END OF THE GERMAN CRUISER KONIGSBERG

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 7

END OF THE GERMAN CRUISER KONIGSBERG

COMPLETELY WRECKED BY BRITISH MONITORS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, July 12. The British' monitors Metrsey and Severn attacked the German cruiser Konigsberg (which was bottled up by H.M.S. Chatham in the Rufiji River, East Africa, earlier in the war, and a, steamer sunk at tho mouth of the river to prevent her,escape). The Konigsberg was set heavily on fire amidships. The monitors resumed the attack on July 11, and completely wrecked the cruiser. (Rec. July 13, 8.5 p.m.) London, July 13. The Admiralty announces that owing to the difficulty of reaching the Konigsburg, the British monitors Severn and Mersey were dispaTchcd two, months ago. Aircraft hazing accurately located tho Konigsburg, operations opened on July '1. The monitors entered the 1 river and opened fire. The Konigsburg . replied, firing salvoes from five guns with accuracy and rapidity, the Mersey being twice hit. One shell killed four ana wounded four. Owing to the enemy being sUrrOunded by jungle growth, an aeroplane had difficulty in "spotting" (signalling) our shots, hut the Konigsburg was hit five times' early in the action. The monitors kept up the firo for six hours, and the Konigsburg's masts were still standing, .when a salvo burst upon her, and she caught fire heavily amidships. . "She continued to fire one gun intermittently for a while, but during the last part of the engagement was silent, either through lack of ammunition or disablement. ■, "The Weymouth and Pioneer assisted the monitors, the former engaging the small guns on the river bank, while the Pioneer engaged the guns at the mouth of the river. • , - A further attack on July 11 reduced the Konigsburg to a total wreck. Our casualties in the last engagement were two wounded on hoard the Mersey.