Part I.—Exploits off South America
CHAPTERPAGE
1.German Men-of-War in Foreign Seas[3]
2.The Policy of Admiral Count von Spee[13]
3.British Men-of-War off South America[19]
4.Life at Sea in 1914[28]
5.The Sinking of the "Cap Trafalgar"[35]
6.The Action off Coronel[45]
7.Concentration[60]
8.Possibilities and Probabilities[67]
Part II.—The Battle of the Falklands
9.Away South[79]
10.Enemy in Sight[87]
11.The Battle-Cruiser Action[96]
12.The End of the "Leipzig"[110]
13.The Sinking of the "Nürnberg"[124]
14.Aftermath[134]
15.The Psychology of the Sailor in Action[141]
16.Von Spee's Aims and Hopes[151]
17.The Parting of the Ways[158]
18.The Last of the "Dresden"[163]
Part III.—Official Dispatches
1.The Action of H.M.S. "Carmania"[169]
2.The Action off Coronel by H.M.S. "Glasgow"[172]
3.Report by Vice-Admiral Count von Spee[174]
4.The Battle of the Falkland Islands[178]
5.The Surrender of the "Dresden"[194]
Appendix
A List of the Officers serving in the Actions Recorded[197]
Index[221]

MAPS AND CHARTS

PAGE
The War Zone in Western Seas[5]
Chart of Course in "Carmania"—"Cap Trafalgar" Duel[39]
The Coronel Action: Position when Enemy Sighted[49]
The Coronel Action: Position at Sunset[51]
Chart of "Cornwall" Action (Inset)[79]
Chart of Battle-Cruiser Action (Inset)[79]
Stanley Harbour: Positions of Warships[83]
Battle of the Falklands: Positions at 1.20 p.m.[94]
Battle of the Falklands: Positions at 2.45 p.m.[112]
Duel between "Kent" and "Nürnberg"[127]


INTRODUCTION

This plain, unvarnished account, so far as is known, is the first attempt that has been made to link with the description of the Falkland Islands battle, fought on December 8th, 1914, the events leading up to that engagement.

In order to preserve accuracy as far as possible, each phase presented has been read and approved by officers who participated. The personal views expressed on debatable subjects, such as strategy, are sure to give rise to criticism, but it must be remembered that at the time of writing the exact positions of the ships engaged in overseas operations were not fully known, even in the Service.