THE EMDEN'S CRUISE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2360, 16 January 1915, Page 4

THE EMDEN'S CRUISE

A SAILOR'S DIARY AN EVENTFUL STORY . CLOSE TO AUSTRALIA (From tli© Australian Press Representative with the Australian Imperial Force.)

One of the prisoners from the Emden was found to have a diary. The diary lias now been translated. Its author, a petty officer, .put in it only the bare facts, but the translator supplemented those with many details obtained from tho prisoners. As the diary is written in a German shorthand, it is impossible for me to distinguish tho original diary from, tho subsequent -additions. What is printed below is a condensed form of the translation.

It shows that tho Emden was at one part of her extraordinary career only a few hundred miles from the north coast of Australia, and that exactly three -'weeks from the outbreak of war she was in seas in which she might any day have •met an Australian cruiser. August 24 was actually tho day on which she wa3 closest.' For nearly a fortnight she had been dodgiug slowly down through the jslands, whion were being scoured by lour fleet. Never since she sailed from Tsing-tau at tho beginning of the war did she exhibit a single light, except very rarely to signal to her collier by Morse code. . Her captain never usfid his wifeless except on the rarest occasions when he had to take the risk, and the mystery of his avoiding the tremendous activity of the cruisers which at the later stages were pursuing him is now made clear for tho first time by the fact that he spent from September 29 to October 14 out in the middle of the Indian Ocean. There he found that tho inhabitants of the tiny British colony of Diego Garcia did not know about the war. They supplied him with presents of fish and fruit. Possibly the versatility of tho Emden's captain may be attributed to the fact that, whilst his father was_a German his mother was a French emigre. . The subjtanoe of the diary is as fol•lows:— July 28. —Emden at Tsing-tau. Owing to the unsettled state of affairs in Europe, we were ordered to prepare for action. This was carried out in harbour. _ July 29. —News received that the Russians are mobilising on tho German border. •July 31. —At-7 this evening the Emden -put to sea, after spending days taking jn provisions and ammunition. All lights out as she sailed out of harboiir., August '2.—Cruising across trade route between Nagasaki and Shanghai; allowed no ship to sight her, August 3. —Early this morning newn by wireless from Tsing-Tau ihat war had been declared between Russia and Germany, franco was mobilising, and England would bo probably drawn in. _ August 4.—-Sailed through Straits of Korea into Sea of Japan. Passing Nagasaki and the islands of Tsushima, several steamers were soon, but tho, Emden kept out of sight, as her captain wanted to capture the Russian cruiser Askold, which ho knew to be lying in Shanghai before tho war, and would now probably be making for Vladivos-. took. After' waiting some hours and 6eeing nothi'ng resembling a war ship, the Enulen sailed south between Japan and Tsushima. Hero smoke was seen evidently making for Vladivostok. The Emden-- gaye chase, and the stranger nia'de straight for the land. . Emden gradually overtook her, and when within three and a half miles fired a blank shot. The stranger would not stop, so the Emden fired shots across his bows, when ho immediately stopped. An armed party was sent on board, and found her to be the Russian auxiliary cruiser Hjasan. Her guns and ammunition had not yet been shipped, but she cariried mails for Vladivostok. The prize crew remained on board, and both woro headed for Tsiug-Tau, all lights out. • August 5. —Wireless received that England had declared war on Germany. Emden signalled to Tsing-Tau forts that she and another.ship would arrive at. 4 next morning, and that the forts were to let them pass in. August 6, 4 a.m.—Arrived Tsing-Tau. Emden alongside pier filling, up with coal and stores all day. At: 7 p.m. sailed again, with all lights out, accompanied by German collier Marcomannia. The Marcomannia carries 6000 tones of coal and 1000 .tons of provisions. Sho has a crew of 48, and her speed is 10 knots.

