Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 92
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[Page 92]
After sinking Craddocks squadron at Coronel von Spee had taken his ships North to Valparaiso and spent a few days in Harbour patching up such damage as the Good Hope and Monmouth had contrived to inflict. The Scharnhorst had one bad hole at least [fused?] on her water line starboard side as photographs taken in Valparaiso show. (exhibit R)
Von Spee then collected his squadron with its storeships and colliers and a couple of troopships including the Seydlitz which had escaped from Sydney Harbour the day before war was declared. The whole fleet made south to
The troops had been collected called up from among the German reservists settled in the South American republics.
The whole fleet then made south towards the Falklands intending to effect an armed landing and annex the place. But the story of Coronel had been carried to Port Stanley by the Glasgow which tho' badly holed had escaped from Coronel and the Governor whom it was the writer's privilege to meet in after days in the British Bahamas made preparations for defence.
The old Canopus a prehistoric battleship intended by the Admiralty to strengthen Craddocks squadron had waddled into Port Stanley one day and had been promptly run ashore to act as a fort. Her smaller guns were taken out and posted