THE EMDEN ARRIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1929, Page 8

THE EMDEN ARRIVES

EXCHANGE OK COURTESIES. AUCKLAND, June 25. With the Rritish flag living proudly from her truck and the new iron-cross-•d flag of Germany fluttering above her stern, the cruiser Emden entered ..lie harbour at 8 a.ill. She fired a sa 1 uto, which was replied lo from, the guns on tho North Head. The Emden anchored in the stream. !'he Herman Consul for New Zealand (Mr W. Poiisolor) and the senior naval iHicer (Commander Clover) called on Die End,oil’s commander, after which •lie Emden’s commander came ashore iml called on llu- Hon P. A. de la Porrello. Minister of Internal Affairs, roiresenting tne Government. Other •alls •included a visit to the Mayor, lie General Staff Officer representing tlic Northern Military Command, and the chairman of the Harbour Hoard. Ihe.se calls wore returned, and then Ihe captain of the Emden returned the •all of tho senior naval officer. Til an interview with a “Star’’ roorcscntative, the captain of tho Em den said : “We are helping to do our host to cement the good feelings between vour nation and my country. As far •is war is concerned, wo had to do our duty to our country, just as your British officers did their duty to their country. . During war we fight, as every nation fights, for its rights and

irestige, but after the conflict surely we can he friends, as we were before the war. Before tiie war many German ships came to your country, and trade relations, were good. 1 hope the visit of the Emden will help to reestablish the old friendship which existed.”

The reason for the cruise, Captain de la l’eriere said, was to give sixty.ive cadets on hoard a good view of ...e world and make good sailors of Lhem. All cadets served this way lor year. AUCKLAND, June 25. Of the oflicers of the .Emden, fifteen are wearing the Iron Cross. The chaplain of the' Emden, who wears the iron Cross, gained his on the Western front. Me also serried on the d.ussian front. Smilingly, 'lie said: •‘I was also at Scapa Flow.”

When the E'uulen fired her salute of thirty guns passing North Head, Jie cruiser was slowed down to a crawl. She hoisted the Union Jack, while officers and men stood on the quarter-deck at the salute. When the response came, the German flag was down from tlic fort.

The Emden is peculiarly devoid of mascots or pets. A cheetah, an animal >f the leopard family, was presented n the cruiser by an English farmer at Nairobi, but it sprang overboard during the voyage.

Captain de la Periere said that he iked to bring boys up with traditions. I bat was the reason that lie carried •ii the wall of bis cabin his own flag, down when lie commanded .Submarine -311. The flag was flown from 11)10 -o 11)18. He commanded the submarine cruiser UI3S) subsequently, and ill bis cabin lie keeps as a trophy the periscope of that vessel. The periscope •'s in a damaged condition, and a hisory attaches to this memento. Tie attacked a convoy in the Hay of .Risen - and was so close to the vessels that no of them, which he sank, chafed los superstructure and put out oT action both Ids periscopes. Damage was done to such an extent that he was unable to go under water, but lie succeeded in getting back to Wilhelmshaven by running tile gauntlet around Lite coast of Scotland without mishap.

On the bridge of the Emden, the visitors were shown an automatic gdaph which, registers the slightest deviation from the correct course, and acoustic sounding apparatus, which "ives the depth of water when approaching land. Everywhere was to be seen the hall-mark of efficiency. In the wireless room, the cruiser possesses a magnificently equipped plant, and is in direct communication on short wave with Germany. The place was ■> bewildering mass of controls and 'vpewritors were clicking away merrily. The watch-room. whore the watch engineers are stationed, is also a highly technical unit. Hero every movement of the ship, to the slightest

•'ogreo of si coring nr velocity, is r«'•orded on various gauges. A very inforosting feature were the gauges that •worded minutely the exact amount of salt contained in the boiler water. Once a careful analytical process, it i« now done automatically by electrical apparatus.