OCEAN COMMERCE RAIDERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 5

OCEAN COMMERCE RAIDERS

WHERE IS THE DRESDEN?

Santiago do Chile, Maroh 8. There are persistent rumours that the German cruiser Dresden is hiding in Southern Chile. The fact of German steamers coaling at Cotonel and Valparaiso lends colour to the rumourß.

■ As a commerce-raider the German cruiser Dresden has only had a moderately successful career. Her' record falls tar behind that of the Emden in a muoh shorter period. The Dresden was responsible for two of the six steamers lost by the British Mercantile Marine during the first month of the war. On August 16 she captured the Houston steamer R.vadtjs' 180 miles east of-Pernambuco, and 10 days liter the Steamer Holmwood in about the same neighbourhood. Nothing more was heard Of the Dresden for tiro months and in the meantime she appeared to have transferred her activities from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Hete she joined the flag of Admiral von Spee, and was present at the action with Rear-Admiral Oradoek's squadron oil November L She was afterwards reported to have been at Juan Fernandez, and to haVo taken coal from the steamer Sacramento. Her next appearance was with von Spee's squadron when it was engaged Dy Sir F; D. Stiirdee off the Falklands on December 8. She escaped on that occasion, owing, it was 'said, to the British cruisers ■ having delayed to pick lip survivors from the Nurnberg, and arrived at Punta 'Arenas, where she coaled. The only further information about her was contained in an official communique issued on December 10< in which it was stated that "the search for the Dresden is still proceeding," and in rtihiehrs from South American 60urces referring variously to the vessel having been wrecked, or interned, or sunk. . . .. .