CAREER OF THE EMDEN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4414, 15 May 1922, Page 1

CAREER OF THE EMDEN.

PERSONALITY OF CAPTAIN. A MARTYR TO DISCIPLINE. EXPERIENCES OF PRISONER OF WAR. Various rumours have been current regarding the German cruiser Emden and her work during the three months that she pursued her policy of destruction in the Indian Ocean. Her sphere of operations was 'chiefly in ‘he vicinity o!f; the Bay of Bengal, though she frequently reached latitudes on the south of the line, and more than once she approached within sight of the Continent. When the war broke out the Emden was stationed at Miau-Chau, and was attached .to the German East Asiatic Squadron which included the Gneisneau, Scharnh'orst (Admiral Von Spree’s flagship) l , Leipzig, and .Nurenburg. With the exception of the Emden these warships were destroy-, ed in the Battlie of Falklands. The Emden left Kiau-Chau. under the command of Captain Von Muller. CAPTAIN VON MULLER’S APPEARANCE. Captain Von Muller had ’complete control of the men under him, and in personal appearance he had rather a youthful face for a man : u his position, but. his expression showed no harshness and he was generally kindly disposed to those about him. As a sailor he was fearless and resolute, and merchant vessels were in constant fear of meeting with the strange vessel which was captained by such a man.

Captain Von Muller was clean shaven .of; sallow complexion with dark hair. He was slimly built, with an erect figure, about 5 feet 10 inches in height. Nothing in his outward appearance indicated his love of conquest, but there was no mistaking that the smart, seamanlike figure, pacing up and down the quarter deck in his frock coat, with a. sword at his side, was a man 'of sterling qualities. In the p rime of life he was admired and respected by all who knew him 1 , and his indomitable will brooked no opposion from those he commanded. .Discipline above all things he 'considered the first duty of a sailor. He showed great courtesy to his prisoners and warmly appreciated an y services rendered. The men Df the. British Mercantile Marine had the greatest rr-spoct for him, because he played the game. CLAN MATHESON’S LAST VOYAGE. One of the vessels accounted for, sixth in order of those sunk by the Emden, was the Clan Matheson, of 3053 tons, outward bound from Glasgow for Colombo, Madras and- Calcutta when the war broke out. The steamer was making the Red Sea passage when the news was announced from a passing P. and O. linei' captain that he was going to send 300 bags 'of potatoes as freight to Calcutta. He had not insured them against enemy action at sea, though danger was known to be lurking in the vicinity, -and it wa s rumoured that hostile warships were on the watch for prizes in the Indian Ocean. This merchant’s optimism regarding

the steamer’s safe passage to Calcutta was, however, strengthened by an assurance from the port authorities that there were no enemy units in the bay. For three days .after the departure from Madras nothing untoward occurred to cause misgivings on obard. But then came a tragic turn of events. CHASED BY A CRUISER. All members of the c rew who were not on duty turned into their bunks on the night of Monday, Septtember 14, but just before midnight the stillness of the air was broken by the sound of gun-fire. The chief steward of the Clan Matheson had just given an account ofi his experiences for several weeks after that eventful night “Going on deck,” he says, “ I saw the dark form of a three-funnel cruiser silhouetted against the moon. It was the German cruiser Emden, although I did not know it. at the time. She signalled to us to stop, but disregarding her signal we put. on full speed, whereupon she immediately gave Chase and opened fire on us, but the shots went wide. We kept going ahead at full speed and the white flames belched out of the cruiser’s funnels as she came down upon us. Our ship had not steamed f;ar when the enemy again fired, this time with more direct aim, and the captain called out to the third officer, “For God’s sake see what that s!hiip wants,’ or we shall be sunk in" a minute.”

The third officer signalled, and the cruiser signalled in return, “Stop at once. Do not use wireless. I shall send a„boat.” We stopped at once, and I heard a voice on board the raider give 'the order in English, “Away boat.” ' THE GERMAN’S LITTLE RUSE.

The boat arrvied alongside the Clan Matheson a minute later, and the order was given in English, “Way enough I"

This -caused the members of the ship’s company ,to think that the cruiser was a Britisher, and only a tame adventure was in store after all. But at that moment the warship's, boarding party began tp climb up the pilot ladder on tp the main deck, and a glance showed them to be Germans’ Their little ruse had succeeded well, for by speaking in English they had guarded against the likelihood of the wirejess operator sending out an S.O.S. About 30 men came on deck, all well armed, two. officers with ■swords and blue jackets with rifles and bayonets. They had been uncertain as to the nationality of the ship owing to the darkness, but when they heard the voices their 'faces brightened with a prospect of sinking another British ship.