August 7, 2.l2.—Cruising in China and Japanese seas. Held up Japanese mail ste'amer from Hong-ICong to Nagasaki, but as there was no war'yet with Japan she was released. Emden turned southwards from Indian Ocean, called at Marianne or Ladrone Islands. Here Emden coaled from her own pollier. August 13.—Arrived this morning at tho Island,:,of Angsur, in the Pelew Islands: coaled and sailed f6r Timor. August 24. —Arrived this day at Timor. • >

This was apparently the closest that the Emden ever came to tho Australian coast._ She was apparently making all the time for the Bay of Bengal, and took this out of the way route to avoid, the British China squadron, and becaus'i she could not face the Malay Straits her object now was to reaeh.:the Bay of Bengal without anybody. knowing, that a German cruiser was there. She Buccosded, 'an 3 to this her great success was duo. Coaled from the collier Marcomannij. fit Timor. Sailed again at evening westward through Mores Sea. August 31.—Held up the- Dutch steamer Tromp, and let her go Sailed through Zarbok Straits, Java, to avoid all shipping. September 4.—Closed into hjid at north of Sumatra in order to reach smooth sea ,for coaling from .llarcomannia. September 4. —Sailed off Bay ol Bengal to start operations from trado route between Colombo and Calcutta, at a point .250 miles south-cast of Madras. September 10.T-Stopped Greek steamer Pontoperos Six men boarled her, and found she was carrying coal to Calcutta for British firms. flho was ordered to follow the Emden about. The British ' steamer ' Indus was captured, and was found to bo fitted up as transport for Indian troojs. The crow was allowed to gather all its belongings, and was then transferred to the collier. Five shots were fired at tho Indus, making a largo hole in the steamer. Sho tilted over and sank quickly. ■

September 11.—Steamed northward;! along trade. route. British steamer Levant liove in siglit. Found her also fitted as transport for troops and horses. Transferred crew to collier and sank lier. September 12.—Captured British 'steamer Kabingaj bound from Calcutta to New York with cargo of general merchandise. Tho cargo was for American firms, and therefore the' Kabin<?a was ordered to follow together with, tho Marcomannia and Pontopcro. Later we captured the British steamer Killin, bound for Calcutta with a full cargo of' iron. Sank her, and transferred tho crew to collier. ■ September 13. —Sailed a little- furtiler north in company with tho threo steamers, each manned by a German crew, Tho prize crews always consisted of an officer and ten men, including engineers. Tho British stcamor -Diplomat, from Calcutta to England, with a cargo of tea, was captured and sunk. [Sho is said to have been of : tho same size as the White Star liner Medic.] Her• craw aud . the ■ captured - crews.

hitherto kept on tho . Marcomannia, were now transferred to the Kabinga. Whilst this was actually being done the Italian steamer Loredano was sighted. Emden at once went out to her, brought her up oii tho scene, and asked the captain to take all the crows who had been gathered in tho Kabinga.

[This would havo enabled tho Emden's captain to sink the Kabinga, which lie wanted to do, as she was a British ship.] Tho Italian captain refused, and his ship was therefore relQased; hut as "she was bound for Calcutta it was realised that within a day or two tho Emden'B presence in the Bay of Bengal must become known. Not one of the steamers captured in the Bay of Bengal attempted to escape, as the Indian Government had declared that the Bay of Bengal was free of all the enemy's ships, and every steamer that-was captured believed her captor to be a British cruiser when first they sighted her, until she was within 600 or 700 yards, when she hoisted tho German flag. The Emden's crew afterwards read in Indian newspapers taken from captured steamers that the first news of their presence was given by the Italian steamer Loredano. When she reached the mouth of the Ganges the pilot was informed. He communicated with the. lightship, and the lightship informed Calcutta.

This night, when 300 miles south of Calcutta, we sank the Diplomat. Later we saw a light on the horizon, and found by Morse signals that it was the Italian steamer Neandolo. Bade her good-night. September 14. —Sailed with the three steamers still further northwards towards Calcutta. When 150 miles from Calcutta wo sank the small British cargo steamer Trabboch. She had no cargo. . At this point we detached the Kabinga to Calcutta. Three cheers were given as she left. As she was sailing away the valuable British steamer Clan Mathieson appeared with a rich cargo of machinery, motor-cars, and a fine racehorse from England; The horse was shot-, the crew was transferred to the collier,, and the steamer.was sunk.

