Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 24, 2025
The call was being answered. The operator wrote it off. "What ship is that? Admiral von Spee orders all to close in," and the exact position of the German flagship was given. "'Dresden!" flashed back Lord Hastings. "Signed, Koehler." "I happen to know Captain Koehler commands the Dresden," Lord Hastings confided to the boys. He sent another message to the German admiral: "Where are you headed?"
"Let her try," replied Lord Hastings. "Guess Admiral von Spee will think it funny he gets no reply, but he'll think it funnier still when he finally does raise the Dresden and learns that it was not she who answered his other call." And it was not long until the real Dresden did reply. The Sylph's operator picked up the messages that were exchanged.
On fleeing from the Japanese menace Von Spee had steamed eastwards across the Pacific, but two of his cruisers, the Königsberg and the Emden, were detached to help the Germans in East Africa and to raid British commerce in the Indian Ocean.
In the chase that followed, Admiral van Spee checked speed somewhat to keep his squadron together. Though Admiral Sturdee for a time did the same, he was able at 12.50 to open on the rear ship Leipzig at 16,000 yards. At 1.20 the German light cruisers scattered to southwestward, followed by the Cornwall, Kent, and Glasgow.
It seems evident, however, that Admiral van Spee was not attracted by the tame task of commerce destroying, but wished to try his gunnery, highly developed in the calm waters of the Far East, against enemy men-of-war.
They were splendidly loyal to us out in China von Spee actually transferred some of his ships to the command of our own senior officer so as to avoid any clash of control and when it came to fighting, they fought like gentlemen. I grant you that their submarine work against merchant ships has been pretty putrid, but I don't believe that was the choice of their Navy.
If he had been he might not have steamed into the trap. The trouble was that von Spee had some wit, but not enough. It would have been better for him if he had been as guileless as a parson. Sir Frederick is so gentle-mannered that one would never suspect him of a "double bluff," which was what he played on von Spee.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking