ABSTRACT
On October 29th the German battle-cruiser Goeben had carried out a raid in the Black Sea, bombarding Odessa and Sebastopol, and sinking a Russian minelayer and gunboat. The bombardment took place on November 3rd and very considerable damage was inflicted on the forts in the course of twenty minutes firing. War was formally declared against Turkey by the British and French Governments on November 5th. Gorton stayed for a time and then went on the staff of one of the new Army Commands before proceeding to France. Longridge was attached to the Staff of the Indian Expeditionary Force and was killed in France after performing very gallant service. Even such an event as Cradock's defeat at Coronel might conceivably have been averted had there been a proper system of central command. At least one Cabinet Minister was to the knowledge at the time profoundly concerned at the absence of news of Spees squadron.