September 15.—When- 40 miles from Calcutta we turned south-east for Rangoon. September 18.—We held up Norwegian steamer Dove,- arid, offered captain lOOdol. to tako the Clan Mathieson's crew to Rangoon. He accepted. [Of course news of the Emden would now be everywhere. The Emden'6 captain knew this, for he picked up several wireless messages, including one through tho British cruiser Hampshire. Tho idea on the Emden was that British war ships would be patrolling the entrance to the Bay of Bengal. The Emden sailed across to Madras.]'

September 22. —This night we are off Madras. One of the crew had workod there, and he informed the captain of the oil tanks situated at the entrance to the harbour. At 9.30 p.m. the Emden crept in, turned the searchlights on to the tanks, and fired two broadsides to find the range. The searchlights were then shut off, and 125 shells were fired in salvoes, some hitting a ship. The tanks were sot on firo, and a tremendous blaze arose. The Emden retired at full speed to the: north-east. Tho shore batteries opened fire, but the slic'ls fell short, and none hit the Emden.

September 23.—This J morning the glare of the fire at Madras could still be seen on the horizon, though about 100 miles away. Emden sailed northeast to give the impression that she was going towards Calcutta, but when out of sight she turned southwards round the east coast of Ceylon. Somewhere about here wo lost the Greek steamer Fontoporos, which had followed till now. Believed that she must have been caught by a British cruiser. A panic is said to have been-created in a gale where the people'fled inland in case the Emden .came that way. '; _

j - September l 2s'.—<4. hundred and thirty imilos south of Colombo wo .sank tho small .British steamer Kingludy without cargo. The crew was put aboard the collier. September 26.—This night 40 mileß west of Colombo we captured the British steamer Tymerik, Colombo to England, with sugar. Sailing closer to . Colombo we captured the British steamer Gryfevale, no cargo, and ordered her to follow the Emden with a prize crow. September 27. —Three hundred miles east of Colombo we captured the British collier Buresk [afterwards sunk by H.A.M.S. Sydney], with 600 tons of Cardiff coal for Singapore. Wo left on board the • captain's steward, two engineers, and some Chinese stokers, who were paid by the Emden at their usual rates. The Buresk, with a prize crew, was' ordered to follow. Emden turned westward again and captured- British steamers Ribera and Foyle. Both wero sunk. The Dutch steamer Djoeja was stoppodsand released. September 28. —The Gryfevale, being now crowded with crews, was sent back to Colombo. As sho would report him, ho turned with the'Buresk and Marcomannia out into the Indian Ocean. Morcomannia was here sent away to some rendezvous, and was not seen again by Emden during October. When ■ the chase was at its hottest the Emden was concealed out in the Indian Ocean, away from the' track of shipping.

October 10. —Visited Island of Diego G arcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about half-way between Africa ' and Sumatra. The few European families here had not.yet heard of the war, as they get a steamer only once ,in three months. Emden coaling all day from the Buresk. Some of the engineers repaired the local motor-boat, and wero given baskets of coconuts and fish, greatly appreciated on tho Emden. Sailed at -night northwards. October 15.—Five hundred miles west of Colombo, at 12.50 a.m., captured British cargo steamer Clan Grant, for Colombo with general merchandise. Began transferring crew to Buresk at daybreak, when smoke was seen on the horizon. Tho stranger at first looked like a warship, but on approaching proved to be the dredge Pourabbel, which had been built to the order of the Tasmanian Government. Both ships were sunk.

