Immediately the white flag was hoisted, all the British ships ceased firing. The crew of the _Dresden_ then began to abandon her in haste, and were to be seen assembling on shore. Just as the last party of men were leaving the ship, the Germans made arrangements to blow up the foremost magazine. Not long afterwards there was a loud explosion, and the ship began to sink slowly, bows first. The _Dresden's_ officers and men had all got well clear of the ship. An hour later, at a quarter-past twelve, she disappeared below the surface, flying the white flag and the German ensign which had been re-hoisted at the last. All the surgeons and sick-berth staff of the British ships now attended to the German wounded, who were afterwards conveyed in the _Orama_ to Valparaiso, where they were landed and taken to the German hospital. Such a tame finish to their labours naturally caused disappointment amongst our ship's companies, who expected the enemy to uphold the traditions of Vice-Admiral von Spee by fighting to the last. The main object, however, had been achieved, the victory gained by Admiral Sturdee at the battle of the Falkland Islands had at last been made complete, and our ships in South American waters were now free to proceed on other useful service. PART III OFFICIAL DISPATCHES OFFICIAL DISPATCHES I DISPATCH OF THE ACTION OF H.M.S. "CARMANIA" September 14th, 1914 The Secretary of the Admiralty communicates the following for publication. It is a narrative of the action in South Atlantic on September 14th, 1914, between H.M.S. _Carmania_ and the German armed merchant ship _Cap Trafalgar_:--