A STERN CHASE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2267, 29 September 1914, Page 5

A STERN CHASE

JAPANESE LINER AND SUPPOSED .GERMAN CRUISER. The giant Japanese liner Chiyo Maru, the largest passenger vessel in the lacific Ocean, plying from the Orient to San Francisco, came into port the other day with passengers and crew telling the story of a stern chase through tho liight, the liner being the pursued, and a German cruiser, believed to be the Lsipsic, tho pursuer (says tbo San Francisco correspondent of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph," writing under "date September 1). ■ When 10S0 miles from San Francisco, on the way from Honolulu, the Chiyo was marked by the powerful searchlight from a German cruiser, thought to.be the Leipsic, which has been menacing steamship service between the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Coast. The Chiyo had a valuable cargo stowed away in her holds, and a full list of passengers, this including 101 first-class, 81 second, and 114 steerage. The passengers included an Italian count and countess, English and French reservists, and tourists whose travelling plans had boen interrupted by the outbreak of hostilities. Tho warship appeared suddenly astern of the big passenger ship, causing alarm among the passengers, who, in the half light of Saturday night, August 29}>at7 o'clock, had just come on deck from dinner. Capt. William Greene, the doughty English skipper, estimated the cruiser to.be distant 10 miles, and he signalled for full-speed ahead.. Searchlights from the cruiser shone on the Japanese- liner, a«id the warebip was seen to , be making all possible speed to overtake the Chiyo. Captain Greene gave orders to put on more steam, and all stokers and firemen on tha steamer were put to work. Fifteen minutes after the cmiser was sighted Chief-engineer Ishil had the Chiyo's two giant turbines churning 21 knots. Meanwhile a constant glare from the cruiser shone on the stern of the Chiyo, where all the-passengers were -huddled in a group. Orders were immediately given to obscure all lights, and the crew busied themselves covering the port-: holes with matting At first it appeared to the startled group, gathered at the deck-rails to watch; that the cruiser.was gaining. Then followed an hour of tense, waiting, whefi the racers seemed to be travelling at "an even speed. At last the Chiyo began to :gain." Long into the night the race continued, and the passengers'watched. The lights of the cruiser were plain'y discernible and the sea-fighter's outline convinced the officers of the Chiyo Maru that it was tho Kaiser's property. Gradually the strip of water broadened as the steamer drew away. Towards morning the light from tho south-west went out, and the cruiser began, to disappear. The'race was won. Captain Greene stated that early on Saturday morning he saw a ship 10 miles to the north. "Wo signalled tho boat with flags," he explained, "but the signals were not answered. Wo were afraid to use the wireless fyr fear of making our position iknown, and I now believe that tho vossel made our position known to tho German'cruiser.