IN THE FIRST DAYS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2695, 15 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE FIRST DAYS OF WAR

HOW THE GOEBEN AND BRESLAU GOT AWAY THE GERMAN STORY : By TelesraDli—Press Association—CoDyrigJil (Rec. February 14, 10.30 p.m.) London, February 13. The semi-official history of tho exGerman cruisers Goeheii and Breslau is now tho book of the hour in Germany. Tlie author, Emil Ludwig, who has had access to the log, has telegraphed a summary. He states the officers of tho British cruiser Gloucester had arranged to dins on board the Breslau on July 31, but the Gloucester disappeared that night. Four days later the Breslau was chasing the Gloucester through the Mediterranean. Tlie Breslau received a wireless message stating that political relations had been broken off between the Triplice and tho Triple Entente, and she thereupon rushed at a speed of 28 miles an hour for Brindisi. The Breslau and Goeben reached Messina on August 2, but wero informed that Italy had prohibited tho coaling of belligerent ships at her ports. Admiral Souchon regarded this as a terrible blow, as . his bunkers wero empty. Ho telegraphed Homo: "We domard coal." Then we scraped together what coal was available in the German steamers in port. Tlie Gooben and Breslau put to sea on the morning of August 3. They then received « wireless messnge stating (hat Franco had declared war. Tlie Admiral ordered the firemen to "stoko like the devil." Nono slept that night. ' They received a wireless ordor n.t midnight telling them to go at full-sneed to Constantinople. Tlie Gooben bombarded Phillipville and then made for the open sea. During the morning thsv sighted the British cruisers Invincible and Inflexible. Admiral Souchon said: "We must use the few hours remaining before war is declared with England."- Doctors and officers all joined in stoking, and at eleven o'clock the following night were informed that Britain had declared war.

The Admiral, on August 6, ordered the Breslau and Goeben that they must break through and reach the Dardanelles. "We want to create the impression that we are going to tho Adriatic." The Kaiser sent a wireless message: "I expect you to succeed in breaking through."

Tlie book describes how tlie Goeben saw the Gloucester and listened to the tatter's wireless signals "The Goeben is making for the Adriatic." At ten o'clock in tho evening tho Breslau suddenly changed her course, and headed for Cape Matapan. The watching British cruiser saw the manoeuvre, but Admiral Souchon ordered, "Jam the wireless! Jam like hell!" "Tho Goeben's operators confused the wireless for hours, wave deadening wave,'and during these hours the Germans wero travelling rapidly east, while the British warship, like a dreamer who tries to call out, never succeeded in signalling what she wanted to convoy. When the Admiral reached Constantinople lie received a message: "The Kaiser sends his acknowledgments."