Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 83]
1915
The Germans were seen to despatch their two colliers to an uncharted harbour called Port Pleasant, down the coast a few miles from Port Stanley. It was afterwards discovered that they had been piloted there by a German belonging to Port Stanley, who knew the coast well. This pilot went down in the "Gneisnau" [Gneisenau]. The look-out who sighted the German Fleet was a Dane, who had actually worked off a good score against the Germans. His mother had been maltreated by the Germans during the war of 1864 between Germany & Denmark, & now he had the satisfaction of giving valuable information against them. He was rewarded with a gift of £5 from Admiral Sturdee & favourably reported on to the Lords of the Admiralty. In anticipation of a German raid the old battleship "Canopus" was moored fore & aft. She was then listed to enable her guns to get sufficient elevation to fire over the hills seaward. The object of this was - that if the German fleet approached, the "Canopus" could be given the range from an observation point on shore & fire with her 12" guns over the hill from an unseen position. Accordingly, as the German fleet got within range "Canopus" opened fire, being signalled range & direction from shore. The second shot ricocheted & hit "Gneisnau", causing great consternation in the German Fleet, who could not make out from whence it came, as their information led them to believe that the place was unfortified. The time was now