Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 12 November 1914, Page 5

Maritime Activities

HOW THE EMfJEN WAS CORNERED. WIDE SWEEPING MOVEMENT. FOUR NATIONS JOIN FORCES. THE LATEST OFFICIAL REPORT. EMDEN'S LOSSES HEAVY. . Received 11, I) p.m. Sydney, November 10. Latest official particulars show that a large combined operation by fast cruisers against the Emdcn had been in progress for pome time. The search covered an iu.,:],-nse area, British cruisers; aided by French, Russian, and Japanese working in harmony. The Melbourne and Sydney were also included in the movements.

Yesterday morning news was received that the Emdcn, whie had completely disappeared after torpedoeing the Zhemchug, had arrived at Keeling for the purpose of destroying the wireless station and cutting the cable. She was caught and forced to fight by the Sydney. When the Emden was afire astern, she. ran on the beach with a bad list. Her firing deteriorated miserably, presumably owing to the injuries received and the absence of gunners in the landing party. She. was abandoned. The EmdcnV losses in personnel are reported to be heavy. All possible assistanee was given to survivors. ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

: Messages received at the Navy Office point out that the Emden's capture was I due to clever naval strategy. During the early portion of the war the Cocos cable station was well guarded, and the Emden was aware of tho fact. <A few j weeks ago the guardship disappeared, J and the operators feared a raid, realising that a wireless with a six-hundred mile radius communicating with Perth mid Singapore would be a thorn in the Emden's side. When she appeared the operators at once recognised her, and the staff watched the flight from the shore. H. M. Rowley, of New Zealand, is a member of the staff. TWO HUNDRED KILLED ON THE i HUNTED LRUISER. ' | CAPTAIN AND KAISER'S NEPHEW ■ NO NEWS OF THE ESCAPING AYESHA. Received 12, 12.5 a.m. Sydney, November 11. The Eastern Extension Cable Co., states that the company's doctor, who has returned from the Keeling islands, reports that the Emden's captain was umvounded. The prisoners include the Kaiser's nephew, who is also uninjured. About two hundred were killed, and thirty wounded were taken off the Emden. Some are remaining at Keeling, to, be picked up by a ship returning from the Cocos. Nothing has been seen of the Ayesha. The island will be visited frequently while she relllains unc tured.

The Sydney sunk the Emden's collier, which was flooded prior to capture. H.M.S. SYDNEY'S FINE WORK. THE KONIGSBERG OUT OF ACTION Sydney, November 11. The naval authorities have received the following furth, r detail., from Coos Island:—

The Emdeu came up at G o'clock yesterday morning with an armed launch, towing two boats with forty men, three officers and four Maxims. They landed in fifteen minutes and after smashing the instruments at the. cable station and the wireless installation, except tile condenser and refrigerator, the Enideu's men put back.

_ In the meantime the- ■Sydney came in sight oil the horizon and the Emden immediately put out to sea, leaving the landing party, boats and men behind. The Emden started firing and at first made excellent practice, but afterwards fell oir. She lost two funnels and took fire astern in an hour. The Sydney was hardly touched. Three of her men were killed and fifteen wounded.

The Emden is now ashore on North Keeling Island and is burnt. The captain of the Sydney says he saw only thirty men on her. He is now returning to her with our (probably the Eastern Cable Company's) doctor and assistance.

The Emden's landing party commandeered two .months' supplies and left on the schooner Aysa, belonging to Mr Ross, owner of tile Cocos Island, at (i oWock in the evening. We were well treated by the Germans and a}l are well ■Tlie office equipment was destroyed. A later message states that the Sydney had returned from assisting the, Emden's wounded, but the party had not •come ashore with details.

■'. There .is great jubiliation that the |Emden should have fallen to an Australian cruiser. There are wildly enthusiastic crowds in the streets of various cities.

The Herald says that Australia certainly lias reason for congratulation, on her cruiser having brought the marauder's career to a full stop. Apart from this it is a gratifying fact that the young Australian Navy has at last really been blooded and in such auspicious circumstances.

