[Illustration: VICE ADMIRAL SIR DOVETON STURDEE'S ACTION OFF THE
FALKLAND ISLANDS. DEC 8, 1914.
This plan shows the track followed by H.M.S. INVINCIBLE (Flagship,
Capt. P.T.H. Beamish) and H.M.S. INFLEXIBLE (Capt. R.F. Phillimore)
during an action which started at 1.0 pm and finished at 6.0 pm
resulting in the sinking of the German armoured cruisers SCHARNHORST
(Flagship of Vice Admiral Count Von Spee) and GNIESNAU. The LEIPSIG
was engaged and sunk by H.M.S. CORNWALL (Capt. W.M. Ellerton) and
H.M.S. GLASGOW (Capt. John Luce) in the near vicinity, also the
Nurnberg by H.M.S. KENT (Capt. J.D. Allen). H.M.S. CARNARVON (Flagship
of Rear Admiral R.P. Stoddart. Capt. H.L. D'E. Skipwith) was also
engaged with SCHARNHORST and GNIESNAU.]
The _Cornwall_ by four o'clock was also near enough to the _Leipzig_
to open fire on her, and three hours later the German cruiser was
having a time of it with a large fire in her hold. British faith
in heavy armament with long range had again been vindicated. There
was something of human interest in this duel between the _Glasgow_
and the _Leipzig_. In their previous meeting, off Coronel, the German
ship had had all the better of it and now the men of the British
ship were out for revenge. Consequently the _Glasgow_ signaled to
the other British ships: "Stand off--I can manage this myself!" By
eight o'clock in the evening the _Glasgow_ had her in bad condition,
and the _Carnarvon_ came up to assist in raking her till there was
nothing left but a mass of wreckage on her decks.
Pages:
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327