Kaipara Avenged

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 87, 8 September 1914, Page 5

Kaipara Avenged

THE KAISER WILIIELII CRU.MPLBU ur.

NO CHANCE AGAINST OUR CRUISER.'

London, Siptember 6. Mr. Hubert Wild*, chief o m cer 0 f the Kaipara, in an interview, statea that the vessel, from Cape Frio, avoided tha trade routes. Not a ship was sighted until the 18th, when the Kaiser Wilhelm hailed them. The commander, through a megaphone, shouted: "If y o a use wireless we will use guns." Tie captain, lieutenant and second lieutenant came on board the Kaipara and smashed the wireless, placed explosives m the stokehold, nni ordered everyone to leave. They only allowed the Kaipara, s men to take their clothes. The individual losses were considerable. The Kaipara's boats, which had conveyed the crew, were afterwards scuttled. Tho Kaiser Wilhelm tool; 1% hours and S3 shots to sink the Kaipara. The prisons ers were treated with great courtesy and provided with saloon ber't\s. It was evident that the Germans did not relish their task. The commander remarked that it was a painful proceeding. The same afternoon the Nyanga was sunk and the crew taken aboard. Next day the Kaiser Wilhelm entered Rio-de-Loro Ray, and coaled from a collier. A week later she was oft Las Palmas, and when oor.'in!*, as cabled, the civv rushed on deek°with pistols. The petty officers said, "You'll ha all right by-and-bye. We think it is an English cruiser." Later the captain and lieutenant said, "Gentlemen, please go aboard the Arucas at once. The British cruiser is going to fire." Many of the crew of the Kaiser Wilhelm accompanied til-;! prisoners to the Arucas and threw their arms into the sea. After the prisoners had been transferred to the Arucas, when the Highflyer overhauled the Kaiser Wilhelm, the former suddenly fired, and the German ship replied. The Arucas stood by till a shell "whizzed over our heads. The first shot gave us a bit of a shock, but our men acted with great coolness. T took the Arucas' wheel 'And gradually moved away. The Kaiser Wilhelm had not a chance against the Highflyer owing to the short range. One of the Highflyer's first shots disabled the port quarter gun and destroyed part of the bridge. When she sank the Arucas wai( several miles awav." $