SCHARNHORST'S VIGIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2367, 25 January 1915, Page 6

SCHARNHORST'S VIGIL

STORY FROM THE LEEUWIN. One of tlic officers of the steamer Is« malia, which arrived last week at Fremantle from Calcutta, had an 'extraordinary story to tell regarding the wanderings of tho two German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gncisenau, recently sunk by tho British off Falkland Islands. ! When tho Ismnlia left Calcutta for Australia on her previous trip to these shores tho Eniden scare was right at its height. In order to avoid coming into touch with either this or any other German cruiser, the Ismalia kept so far out'of the usual course that sho did not sight a single thing from tho tini6 sho left Calcutta on October 1 to the time of her arrival off Capo Leeuwin. About October 20, on that night, a huge dark form stole out from tho vicinity of Leeuwin, circled round tho Ismalia, and than as mysteriously darted away again. This was such a singular occurrenco that it was reported to tho authorities at the nearest Australian port. It ,was not for somo time afterwards that this officer learned that the huge dark form encountered off tho Leeuwin was tho Scharnhorst-, and that it was suspected that she, in compmv with tho Gneisenau, was keeping watch' for the fleet of ships which conveyed the -Australian troops to Egypt. Jt was thought afterwards that on learning of tho presence of large warships Iho two cruisers changed their tactics, and made off to South America--,