The Telegraph says the news sent a pleasurable- thrill through Sydney, the

Sir E. Munvo-Ferguson telegraphed ) to Mr Fisher his delight and'asked him ,io congratulate the Sydney's crew. Mr Fisher's comment was: '■The news needs 210 adornment. Australians sought .. ~io prove themselves." The destruction of the telegraphic instruments on Cocos Island "interfered "with the cable business,, but the line;; are now working again. London, November 10. ' The Press Bureau states that the Emden was driven ashore on Cocos Island and burned. It adds that the Konigsberg is in.: prisoned at Mafia Island (German East Africa) by the sinking of colliers in the channel, and she is unable to do further 1 harm. There were exciting scenes in London •when the loss of the Emdcn was announced. Special editions of the papers were speedily sold out. There was the most enthusiastic scene since the outbreak of the war when the news reached Lloyd's. A large crowd assembled and there was great enthusiasm on the Baltic Exchange. Rousing cheers were given when the Sydney's name was posted. The Emdcn's disappearance has eased war rates, which are now slightly below the Government rates. Sir George Eeid was the recipient of congratulations from all quarters on the exploit of the Sydney, and Mr CoghJtm (Agent-General for New South Wales) similarly received many congratulations. The news caused enthusias n:i:i Liverpool. Cheers were given at the recruiting stations for the Australian ! navy. I Ottawa, November 10. [ The Canadian press heartily congratulates Australia on her magnificent workin destroying the F.nulen. The news--1 papers assert that the cretaion of the Australian navy was an act of farsighted statemanship worthy of Canadian imitation at the earliest possible moment. Bunedin, November 11. The Hon. J. Allen, who arrived in Dunedin yesterday, sent the following message to Senator Pearce, Minister of Defence, Melbourne: -"Heartiest congratulations on the splendid work the Sydney lias done."

The, Emden, .which lias had a short but merry career as a destroyer of merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean, was a modern protected cruiser of 3350 tons built in 1008. She had a'speed of £i.o knots and carried twelve 4- lin guns. ' "' The Sydney was one of the Australian fleet a light cruiser of 5000 toiiH, huilt in 1913-. She had a speed of 25 knots and earned nine "0-in. guns. She was thus more than equal' to tho Emden. COCOS CABLE REPARIED. Sydney, November 11. The Eastern Extension Company reports that though the instruments on Cocos Island were smashed, the cable ends were not destroyed and the stall' oll'ected repairs. ADMIRALTY CONGRATULATION'S.

Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister has received the following .message from the High Commisisoner dated London, November 10:

The First lord of the Admiralty has sent the following message to the Sydney and the Commonwealth:—"Navy Board's warmest congratulations on the brilliant entry of the Australian navy jnto the war, and the ; signal service rendered to the Allies, and the cause of peaceful commerce by the destruction of the Emden.'

■HUNTING THE KARLSRUHE. SKi.RET WIRELESS PLANT DISCOVERED. Washington, November 10. Vec-eis arriving from South American ports announce that a big British fleet is searching the South Atlantic for the Karlsruhe. ,*au Francisco, November 10. The secret service has discovered a powerful wireless station at Escnada, Lower California, capable of communicating with ships a long distance seaward. KONIGSBERG ROUNDED UP. DISCOVERED IN HIDING. BOMBARDED BY H.M.S. CHATHAM. MUST BE CAPTURED OR DESTROYED'. ' Received 11, 0.15 p.m. London, November 10. The Admiralty announces that after the whereabouts of the Konigsberg had been indicated by her attack on the Pegasus on September 10th, there was arranged a concentration of fast cruisers in African waters. The warship Chatham discovered the Konigsberg hiding in shoal water six miles up the Rufiji River, opposite Mafia Island, where the Chatham was unable to follow. But she bombarded both the. Konigsberg and the crew, who were entrenched ashore. Owing to the dense palms where the vessel was hidden 'it is not possible to estimate the danger. Effective steps were taken to capture or destroy the Konigsberg. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT

Wellington, Last Night. The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner:— Pending operations for her capture or destruction, effective steps are being taken to block the Konigsberg in by Sinking colliers in ■the only navigable channel. Sl». ™ ..-'^—'-■.■..li^-t^-

SWEEPING THE SEAS ADMIRALTY'S TASK NBARING COMPLETION. IX 'HIE DISTANT OCEANS. Received 11, 8.50 p.m. London, November 10. 'l'm'. Admiralty announces that with ' exception of the Gorman squadron (ill Chili the whole of tiie Pacific and ■lndian Oceans are now clear. MIXES IX THE NORTH SEA. Amsterdam, November 10. 'l'!i:> Norwegian steamer Pluton struck a mine and sank near Yarmouth. THE BURNING OF REMBRANDT.' WORK OF german SPIES. ' Received. 12, 12.15 a.m. New York, November 10. The Rembrandt's crew flooded the) vessel, stamping out tho i/re. Every horse aboard tho ship was killed. The! ship, though damaged, is able to re- j turn. j According to the captain, German! •■■pics started t!ie lire, with the object of j preventing the delivery of the horses in I Britain. The captain alleges that j threats were made before lie left Bal-j timore. i (The Rembrandt caught fire on a trip from America to Europe, carrying- 506 horses for the French.