(A)—PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS
The squadron, consisting of H.M. ships Invincible, flying my flag, Flag Captain Percy T. H. Beamish; Inflexible, Captain Richard F. Phillimore; Carnarvon, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Archibald P. Stoddart, Flag Captain Harry L. d'E. Skipwith; Cornwall, Captain Walter M. Ellerton; Kent, Captain John D. Allen; Glasgow, Captain John Luce; Bristol, Captain Basil H. Fanshawe; and Macedonia, Captain Bertram S. Evans; arrived at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, at 10.30 A.M. on Monday, the 7th December, 1914. Coaling was commenced at once, in order that the ships should be ready to resume the search for the enemy's squadron the next evening, the 8th December.
At 8 A.M. on Tuesday, the 8th December, a signal was received from the signal station on shore:
"A four-funnel and two-funnel man-of-war in sight from Sapper Hill, steering northwards."
At this time, the positions of the various ships of the squadron were as follows:
Macedonia—At anchor as look-out ship.
Kent (guard ship)—At anchor in Port William.
Invincible and Inflexible—In Port William.
Carnarvon—In Port William.
Cornwall—In Port William.
Glasgow—In Port Stanley.
Bristol—In Port Stanley.
The Kent was at once ordered to weigh, and a general signal was made to raise steam for full speed.
At 8.20 A.M. the signal station reported another column of smoke in sight to the southward, and at 8.45 A.M. the Kent passed down the harbour and took up a station at the entrance.
The Canopus, Captain Heathcoat S. Grant, reported at 8.47 A.M. that the first two ships were 8 miles off, and that the smoke reported at 8.20 A.M. appeared to be the smoke of two ships about 20 miles off.
At 8.50 A.M. the signal station reported a further column of smoke in sight to the southward.