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[Page 78]
1915
hours, as it was not considered safe to navigate in the Straits during dark hours.
Jan 2.
The following morning we emerged into the open Atlantic Ocean, & we set our course for Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. That evening we held a sing-song in the Ward Room, to which were invited the Gun Room officers & Warrant Officers. There was a varied selection of talent, and a good variety of "chanties", and songs both humorous, nautical, & grave, the evening winding up most successfully by drinking to "the Day". (in imitation of the toast "Am Tag" drunk by the Germans on board their men-o-war for some years, the day when they would meet & defeat the British Fleet), & "Auld Lang Syne". During the afternoon an ominous knocking developed in the port shaft, & it was feared that something had worked loose. As a precaution the speed was eased from 18 to 10 knots. When about 20 miles off the coast of West Falkland we passed a life-buoy marked "Scharnhorst", a relic of the German cruiser of that name sunk hereabouts on Dec. 8th. 1914.
Jan. 3.
Early on Sunday morning we approached Port Stanley, East Falkland Island, & we were piloted though the protective minefield by a pilot. This minefield had been laid by Admiral Sturdee's squadron as a precaution against German attacks in the future. As soon as a collier was secured alongside, after anchoring in the