The Kaiser Wilhelm

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 11, 31 August 1914, Page 3

The Kaiser Wilhelm

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Las Palmas, August 29

Lieut. Deane, one of the prisoners from the Galician, interviewed, s-LJ the Kaiser Wilhelm sighted the Highflyer at 1.30 on Wednesday, and ordered the prisoners below for an Hour. They wore then told to get aboard th» collier Arucas, which was coaling the Kaiser Wilhelm. The latter’s officers said the Highflyer was going to lire, and had given the Kaiser Wilhelm an hour to clear. Owing to the officer’s delay, the prisoners were only put on board the collier at the 1 last, minute, and even them some remained. The Highflyer was-.four miles away when she opened, lire, and the shell passed over the Arucas’ deck. There was much delay in cutting the Arucas’ hawiser, and shells were falling all the time. It was ten minutes before she got out of range. The Kaiser Wilhelm kept the officers, and gun crews,, and a few engineers, and told the remainder to board the Arucas as best they could. There was a frantic struggle to get oft' the doomed ship.

As the Kaiser Wilhelm was bow-on to the Highflyer, the latter had difficulty in finding the mark, and manoeuvred round to get her broadside. The cannonade from both ships lasted for 40 minutes. All the Kaiser Wilhelm’s shots appeared to fall short. She was hit three times, and caught fire. When the firing ceased the Highflyer’s also ceased. The Kaiser Wilhelm was still afire, and the Highflyer standing off, when the Arucas got out of sight.

It was reported that the captain gave his sword and a letter to his wife to his secretary, who boarded the Arucas. He said he intended to blow up the ship before he would surrender.

London, August 29

A Reuter message from Las Palmas says that the Kaiser Wilhelm was coaling from the Arucas, Magdeburg, and two other colliers from Rio de Oro, in Spanish Africa, when the Highflyer was sighted. The crews of the Kiapara, Nyauga, and air English fishingboat were immediately transferred from the Kaiser Wilhelm to the Aiucas. Meanwhile the Highflyer disabled the Magdeburg. It appears that the English fishingboat was captured and sunk off Iceland, 21 days ago. The Kaipara was sunk on the 16th inst., in latitude 25.10 north, longitude 17.18 west. The Nyauga was sunk shortly after the Arlanza and Galician were released.