Observation and range-finding work was most difficult, the seas sweeping over the forecastles and conning-towers, and preventing the use of some guns on the middle decks, the crews of which were never able to see the sterns of their opponents, and only occasionally their bows. On the other hand, the guns of the two armoured cruisers worked splendidly, and were well served. At 6.39 the first hit was recorded in the _Good Hope_. Shortly afterwards the British opened fire. I am of opinion that they suffered more from the heavy seas than we did. Both their armoured cruisers, with the shortening range and the failing light, were practically covered by our fire, while they themselves, so far as can be ascertained at present, only hit the _Scharnhorst_ twice and the _Gneisenau_ four times. At 6.53, when at a distance of 60 hectometres, I sheered off a point. The enemy's artillery at this time was firing more slowly, while we were able to observe numerous hits. Among other things, it was seen that the roof of the fore double turret was carried away, and that a fierce fire was started in the turret. The _Scharnhorst_ reckons thirty-five hits on the _Good Hope_. As the distance, in spite of our change of course, had now decreased to 49 hectometres, it was to be presumed that the enemy doubted the success of his artillery, and was manœuvring for torpedo firing. The position of the moon, which had risen about six o'clock, favoured this manœuvre. At about 7.45, therefore, I gradually sheered off. In the meantime, darkness had set in, and the range-finders in the _Scharnhorst_ for the moment used the reflections of the fires which had broken out in the _Good Hope_ to estimate the distances; gradually, however, range-finding and observation became so difficult that we ceased fire at 7.26. At 7.23 a big explosion was observed between the funnels of the _Good Hope_. So far as I could see, the ship did not fire after that. The _Monmouth_ seems to have stopped firing at 7.20. The small cruisers, including the _Nürnberg_, which came up in the meantime, were by 'wireless' at 7.30 to pursue the enemy and make a torpedo attack. At this time rain squalls limited the range of vision. The small cruisers were not able to find the _Good Hope_, but the _Nürnberg_ came upon the _Monmouth_, which, badly damaged, crossed her bows and tried to come alongside. At 8.58 the _Nürnberg_ sank her by a bombardment at point-blank range. The _Monmouth_ did not reply, but she went down with her flag flying. There was no chance of saving anybody owing to the heavy sea, especially as the _Nürnberg_ sighted smoke, and believed that another enemy ship was approaching, which she prepared to attack. At the beginning of the fight the _Otranto_ made off. The _Glasgow_ was able to keep up her harmless fire longer than her consorts maintained theirs, and she then escaped in the darkness.