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GERMAN RAIDER MOEWE

STILL A MYSTERY

SAID TO BE A SURVEY SHIP APPAM'S' CAPTURE CAPTAIN'S STORY READS LIKE FICTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright New York, February 2. The German raider Moewe, which captured the Appam on January 15, placed a crew of twenty-two on board, under the command of Lieutenant Berg. After the Appam's capture the Moewe sank the Clan MacTavish, which gave battle. A portion of the.ClanMac'favish's' meat cargo was appropriated, and her crew placed on the Appam. Lieutenant Berg states that he sank six other vessels—the Ariadne, the Trader, the Dromonby, the Corbridge, the Farringford, and the Arthur, and transferred their crews to the Appam. AVhen the Moewe came up to the Appam she iired a single shot across her bows.', The Appam did not resist, and was taken due west across the Atlantic. On approaching Fortress Monroe, the Appam, in reply to a wireless inquiry, said that she was the German cruiser Buffalo. She carried a single 3-inch gun, _ but whether this gun was. on board originally, or had been mounted by the Germans •after her capture, is not known. The German Embassy does not know Lieutenant Berg, but supposes that he belongs to the auxiliary service.

It is stated here that the Moewe was a survey ship from Kiel, and that she cruiscd in the North Sea under tho Swedish flag. She flew the British flag in the Atlantic, hoisted the German flag on approaching the Appam, and dropped her dummy sides, displaying her armament. Tho Appam arrived flying the German flag. Twelve of the crew from a submarine were on board.

After that the Appam was armed, and captured two British vessels en route to Americj, which were disposed of.. Lieutenant Berg states that the Clan MacTavish made a gallant fight. Fifteen' of those oh board were killed. ' . -

Captain Harrison tolls a story that reads like a page of -fiction. He says:— "We were travelling at a fair speed. It was a bright day, and we sighted what seemed to be an ordinary tramp. She closed in, but we did not fear any danger. Suddenly the tramp fired across our bows. I hove-to, and the tramp's forecastle-head, fell away, revealing a battery of huge guns. • We surrendered to a prize crew, which boarded us under cover of the raider's guns. They disarmed our crew and locked them in the cabins, then liberated twenty German prisoners, who assisted the prize-crew. Many of the prisoners from vessels which had. previously been sunk were transferred to tho Appam. A German was stationed at the wireless apparatus; and received messages, but was ordered not to send out any list which would reveal the whereabouts of the Appam's passengers.The crew were exercised a few at a time. No v complaint as to their treatment .was received." ■,

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160205.2.30.15

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
465

GERMAN RAIDER MOEWE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 5

GERMAN RAIDER MOEWE Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 5

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