Enclosure No. with letter from "CANOPUS", No.9, dated
th. November 1914.
COPY OF W/T SIGNAL
From "CANOPUS".
To Governor, Falkand Islands.
Date 7th. November 1914. 8.30 p.m.
Please send following message to British Minister Montevideo for Admiralty
and Admiral, 5th. Cruiser Squadron.
Begins.
At 4.40 p.m. Sunday, 1st. November, "CANOPUS" then in latitude 41.20
S., longitude 76.10 W., course N 10 W speed 9 knots, with colliers
"BENBROOK" and "LANGOE", and XXXXXXXXXXX approximately
200 miles south of our cruisers "GOOD HOPE, MONMOUTH, GLASGOW and
OTRANTO, intercepted XXXXX signal from GLASGOW to
GOOD HOPE that enemy had been sighted.
CANOPUS raised steam full speed and proceeded to northward.
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At 8.45 p.m. received first intimation that squadron had been engaged
from GLASGOW. Signal read "Fear GOOD HOPE lost, our squadron scattered".
CANOPUS continued course to northward at full speed until 1 a.m. Monday,
2nd. November, in hope of rendering assistance to any ships being
chased by superior force, Ship's position being signalled.
At 1 a.m. having had no communication except from GLASGOW since 6
p.m. 1st. November, made rendezvous with GLASGOW who was steering
SW, 20 knots, and steered to cut off colliers and order them return
to Falkland Islands.
3.30 a.m. Signalled colliers to return Falkland and altered course
to southward and gave ship's position to GLASGOW with orders to overhaul
CANOPUS and rendezvous Falklands. Reduced speed to 14 knots.
It was blowing southerly gale with heavy sea.
There was systematic jambing [sic] by enemy's ships from 4.30
p.m. 1st. November until 5 a.m. 2nd. November, rendering it most difficult
to obtain signals.
GLASGOW passed ahead night of 2nd. and proceeded through Magellan
Straits and made rendezvous with CANOPUS in Spiteful Bay, Friday,
6th. at daylight when CANOPUS escorted her to Falklands, she being
short of coal and unseaworthy from gunfire and gale from S W.
OTRANTO'S position at 5 p.m., Monday, 2nd. November, was latitude
39.36 S., longitude 78.6 W., course S. 18 W., 17 knots. rendezvous
at Falklands was signalled her.
Her position on Friday, 11 p.m., was latitude 55 S. Longitude 63 W.,
course N.25 E., speed 14 knots. She was ordered Monte Video by CANOPUS.
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Handwritten
note by M. E. T. D. Vlasto:
Canopus Lat. 51S Long 59.18W Course S72E Speed 12 kt. |
Source: © Christopher Long <www.christopherlong.co.uk> |
