FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  
ght about two hours. At about a quarter past eleven it was reported from a point in the south of East Falkland that three other German ships were in sight. They were probably colliers or transports. The _Bristol_ signalled the information to Admiral Sturdee. He at once ordered her, with the armed liner _Macedonia_, to hasten in their direction and destroy them. The newcomers made off to south-west, and the British followed. Meanwhile the rest of the squadron, now travelling at twenty-three knots, were slowly closing upon the enemy. The distance had narrowed to 15-16,000 yards. The British were within striking range. Nevertheless, Sturdee decided to wait till after dinner before engaging. His guns could outdistance those of the enemy. It would be advisable for him to keep at long range. The Germans, on the other hand, would be forced, when firing commenced, to alter course and draw in, in order to bring their own guns into play. The men had their midday meal at twelve o'clock as usual. It is said that comfortable time was allowed afterwards for a smoke. The _Invincible_, _Inflexible_, and _Glasgow_ at about 12.30 increased their speed to between twenty-five and twenty-eight knots, and went on ahead. Just after a quarter to one there was a signal from the Admiral: 'Open fire and engage the enemy.' A few minutes later there were sharp commands. The ranges were signalled, and the bigger guns were laid. Fiery glares and dense clouds of smoke burst suddenly from their muzzles. The air quivered with their thunder. Shells went screaming in the direction of the nearest light cruiser, the _Leipzig_, which was dropping rapidly astern. The firing was uncomfortably accurate. The three smaller German cruisers very soon left the line, and made an attempt, veering off to the south, to scatter and escape. Flame and smoke issued from the _Leipzig_, before she drew clear, where a shell had struck. Sir Doveton Sturdee directed the _Glasgow_, _Kent_, and _Cornwall_ to pursue the German light cruisers. With his remaining vessels, the _Invincible_, the _Inflexible_, and the slower _Carnarvon_, he turned upon the _Scharnhorst_ and the _Gneisenau_, and began operations in earnest. [Sidenote: The _Scharnhorst_ on fire.] [Sidenote: The _Scharnhorst_ sinks.] [Sidenote: The _Gneisenau_ goes down.] The interval of sunlight which had opened the day with such promise was of short duration. The sky became overcast. Soon after four o'clock the a
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Sidenote
 

Scharnhorst

 

Sturdee

 
twenty
 

German

 

Invincible

 

Inflexible

 

Glasgow

 

British

 

firing


direction

 
Leipzig
 

cruisers

 
Admiral
 
signalled
 

Gneisenau

 

quarter

 

suddenly

 

muzzles

 

clouds


glares

 

thunder

 

cruiser

 

opened

 

dropping

 
nearest
 

Shells

 

promise

 

screaming

 

quivered


overcast

 

signal

 
engage
 

commands

 

ranges

 

duration

 

bigger

 

minutes

 

sunlight

 

turned


struck
 
Doveton
 

vessels

 

pursue

 

slower

 
Cornwall
 

directed

 
Carnarvon
 
issued
 

accurate