THE EMDEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 8

THE EMDEN

"IN SYDNEY BY CHRISTMAS." The Commonwealth Department of. Defence has, as stated recentlj'j accepted the contract of. a Sydney corporation to . raiso tho German cruiser ' Emden, now on tho reef at Keeling Island, and bring her to Sydney for exhibition purposes. The men who have agreed, to undertake tho work are Messrs. E. G. Darnley, a diver and salvago contractor, Ocean House; E. Felton (Carlingford), G. and C. Read. Tho lines 'upon which they propose to work as explained to a. "Sydney Herald" representative by Mr. Darnley, aro as ingenious as they are interesting. . . . ' When,the Emden was headed for the, rocks Captain von Muller might have had in mind some other schcino thanpermanently disabling his ship. Mr. Darnley thinks lie had. From information ill tlie possession- of his corporation, it appears that tho German, pirate frequently ran his ship up on the beach, and with the falling tide turned the crew to scrapping down the hull. Ho was enabled to do this by the peculiar construction of the ship's bottom, which was flat; having been specially designed for service in shallow waters. _ "Thora is every reason to believe," said, Mr. Darnley, "that, gj.vcn reasonable opportunity, Captain von Muller would hava backed away from the reef. What settled him were the final broadsides of the Sydney; four of which pierced his stem. This is all tho damage done to the-hull below the wnterline; tho plates elsewhere are as sound as a bell. What we propose doing, therefore, is to plug these holes with concrete, remove tin smashed top-hamper, set the salvago pump at work, and, with the assistanco of a powerful tug, there'is no leason tt, doubt that she will float off. From out reports Captain von Muller never onco damaged his boat in getting her off' a hard bottom, and with the latest appliances I think we can do the same." . Once .afloat, tho contractors intend towing the Emden to tho nearest port, and then,- if- it is found practicable, bringing her_ to Sydney under her own steam. It is impossible to bring her in. the condition she lies now. The funnels and smashed deck hammer would carry away with the first blow, and these, therefore, must be transformed to the salvage vessel. • The ■ Commonwealth Government haa reserved the right to purchase the Emden on her arrival in Sydney at a price fixed by arbitration.

Mr. Darnloy, who gained his diving experience with the C.P.li. in Nova Scotia, hopes to have tho Emden in Farm Cove by Christmas.