For coal and other supplies Von Spee had been
relying on the Chilean ports, but now came trouble between him and
the port authorities, for England was accusing the South American
nation of acting without regard to neutrality. It was for this
reason that Von Spee turned southward to take the Falkland Islands.
The world at large, and of course Von Spee, had no knowledge of
the ships which had set out from Plymouth for the Falklands on
the eleventh of the month, so he approached in full expectation of
making not only a raid but for occupation. He knew that he would
have to exchange shots with the _Glasgow_ and perhaps some small
ships, and he believed the islands weakly defended by forts, but
there was nothing in that to defer his attack. The result--the
lookout near Stanley had reported the oncoming warships _Gneisenau_
and _Scharnhorst_, followed by the rest of the German squadron.
German guns were trained on the wireless station, and great was
the surprise of the unfortunate Von Spee and his officers when
there was heard the booming of guns which they knew immediately
must be mounted on warships larger than their own. Their scouting
had been defective, and the presence of the _Inflexible_ and
_Invincible_ had till then not been discovered. They then reasoned
that these were the guns of the _Canopus_--a critical and fatal
error.
The _Canopus_ from behind the hills fired on the German ships in
an endeavor to protect the wireless station.
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