(C)—­ACTION WITH THE LIGHT CRUISERS.

At about 1 P.M., when the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau turned to port to engage the Invincible and Inflexible, the enemy’s light cruisers turned to starboard to escape; the Dresden was leading and the Nuernberg and Leipzig followed on each quarter.

In accordance with my instructions, the Glasgow, Kent, and Cornwall at once went in chase of these ships; the Carnarvon, whose speed was insufficient to overtake them, closed the battle cruisers.

The Glasgow drew well ahead of the Cornwall and Kent, and at 3 P.M. shots were exchanged with the Leipzig at 12,000 yards.  The Glasgow’s object was to endeavor to outrange the Leipzig with her 6-inch guns and thus cause her to alter course and give the Cornwall and Kent a chance of coming into action.

At 4:17 P.M. the Cornwall opened fire, also on the Leipzig.

At 7:17 P.M. the Leipzig was on fire fore and aft, and the Cornwall and Glasgow ceased fire.

The Leipzig turned over on her port side and disappeared at 9 P.M.  Seven officers and eleven men were saved.

At 3:36 P.M. the Cornwall ordered the Kent to engage the Nuernberg, the nearest cruiser to her.

Owing to the excellent and strenuous efforts of the engine room department, the Kent was able to get within range of the Nuernberg at 5 P.M.  At 6:35 P.M. the Nuernberg was on fire forward and ceased firing.  The Kent also ceased firing and closed to 3,300 yards; as the colors were still observed to be flying on the Nuernberg, the Kent opened fire again.  Fire was finally stopped five minutes later on the colors being hauled down, and every preparation was made to save life.  The Nuernberg sank at 7:27 P.M., and, as she sank, a group of men were waving a German ensign attached to a staff.  Twelve men were rescued, but only seven survived.

The Kent had four killed and twelve wounded, mostly caused by one shell.

During the time the three cruisers were engaged with the Nuernberg and Leipzig, the Dresden, which was beyond her consorts, effected her escape owing to her superior speed.  The Glasgow was the only cruiser with sufficient speed to have had any chance of success.  However, she was fully employed in engaging the Leipzig for over an hour before either the Cornwall or Kent could come up and get within range.  During this time the Dresden was able to increase her distance and get out of sight.

The weather changed after 4 P.M., and the visibility was much reduced; further, the sky was overcast and cloudy, thus assisting the Dresden to get away unobserved.

(D)—­ACTION WITH THE ENEMY’S TRANSPORTS.

A report was received at 11:27 A.M. from H.M.S.  Bristol that three ships of the enemy, probably transports or colliers, had appeared off Port Pleasant.  The Bristol was ordered to take the Macedonia under his orders and destroy the transports.

H.M.S.  Macedonia reports that only two ships, steamships Baden and Santa Isabel, were present; both ships were sunk after the removal of the crews.