DESTROYING AN OCEAN RAIDER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2547, 23 August 1915, Page 6

DESTROYING AN OCEAN RAIDER

THE END OF THE KONIGSBERG. By Telegraph—Press Association—OopyrigM ("Times" and 1 Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, August 20. • An officer of the warsliip Severn relates' tlio end of the German cruiser Konigsberg, wliicli, as previously announced by the Admiralty, was destroyed in the Rufigi River; East Africa, some time ago, after having been bottled up earlier in tlio .war. The wholo British squadron, including the Severn and the Mersey, ho says, were blockading tlio .coast, assisted by seaplanes and aeroplanes. The Severn got liigli up the river, and an artillery duel coiumenoed. The Severn hit the Konigsberg with eight out of twelve sliots, an aeroplane signalling tlio results. Suddenly the aeroplane signelled, "Am hit," and planed down. The pilot and observer were rescued. The Severn continued her steady bom-' bardment of tho Konigsberg, which replied. Then came a big explosion. Tho German vessol was afterwards never free, from smoke, which was punctuated by dual explosions, ono shooting up to twice the height of the maists. Gradually slid was silenced. The Mersey went closer in and opened fire on the Konigsberg. It was a fine sight. The German's masts and funnels were gone, arid she wa's a mass of smoke and name. The Mersey fired twenty salvoes. Subsequently the airmen reported that the Konigsberg was afire from stem to stern, tho flames coming out of the deck.