AN EASY PREY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 3

AN EASY PREY.

■ SINKING OF THE CRUISER PEGASUS. 1 FULL OF HOLES IN TEN MINUTES. i _ j The Federal and Shire, liner Banff- ( ishire, in charge of Captain Wallace, which arrived from Durban direct, brought to Sydney the full story of the fate of the British cruiser Pegasus, which was attacked by the German t Kronigsberg at Zanzibar on the morning of September 30th. The, Banff. . shire was at Zanzibar about 300 yards ijfrom the Pegasus when she was being l battered by the German. | At about a quarter past five one 'l morning firing was heard, and all hands t ,on the Banffshire rushed on deck. • "The Kronigsberg's task was easier than target practice," said an eyewitness. "It wasn't fighting; it was murder. The 'Peggy' was at anchor, undergoing repairs, so she couldn't get within range. She was broadside on to ! the Konigsberg, which just did what | she liked with her." I When the Konigsberg opened fire' she I,was between four and a half miles off, and her shooting was good. The Pegasus 1 was completely outranged, and her shells j did not reach the enemy. The Banff- [' shire, being so close to the target of 1 the German guns, had a very narrow escape from destruction. Shells were flying thick and fact, and several splin'iers struck the Banffshire, piercing her j awning, and being afterwards picked up on the deck. The Pegasus was full of holes in a '.space of ten minutes, and, as the con. i flict was a most uneven one, the white | flag was hoisted on the British cruiser. !This, however, does not appear to have | been noticed by the German, as the fir--1 ing continued The ensign on the Peg- ( asus was still flying, and this was prob- : ,ably the reason why the Konigsberg did not cease firing. At 5.30 the German guns were turned away from the ,Pegasus on to a disused wireless station, which was soon demolished. The ■working wireless station was not touch, ed, the Germans apparently not being [aware of its whereabouts. / When the firing ceased the officers on ! the Pegasus shouted out to those on the Banffshire requesting help. The officers and men of the Banffshire immediately put off to the warship in boats. The Pegasus presented a terrible spectacle. Men were lying about with their arms and legs torn off; but in spite of the terrible situation wonderful order prevailed on board. Everyone was cool, and the behaviour of the men excellent. The wounded were taken off in the Banffshire's boats, and the dead were re- ! moved in lighters. An effort was then Ipiade to save the warship by lighten. I ing her and bringing the holed places j above the waterline. By 11 a.m., however, it was seen that she could not be Uaved, and she settled down and sank, Lsome of her officers narrowly escaping j from going down with her. The Konigs- | berg had cleared off before this, appar.ently mistaking the smoke of the apj proahing steamer Gascon for that of a warship.