New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-13
Australian Kept Out of
Range While Shelling
German Ship.
RUNNING FIGHT
FOR 80 MINUTES
Kaiser's Men Caught
While Raiding Cable
Station on COcOs.

NSciiHBp toCos iSldHub, NOV. lI.-ll
was early last Monday that the unex-
pected arrival of the German cruiser
Emden broke the calm Of these isolated
little islands, which news of the distant
war had left unruffled.
One of the islands is known as Direc-
tion Island, and here the Eastern Tele-
graph Company has a considerable sta
tion and a staff engaged in relaying
messages between Europe and Austria
!ia. Otherwise the inhabitants arc all
Malays, with the exception of descend
ants Of June Clunics Ross, British
naval officer, who came TO these islands
rinety years ago and founded line of
"uncrowned kings"
The war seemed very far away. Off
cial bulletins passed through the cable
station, but they gave very little real
news, and the only excitement was
when it was rumored that the cable
company was sending rifles TO be used
in case of raid on the station and
had ordered that the beach must be
patrolled by parties on the lookout for
Germans.
Then it was heard from Singapore
that German cruiser had been sent
TO these islands, and toward the end Of
August one of the cable staff thought
he saw searchlights out at sea.
Emden Breaks the Calm.
Suddenly we were awakened from
our calm and made TO feel that we
had become the most important place
N the whole worldwide war area At
s a. m. on Monday our-funnelled
cruiser arrived at full speed at the
entrance TO the lagoon. Suspicious
were aroused, for she was flying no
flag and her fourth funnel was obvious
~ dummy made of painted canvas.
Therefore the men ashore were not
altogether surprised at the turn of
events.
The cruiser lowered an armored
launch and two boats, which came
ashore and landed on the coral beach
three officers and forty men, all fully
armed and having four Maxim guns.
The Germans-for all doubt about
t. mysterious cruiser was now at an
end at once rushed up TO the cable
station, and, entering the office, turned
out the operators, smashed the instru
ments and stationed armed guards
over all the buildings. All knives and
firearms found in possession of the
staff were confiscated.
In spite of the excitement outside,
all work was carried on in the cable
Office as usual right up to the moment
when the Germans burst in. A general
call was sent out just before the wire
less apparatus was blown up.
All of the staff employs we're ar
rested and under guard while the in
struments were being destroyed, but it
is only fair to say that the Germans,
working in we'll disciplined fashion un-
der their officers, were most civil.
There was no such brutality as the
islanders had heard characterized the
German army's behavior toward civil
ians and there we're no attempts at
pillaging.
While the cable station was being
put out of action the crew of the
launch grsppled for the cables and
tried to cut them, but, fortunately,
without success. The electrical stores
were then blown up.
The Sydney Appears.
At 9 a. m. the islanders heard the
siren of the Emden. This was evil
IDENTIFY signal 10 the landing party
TO return, for they dashed for their
boats. The Emden got under way at
once, however, and the boats were left
behind.
Looking eastward, the islanders
could see the reason for this sudden
departure, for a warship, which, it was
afterward learned. was the Australian
cruiser Sydney, was coming up at full
speed in pursuit.
The Emden did not wait to discuss
matters, but, firing her first shot at
range Of about 3,700 yards, steamed
north as fast as she could go. At first
the firing of the Emden seemed ex-
cellent, while that of the Sydney was
somewhat erratc. This, 1t was after
wards learned, was due to the fact that
the Australian cruisers range finder
was put out of action by one of the
only two shots that the Germans got
home. However. the Sydney's gunners
soon overcame any difficulties this may
have caused and settled down TO their
XOrk, so lUdL iO44E NHO VI ltt
Emdens tunnels had been shot away.
She lost one Of her masts quite early
in the fight.
Both blazing away with their big
guns. the two cruisers disappeared be
low the horizon, the Emden being on
fire.
Emden's Men Escape.
When their ship steamed off without
them the Emden's men in the small
poats could do nothing but come ashore
again. On landing they lined up on
the shore of the lagoon, evidently de-
termined 20 fght to a finish Il the
Australian cruiser sent n party ashore.
Az 8 D. m. the German raiders en-
barked on the old schooner Ayessa. be
longing 10 Mr.. Ross, "uncrowned King
Continued on page 9, column
Imported Book Psnetela. cigar with