CRUISE OF THE MOEWE

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15874, 13 April 1917, Page 9

CRUISE OF THE MOEWE

FIGHT WITH THE OTAKI

LONDON, March 30

Renter's correspondent at Copenhagen states that during the fight between the Moewc and the New Zealand Shipping Company's Otaki, British prisoners on tho raider forced the iron doors of their quarters. German soldiers with hand grenades prevented them reaching the deck. The Moewe ou one occasion was cruising outside Cape Town. At another time she was off Rio de' Janiero. She then turned and made for Germany,' by way of Newfoundland and the North Atlantic, when her coal was running out. The British prisoners were kept under strict surveillance, and were isolated from the others.

The Moewe carried four big guns. Sho had five torpedo tubes, and was fitted with high removable masts and dummy funnels. She was repeatedly painted different colours. She also had a- sham steering-wheel. At night time the cruiser went at full speed. In the daytime she steamed slowly. The Moewe passed Elsinore on March 21st, and entered the Sound. On arrival at Kiel the British officers among.the prisoners were sent to Karlsruhe and the men to Westphalia. The fire on the Moewe caused by the Otaki's shells,, was responsible for insufferable heatl The Moewe stripped nor victims of mctaj fittings. During the homeward run a British armed steamer attacked the Moewe. In an obstinate light the British steamer's second officer was killed, and the gunner's arms blown off. The. steamer was sunk arid the survivors "rescued.