At 6.39 the first hit was recorded in the Good Hope. Shortly afterwards the British opened fire. I am of opinion that they suffered more from the heavy seas than we did. Both their armoured cruisers, with the shortening range and the failing light, were practically covered by our fire, while they themselves, so far as can be ascertained at present, only hit the Scharnhorst twice and the Gneisenau four times. At 6.53, when at a distance of 60 hectometres, I sheered off a point.
The enemy's artillery at this time was firing more slowly, while we were able to observe numerous hits. Among other things, it was seen that the roof of the fore double turret was carried away, and that a fierce fire was started in the turret. The Scharnhorst reckons thirty-five hits on the Good Hope.
As the distance, in spite of our change of course, had now decreased to 49 hectometres, it was to be presumed that the enemy doubted the success of his artillery, and was manœuvring for torpedo firing. The position of the moon, which had risen about six o'clock, favoured this manœuvre. At about 7.45, therefore, I gradually sheered off. In the meantime, darkness had set in, and the range-finders in the Scharnhorst for the moment used the reflections of the fires which had broken out in the Good Hope to estimate the distances; gradually, however, range-finding and observation became so difficult that we ceased fire at 7.26.
At 7.23 a big explosion was observed between the funnels of the Good Hope. So far as I could see, the ship did not fire after that. The Monmouth seems to have stopped firing at 7.20.
The small cruisers, including the Nürnberg, which came up in the meantime, were by 'wireless' at 7.30 to pursue the enemy and make a torpedo attack. At this time rain squalls limited the range of vision. The small cruisers were not able to find the Good Hope, but the Nürnberg came upon the Monmouth, which, badly damaged, crossed her bows and tried to come alongside. At 8.58 the Nürnberg sank her by a bombardment at point-blank range.
The Monmouth did not reply, but she went down with her flag flying. There was no chance of saving anybody owing to the heavy sea, especially as the Nürnberg sighted smoke, and believed that another enemy ship was approaching, which she prepared to attack.
At the beginning of the fight the Otranto made off. The Glasgow was able to keep up her harmless fire longer than her consorts maintained theirs, and she then escaped in the darkness.
The Leipzig and the Dresden believe that they hit her several times. The small cruisers sustained neither loss of life nor damage. The Gneisenau had two slightly wounded. The crews went into the fight with enthusiasm. Every man did his duty, and contributed to the victory.