Maritime Activities

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 14 November 1914, Page 5

Maritime Activities

MOEK ABOUT THE KM DEN. CHEAT ADVERTISEMENT FOR AUSTRALIA. London, November 12. British newspapers continue to give prominence to the Sydney's exploit, and publish 3lr. Massey's Pukekohe speech.

Paris, November 12. Lo Temps states: "We hasten to salute the first victory of the young Australian navy, which compensates to some extent for Admiral C'raddoek's defeat."

Rome, November 12. Many newspapers refer with admiration to the chivalrous treatment of the captives of the Emdcn. The Ciornale d'ltalia says the victory shows the enormous resources of the British Empire, and emphasises the part Australia is playing.

Colombo, November 12. There are constant references in the newspapers and public speeches in India to the importance of the Australian fleet's services to the security of trade, and profound relief is expressed that the. Ernden has been destroyed. Melbourne, November 13.

The Eastern Extension Co. report that communication with Cocoa Island is fully restored.

The manager, in an interview, said the staff of the island was aware that it was under the protection of the British Admiralty, though warships were seldom seen. As soon as the Emden was seen approaching, the S.O.S. signal ■was sent out, also a rush cable to the Naval Office, Melbourne, on which it must have acted very promptly. lA remarkable feature was that the Emdcn, which must have heard the distress signals, did not shell the wireless mast. As soon as the landing party stepped ashore it commenced to put the cable out of action, but as the result of long experience the Eastern Company was able to baffle the raiders to some extent. Special precautions had been taken in this case. When the Sydney hove in sight, the landing party took to the boats to rejoin the Emden, but the captain apparently decided it was too risky to wait to pick up the boats. The men then put back, and watched the fight from the land. JThey remained ashore till night, when they seized the 40-ton schooner Aycsha, and sailed away. Though they made sure of a substantial food supply, this is not likely to embarrass the cable staff. There has been no further news of the Ayesha. » Amsterdam, November 12.

The German Press admits that the loss of the Emden is painful, since British trade in Indian waters is again secure. The loss has caused deep depression, following tho proud days after the Chilian engagement. Germany regards Captain Muller as the greatest hero of the war, and proudly recalls the fact that the British always praised his bravery and chivalry.

HOW THE EMDEN WAS CAUGHT. ] ANOTHER STORY PROM COOOS ISLAND. Received 14, 1.35 a.m. London, November 13. The Daily Chronicle's Cocos Island's correspondent states that the telegraph staff was advised from Singapore that a German cruiser had been despatched to the island. The beach was regularly patrolled. A four-funnelled cruiser came at full speed to the entrance to the lagoon at 0 o'clock on Monday morning, with no flag flying. Her fourth fuivacji 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 ruslied into the cable station and placed the operators under an armed guard whSe they smashed the instrument:). There was no brutality or pillaging. Meanwhile, the crew 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 foad 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 range-finder having been put out of action by one of the only two German shots which got home. The British gunners soon overcame the difficulty, and shot away two of the Emden's funnels. Thus blazing away the two cruisers disappeared, the Emden being afire aft.

MR. FISHER'S REPLY. Wellington, November 13. Mr. Massey lias received the following reply from Mr. Fisher: "I read your warm and hearty message, congratulating Australia on the Sydney's success to Parliament, and it was received with cheers." FRENCH CRUISER'S HAUL. Paris, November 12. (A French cruiser captured a steamer with 150 Germans on board in the 'Mediterranean. KUSSIAN HEROES. Petrograd, November 12. The newspapers record the patriotic self-sacrifice of a Russian .picket boat.

in the Gulf of Finland. A terrific cxl plosion killed six. The Czar decorated the survivor. TUB SIXKIXG OF THE NIGER. THE SUBMARINE SIGHTED. BRITISH ADMIRAL COURTMARTIALLED. London, November 12. The Niger was at anchor, and the crew were dining, when the captain saw a torpedo, and called out to close the watertight doors. A few seconds later the vessel was struck just aft of the foremast, and there was an explosion. A member of the crew saw a submarine come to the surface some distance away, and it disappeared. In a few moments the Niger commenced to settle, and the crew was quietly mustered. Many soon jumped overboard, relying on life-belts and life-collars. Licut.-Com-mander Muir, after a last search to see if any of the crew were remaining on board, jumped into the sea as the gunboat sank in eight fathoms.

There is much comment in Deal at the fact that a small cruiser was lying in tlio Downs near the Niger for two days, and only put to sea yesterday in half a gale. It is suspected she was covering the submarine's movements. (The word "cruiser" can hardly mean a German war-vessel. It must refer to some vessel flying the British flag, which was really a German boat.) The Globe states that a court-martial acquitted Admiral Troutbridge respecting the Goebcn's escape.

The Government has commandeered the Otway (a 1-2,000-ton vessel of the Orient linn), and there will he no direct mail to Australia next week.

VENTURA SEARCHED BY WARSHIPS. Received 13, 5.5 p.m. San Francisco, November 12. The Ventura, which has arrived, reports seeing some warships off Fiji. Officers from the warships boarded the Ventura, and examined her papers.