October 16.—British steamer. Henmehr was sunk. Spanish mail steamer Fernando Po sighted. October 20 to 27. —Emden now freed of all captives except collier Buresk. Captain having read in recont newspapers of British and Japanese .cruisers capturing German merchant ships near Ponang, he decided to raid Penang. As the Buresk could only manage ten knots, she was left to wait at a rendezvous in the Indian Ocean half way be. tween the Malay Straits and Ceylon. Emden made a semi-circle to southward to reach Penang in order to avoid British cruisers believed to be guarding entrance to Bay of Bengal. Smoke was often seen on tho horizon, but was always avoided as on previous occasions. October 28.—T0-day, Sunday, tho British Blue Funnel liner Triolus, on her maiden trip from Hong-Kong to England, was'captured. She had about threo dozen passengers, including women, and with her crew had on hoard about 200 persons. Therefore, although she was estimated to be worth £1,000,000, she could not be at the moment sunk. However, a few hours later the' British cargo steamer St. Egbert, from America, was sighted, and all the people from tho Triolus -were transferred to her.

October 29. —Steamed a little south and captured tho British collier Exford, from England to Singapore with coal. Sighted the British cargo steamer Chilkans, which is fitted with wireless. Ordered her not to use her wireless. The captured crows were all placed in St. Egbert and sent to Quikon, a small town on the south-west coast of India, and not to Colombo; which was further off and a nnval station. October 30.—The collier Exford allowed to go on to Singapore. The reason for this is unknown, but it was surmised that her coal was for German agents. '

October 28. —At 4 a.m., ten miles outside Penang, the extra funnel and the German flag were hoisted. The idea of the extra funnel was to make the Emden appear like the British, cruiser Newcastle, the Yarmouth, or the Hampshire, all of which were known to be about. From the entrance of tlie harbour at 5 a.m. could bo seen in the distance several ships, and well in front of them an unknown cruiser. On steaming into a range of about 600 yards this was found to be jie Russian cruiser Jemtchung. The Ihiiden fired two torpedoes, tho first hitting tho cruiser just under the after funnel, whereupon she was seen to sink about four feet. The second, fired at closer range, struck just under the bridge, when a terrible explosion occurred. During this time the Emden fired salvo after salvo, in all 100 shots. The Jemtchung fired a few shots, some of which Bit ships in tho harbour behind tho Emden, but none hit the Emden. The Emden had no idea that the Russian cruiser would be in Penang, but-expected to find thero the French cruiser Dnpelx and the French destroyer Mousquet. The Mousquet was on patrol duty outsido the harbour, and afterwards reported having seen the Emden, but thought she was a British cruiser. Tho Emden had now turned and was leaving the harbour at full speed. Thirty miles out sh? met a steamer. On approaching it she hoisted the red flag, meaning that she was a powder steamer. The stranger, which was the British steamer Clenturret, had signalled the shore for a pilot, and the launch had just reached her. The Emden had got out her boats. Just then a warship appeared on the horizon. ' The Emden immediately ordered her boats to return and made off, as the warship appeared to be a large one. This was, however, found to be a distortion, the effect of the early morning mirage. As the ships closed to about 3800 yards tho stranger was found to be the French destroyer Mousquet. . The Emden opened fire. The first few shots hit the Mousquet's engine-room, and after several salvos the Emden ceased fire, expecting the Frenchman to be wrecked and to surrender. Instead, the. Mousquet went on firing, and sent off about ten shots. None, however, hit tho Emden, although some fell 150 yards .in front of her. Tho Mousquet's crew afterwards said that they had fired two torpedoes, but the Emden did not see these. The Emden began firing again, and the Mousquet sank bows first. The Emden ceased fire and rescued 36 Frenchmen, three of whom died afterwards owing ,to the severity of their wounds. This involved delay, and another destroyer was seen approaching from Penang, so the Emden at once steamed for tho Indian Ocean at full speed, with the torpedo boat in pursuit. After being chased for four hours by the torpado boat the Emden entered a heavy rain storm, and the torpedo boat was lost to sight. October 30.—Captured British cargo sterner Newburn, with general merchandise,' for Singapore. All the French prisoners were put on board. The captain was ordered to sail direct to Sabang, in Sumatra. October 31. —Retched collier Burnesk,. and sailed in company for Cocos Islands. November. B.—Arrived Cocos in evening; ''sailed round islands to see if everything was clear. November 9.—5.30, sailed up to Direction Island, a dummy funnel being put up for third time. Landed a party of about 50 to destroy wireless and cut cables.