2-inch guns. Those of the _Inflexible_ and _Invincible_ were of
the 12-inch type.
All four ships were belching forth heavy black smoke that hung
low over the water after it left the funnels. A moderate breeze
carried it northward, and Von Spee moved his ships this way and
that till his smoke blew straight against the guns of the British
ships, making it almost impossible for the British gunners to take
aim and note effect. But the superior speed of the two British
battle cruisers stood them in good stead, and their commanders
brought them up south of the enemy--on their other side. It was
now the German gunners who found the smoke in their faces, and
the advantage was with the British.
By three o'clock in the afternoon fire had broken out on the
_Scharnhorst_ and Von Spee replied to Sturdee's inquiry that he
would not quit fighting, though some of his guns were out of action
and those which still replied to the Britisher did now only at
intervals. There was evidently something wrong with the machinery
that brought shells and ammunition to her guns from out of her
hold, the fire probably interfering with it. A 12-inch shell cut
right through her third funnel and carried it completely off the
ship. She turned so that she could bring her starboard guns into
action, and they did so feebly. The fire on board her grew worse
and worse, and it could be seen blood-red through holes made by
the shells from the _Invincible_ whenever her hull showed through
the dense clouds of escaping steam that enveloped her.
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