Goeben and Breslau might still escape, yet reaching safety would not guarantee their later operational value. Damage that could not be repaired after the passage might prevent their Black Sea forays. It could also keep them from making later sorties into the Mediterranean. The counterfactual turns on whether both ships remain usable after escape.
Notable Point · 40:12-40:32
Unrepaired damage could blunt Goeben and Breslau's escape
Escaping would preserve Goeben and Breslau only if damage did not prevent their later Black Sea and Mediterranean operations.