noon
Damaged cruiser _ Maryland _ sent to Buenos Ayres . Sighted the Japanese cruisers _ Idzumo _ , _ Tokiwa _ , _ Jakumo _ and four destroyers at the entrance to the Straits of Magellan on the morning of December 6th . Pursued them with entire fleet . Battle with the _ Idzumo _ and _ Tokiwa _ at noon , in which former was sunk . Battle temporarily suspended on account of appearance of two hostile battleships . Destroyers keeping in touch with the Japanese squadron . ' Perfect silence greeted these words ; no one seemed able to believe the news of this American victory : the first joyful tidings after almost nine months of constant adversity .