The week has been a week of good news. Last
in order but first in importance comes the naval victory off the Falkland Islands. No summary of this news can better the Admiralty's own report, which is splendid in its terseness and reticence :—
"At 7.30 a.m. on December 8th, the Scharnhorst,"Gneisenau,' ‘Niirnberg," Leipzig,' and `Dresden' were sighted near the Falk- land Islands by a British Squadron under Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee.
An action followed, in the course of which the 'Scharnhorst,' flying the flag of Admiral Graf von Spee, the G-neisenau,' and the 'Leipzig' were sunk.
The 'Dresden' and the `Nurnberg' made off during the action and are being pursued.
Two colliers were also captured.
The Vice-Admiral reports that the British casualties are very few in number.
Some survivors have been rescued from the `Gneisenau' and the Leipzig.'"
To this excellent news was added on Friday the announce- ment that the Nurnberg' was also sunk on December 8th, and that the search for the Dresden' was still proceeding. The Secretary of the Admiralty adds that the main action lasted for five hours, " with intervals." The Scharnhorst' sank after three hours and the ' Gneisenau ' two hours later.
We are further told that the German light cruisers scattered and were chased by our cruisers and light cruisers. "No loss of any British vessel is reported."
