On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 67, 14 November 1914, Page 5

On the Sea

STORY OF THE EMDEN’S CAPTURE United Press Association. London, November 13. The Daily Chronicle’s Cocos Island '■correspondent states that the telegraph staff was advised from Singapore that a German criuser had been despatched to the island. The beach was regularly patrolled. A /four-fun-nelled cruiser came at full speed to the entrance to the lagpon at 6 o’clock on Monday morning, with no flag flying. Her fourth funnel was of painted canvas. The cruiser lowered an armored launch and two boats, with three officers and forty men, and four Maxims. The operators continued to send messages until the Germans rushed into the cable station and placed the operators under an armed guard while they! smashed the instruments. There was no brutality or pillaging. Meanwhile the crow of the launch grappled for the cables, and endeavored to cut them, but failed. At 9 o’clock . the Emden sounded her siren. The landing party dashed to the boats, but the Emden had got under way immediately, as the Sydney had appeared on the horizon. After firing a shot at the Sydney’ from 3700 yards, the Emden steamed north. For a time the Emden’ s firing was excellent, and that of the Sydney erratic, owing to the rangefinder having been put out of action hy one of the only two German shots which got home. The British gunners soon overcame the difficulty, and shot away two of; th? ißJiptlen’s . funnels. Thus blazing away the two cruisers disapepored, ■ the Emden- being afire’ aft. Ji• ■ : * SEARCHED BY WARSHIPS. San Francisco, November 12. The Yentura, which-has arrived-, reports seeing some warships off J Fiji.] Officers from the warships boarded .the; Ventura, and examined her'papers. THE LEIPSIC AND DRESDEN AT VALPARAISO,,

(Received 11.35 a-m.) ' ’ London*, e November -13; , Reuter’s Valparaiso correspondent states that the Leipsic and Dresden had arrived there and were provision. j n g . • - stc. '

COST OF KONICSBERC BLOCKADE ' (Received 9:5 a.mv) London, March 13. | ,Xhe Press Bureau states that two men were killed and one officer and one man wounded in sinking the colliers to block the Konigsberg. 4 Newspapers comment on the action of the telegraphists at Cocos Island and praise their alertness. ECHO OP! KAISER WILHELM. OFFICERS BREAK THEIR PAROLE i ■ Madrid, November 13. A message from Las Palmas states that ten of the Kaiser Wilhelm’s officers who were on parole aboard a German steamer moored in the harbor escaped in a Ihitch steamer disguised as firemen. H.M.B. SYDNEY’S EXPLOIT. (Received 9.5 a.m.) London, November 13. The Baltic Exchange carried a resolution amid loud cheering returning thanks to the Allied navies, particularly to H.M.S. Sydney for destroying the Emden. SILENTLY AND SWIFTLY AFTER HER PREY. (Received 11.20 a.m.) Sydney, November 14. It appears that .the Sydney steamed silently and swiftly to engage her foe for many days prior to the engagement. Messages, of an insignificant character were sent to the Sydney to keep her in touch with Cocos, but the transmitting officer had no means of ascertaining if they had been received.

A FILLIP TO INDIAN TRADE.

1 7 (Received 8.50 a.m.) Pekin, November 13. The destruction of the Emden will give a fillip to Indian trade, particularly to jute shipments, which will soon assume normal dimensions. SOUND REASONING. , THE EMDEN COMMANDER ON A PEDESTAL. (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, November 13. Mr Oliver Armstrong Fry, writing to the Daily Mail,’ says: Englishmen have a sneaking admiration for Muller, but the fact that he did not commit rnutder on the high seas is no reason why he should be placed on

an unnecessarily high pedestal. Muller was a pirate and sank ships that it was his duty to bring to port unhurt until condemned as a lawful prize by the Prize Court. It would be interesting to know how much property sent to the bottom belonged to neutrals.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

A RUNNING FIGHT. (Received 8.5 5a.m.) The Daily Chronicle correspondent adds: The landing party, landed on the shore of the lagoon and determined to fight to a finish. When the Sydney reappeared at six o’clock at night they embarked aboard the old schooner Ayesha belonging to Mr Ross, the uncrowned king of the Island. After commandeering a quantity of clothes and stores they sailed away, and have not been seen since. The Sydney returned on Tuesday morning. It was stated that having the advantage of speed she was able to keep out of range of the Emden’s guns, and that she drove her ashore on the north of Keeling islands within 80 minutes becoming a total wreck. Each cruiser attempted to torpedo the other, and both were unsuccessful. The Sydney’s speed during the fight was 26 knots, and the Emden’s 24. The Sydney left at eleven o’clock on Tuesday morning, hoping to pick up the survivors. The collier Burisk later returned with the prisoners, and finally left Cocos on Thursday.