrival of another warship was reported which took

the head of the line, and was identified as the _Good Hope_, the

flagship of Rear-Admiral Cradock.

 

The enemy ships now got into battle formation, hoisted their

mast-head flags, and tried slowly to approach a southerly course.

From 5.35 P.M. onwards I held to a south-westerly course, and

later to southerly course, and reduced speed to enable my own

ships to come up. At 6.7 both lines--except _Dresden_, which

was about one mile astern, and the _Nürnberg_, which was at a

considerable distance--were on an almost parallel southerly

course, the distance separating them being 135 hectometres

(14,760 yards).

 

At 6.20, when at a distance of 124 hectometres, I altered my

course one point towards the enemy, and at 6.34 opened fire at

a range of 104 hectometres. There was a head wind and sea, and

the ships rolled and pitched heavily, particularly the small

cruisers, on both sides.

 

Observation and range-finding work was most difficult, the seas

sweeping over the forecastles and conning-towers, and preventing

the use of some guns on the middle decks, the crews of which

were never able to see the sterns of their opponents, and only

occasionally their bows. On the other hand, the guns of the two

armoured cruisers worked splendidly, and were well served.

 

At 6.39 the first hit was recorded in the _Good Hope_. Shortly

afterwards the British opened fire. I am of opinion that they

suffered more from the heavy seas than we did. Both their

armoured cruisers, with the shortening range and the failing

light, were practically covered by our fire, while they

themselves, so far as can be ascertained at present, only hit the

_Scharnhorst_ twice and the _Gneisenau_ four times. At 6.53, when

at a distance of 60 hectometres, I sheered off a point.

 

The enemy's artillery at this time was firing more slowly, while

we were able to observe numerous hits. Among other things, it

was seen that the roof of the fore double turret was carried

away, and that a fierce fire was started in the turret. The

_Scharnhorst_ reckons thirty-five hits on the _Good Hope_.

 

As the distance, in spite of our change of course, had now