CRUISE OF THE WOLF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 150, 14 March 1918, Page 7

CRUISE OF THE WOLF

GRAPHIC STORY BY STEWARDESS OF THE MATUNtiA WIRELESS MESSAGE PICKED UP BY THE RAIDER MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES OBTAINED (Rec. March 13, 8 p.m.) London, March 12. Mrs. Mackenzie, stewardess of tho Matunga, has supplied tho following graphic story of her experiences:— "Tho Matunga was about eighteen hours off Rabaul on August 6 when tho Wolf came in sight. She had picked up tho Matunga's wireless message on the previous night announcing ]ier arrival. Evidently she had been informed we were taking 500 tons of coal. The AVolf was desperately in noed of coal, and f.lio waited for us five days. Immediately the Wolf appeared she sent up a seaplane, which' circled over the Matunga to investigate whether she was armed, then came closer, hoisted the German ensign, and signalled 'Stop!' 'Die chief officer apparently jnistook tho signal and went on, whereupon the Wolf fired across the Matunga's bow at 500 yards rnnga. A prize craw from the Wolf, with bombing officer, immediately followed. All were fully armed and carried a large number of bombs. Boats from the Wolf took off the Matunga's captain and officers, military officers, and tsoldiors, anrl three rnalo civilians. "We then sailed for Dutch New Guinea, where the Matunga discharged her coal. Tho Wolf shipped the coal and all provisions, nnd the stewardSi sailor-s, and others who had been left on tho Matunga were put on board the Wolf. "We proceeded seaward for ten miles on August 27, when the Matunga was sunk by means of timehombs. Every precaution was taken to prevent the floating of the wreck, and the steamer disappeared in half an hour. The subsequent course of the Wolf is only surmise. I presume she went into the Indian Ocean. Once she was off Colombo,' and later sho was near Singapore and Borneo. Tho Wolf sowed mines. Nightly we heard tho rattle of sounding lines, and then mines were carefully loweied." Details follow of the capture of tho Hitchi Mam and other vessels which have already been cabled. "The Wolf was now making for Trinidad Jslands, but picked up a. wireless message stating that a Chilian warship had arrived there, and thereupon altered her course in the opposite direction. After coaling from the I.gotz Mondi we headed for Germany. In midAtlantic two armed ships, apparently American transports, suddenly hove out of the mist and passed close to the Wolf and the Igotz Mendi, causing great consternation on board, but proceeded without signalling." There was stormy weather during the latter part of the voyage, and Mrs. Mackenzie was ill for three weeks and does not know what happened till tho Igotz Mendi stranded, but understood that the vessels slipped down the Norwegian coast without meeting British warships.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOW THE WAIRUNA WAS CAPTURED THE NIAGARA NEARLY WAYLAID ON TWO OCCASIONS. (Rec. March 13,11.45 p.m.) London, March 12. Messrs. Rees and Donovan, members of the AVairuna's crew, have leach,ed London. They state that the Wairuna was captured off the Kermadeos, whero the raider was close inshore refitting. A German band was playing on board the Wolf -when one of the musicians sighted an approaching steamer. A seaplane flew over the Wairun and dropped a paper ordering tho ship to stou. At the same time the Wolf fired a" shot across the Wairuna's bows. A prizo crew went on board, and took possession. The raider worked at the AVairuna for sixteen days, and removed 1200 tons of coal and provisions and 42 sheep. At this time the Wolf was at starvation point in the matter of food and coal. The Germans tvitted the Wairuna's crew with not scuttling tho vessel when capture was ineviKiole. When tho dismantling was completed bombs were placed in the how cf the Wairuna and she was sunk. The Wolf nearly waylaid the Niagara on two occasions, but cruisers' wireless messages warned the Wolf of the imminence of danger. . Sir Thomas Mackenzie (New Zealand High Commissioner) provided for Messrs. Rees and Donovan's wants, and entertained them.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' .