THE EMDEN FIGHT.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 25 February 1928, Page 2

THE EMDEN FIGHT.

A GERMAN VERSION. "JUTTMB AMD LIBELLOUS'' LO»ON, Fat* 23. Prince Fraaz 'sen»S4 torpedo ofi»er on th« EnNf#ii JIM published A.b»pk »iUtl«d.'T»e **ten" containing- allegations w&ich the Daily Express characterises as bitter and lfbcllous and asks why the Nurse Cavell picture should be banned when the British are asked to read such libels with regard • to the sinking- of the German ship. * The Prince denies that Von Muller surrendered though he admits the Emden's ensign was hauled down and the white Hag run up. With Teutonic logic he explains: "One can only surrender with weapons.. As the ship was a wreck and all our weapons were destroyed there could be no talk of surrender. The flag was hauled down because the ship was a wreck and had no longer any right to fly it and further bloodshed was not justifiable. While running upon the reef, the flay was forgotten. It did not occur to anyone that the Hag at the maintop, of a. wreck would be taken as a reason for resuming the bombardment." Detailing hie imprisonment at Malta, tke Prince alleges that the crew of the Breskui were cheated out of their food allowance by British soldiers and money remittances were falsified to the disadvantage of the Germans. The Prince says that 150 men, of the Emden with 850 others, spent three hopeless years in Fort Salvatore shut in by high walls without room to exercise .enduring martyrdom to which a number of crises of madness or attempted suicide bear witness. The Prince repeats the old story that he saw ammunition boxes being loaded into hospital ships. A note in the Prince's book states that Von Muller was a foe so worthy, that the British Government wished to honour him after the war. There were however difficulties in the way. The English publisher explains that the proposed, honour was the Distinguished Service Order. The Daily Chronicle drew the AdI miralty s attention to the statement , and an Admiralty official said that such an amazing statement cannot be credited while the Foreign office gives it a categorical denial.