The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1916. SENSATIONAL GERMAN PIRACY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1916. SENSATIONAL GERMAN PIRACY.

The annals of the sea contain many remarkable stories of piracy, but it lias been reserved for the Huns to eclipse all previous records, and to furnish further proof that Kultur is only another name for barbarism on scientific lines—but barbarism made ten-fold more hideous by means of the resources of present day equipments. The arrival of the Appam at Norfolk (Virginia), in charge of a German naval officer (Lieut. Berg), aid a prize crew, has brought to light one of the most sensational stories of piracy that have been unfolded in modern times. How much of the main narrative is tme and how much fictitious may be ascertained hereafter, but, at present, it is difficult to sift the chaff from -the wheat. The Appam is only one of several victimß of the central figure in the story—tho Moetfe, around which piratical craft hangs a veil of mystery, the lifting of which will afford no little interest to the world at large. The mystery of the Mocwe's origin is. as ag .thatcoucpnripg

present whereabouts. The statement that she came from the Kiel Canal is ridiculed, but it appears ithat she had ill the paraphernalia pf a quick change artist, for it is stated that she cruised in the North Sea under the Swedish flag, in the Atlantic under the British flag, only hoisting her true colors—the Geraian flag—on approaching the Appam. It was then that her piratical outfit was revealed. With dramatic swiftness her 1 dummy sides disappeared as if by magic, pressure on a button on the bridge causing the sections composed of ac-cordeon-like strips of steel to drop into slots. Then came another sensational development. The square structures bearing the appearance of a deckhouse likewise disappeared, exposing 4-in. or 0-in. gung with the crews at their stations ready for action. Wliat would not the pirates of old have given to have been equipped similarly? Theirs were the ante-Kultur days, so, fortunately, the capacity for evil of the pirate kings of old was restricted in comparison with existing conditions. Kcedless 'to say, the Appam was powerless to resist such a formidable op--■iient. She was captured and manned by a prize crew, and the German prisoners on board were released. It then became apparent ithat the Moewe had been successfully raiding other Teasels, for a number of prisoners from her previous victims were.' transferred to tlw Appam, which was then &fme3 and went into the piracy business Under her new (German) commander. Amongst the vcsels sunk by the Moc-we was the Clan MacTawsli, which was cmrjing a general cargo from Australasian ports, including a largo quantity of frozen n><»at from Aew Zealand. Sie evidently put up as good a fight, as possible, but had to succumb to vastly superior guns, thus was lost property valued at nearly half a million sterling. In all, six vessels arc claimed to have been sunk by the Moewe, and as she is still at large she may by this time have sunk others. What course 'the American authorities will take over the Appam remains to be seen, but it is satisfactory to know that the passengers have been allowed to land, and there is a pro--spedfc that the Appam may be given back to her rightful owners. The remarkable part of the affair is that the Appam should have been taken to an American port, and this act seems to give color to the theory Ithat the Moewe was fitted out somewhere in 'America. It is stated that tho Moewe was formerly called the Ponga, a fruit carrying ship, and had been strengthened for raiding purposes. It is somewhat disconcerting to Know that Germany has still piratical craft roaming the seas in search of victims, and it is to be hoped that the Moewe's career will be speedily brought to a close. Probably when the true facts are known a different aspect of the affair will bo presented, bub on the present versions Germany has scored by means of base trickery that accords thoroughly with her unscrupulous methods.