History of the World War, Volume 2 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest warMarch, Francis A., Jr.
History
History of the World War, Volume 2 (of 7) : $b An authentic narrative of the world's greatest war
March, Francis A., Jr.
World War, 1914-1918
“At 5.15 P. M. one of the Gneisenau’s shells struck the Invincible.
This was her last effective effort. At 5.30 P. M. she turned toward
the flagship with a heavy list to starboard, and appeared to stop,
the steam pouring from her escape pipes, and smoke from shell and
fires rising everywhere. About this time I ordered the signal ‘Cease
fire,’ but before it was hoisted, the Gneisenau opened fire again, and
continued to fire from time to time with a single gun. At 5.40 P. M.
the three ships closed in on the Gneisenau, and at this time the flag
flying at her fore truck, was apparently hauled down, but the flag at
the peak continued flying. At 5.50 ‘Cease fire’ was made. At 6 P. M.
the Gneisenau keeled over very suddenly, showing the men gathered on
her decks, and then walking on her side as she lay for a minute on her
beam ends before sinking.
“The prisoners of war from the Gneisenau report that by the time the
ammunition was expended some six hundred men had been killed and
wounded. When the ship capsized and sank there were probably some two
hundred unwounded survivors in the water, but, owing to the shock of
the cold water, many were drowned within sight of the boats and ships.
Every effort was made to save life as quickly as possible, both by
boats and from the ships. Life buoys were thrown and ropes lowered, but
only a portion could be rescued. The Invincible alone rescued a hundred
and eight men, fourteen of whom were found to be dead after being
brought on board. These men were buried at sea the following day, with
full military honors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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