The citizen., 1914-11-20
Sydney Drove
Emden Ashore
in 80 Minutes
Australian Cruiser Kept Out Of
Range and Shot Antagonist to
Pieces-Was Hit by Only
Two Shells

LonQon.-Ine D2u9 Cnronlele COT
respondent at Keeling, in the Cocos
Islands, Frederick Pollock, who was
an eyewitness of the destruction OF
the German cruiser Emden by the Aus
ualisn cruiser Sydney, cables q de
tailed account Of the affair.
The islands are inhabited only by
Malays, except for the staff of the
Eastern Telegraph Company's cable
and wireless station on Direction Isl
and. one of the group. and the de
scendants OF June Clunies Ross, a
Scottish naval officer who settled in
the islands and founded line of ''un-
crowned kings" some ninety years
ago.
Little news of the war reached the
islands except official bulletins, which
were relayed through the cable sta
ton. Then came a rumor that the
ble company was sending rifles and
orders that the beach should be pa
trolled to guard against Germans who
might come and try TO cut the cable
and destroy the wireless station. Sing
apore later informed the islands that
q German cruiser was on the way to-
ward them, but except for one of the
cable operators seeing what he
thought were searchlights at sea one
night toward the end of August. moth
ing came OF this report
The Emden, with four funnels-the
fourth obviously merely a painted can
vas dummy arrived at full speed at
the entrance OF the lagoon at o'clock
in the morning. She few no flag. and
this fact together with the dummy fun
mel. aroused the suspicious OF the ca
bic staff
Cable Instruments Wrecked.
The cruiser Immediately lowered an
armored launch and two boats. and
landed three officers and forty men.
fully armed and equipped with four
Maxim guns The Germans rushed
10 the cable station. expelled the op-
orators, smashed the instruments, con-
fscated the weapons OF the staff and
put armed guards in all the buildings.
In spite of the excitement outside,
work went on as usual in the cable Of
fee until the Germans rushed in, and
general call for help was sent out
lust before the wireless station was
blown up.
The Germans were most civil. but
put the staff under armed guards.
while the instruments were destroyed
There was no brutality or pillaging.
Meanwhile the crew OF the launch
grappled for the cables. but failed to
cut them. The electrical stores then
we're blown up.
The Emden's siren blew al o'clock
and the Germans on shore hurried TO
the boats. but the Emden started i'm
mediately, leaving the boats behind
The appearance of a warship TO the
eastward coming at full speed in pur-
suit explained the departure. The
ship turned out to be the Sydney.
The Emden fred the first shot at
4 range of about s,7oo yards while
steaming north at her highest speed
The Emden's firing al first seemed
excellent and the Sydney's rather err
ratio. It was learned afterward that
he latter was due 10 the fact that
he Sydney's rangefnder had been
7ut out OF action by one Of the two
shots the Emden got home.
Emden Set on Fire.
The Sydney's gunners soon over
came the difficulties caused by the
smashing of the rangehnder and be-
ore long two OF the Emden's tunnels
had been shot away. Her mast was
lost al the beginning of the fight
The cruisers disappeared over the
.orizon. both firing their big guns.
The Emden vas sAre aft
The landing party. which had start
ID out for the Emden, returned 10
shore and lined up on the shore OF
he lagoon, evidently ready TO fight i:
he Sydney sent men ashore. but, both
,ruisers having disappeared. the Ger.
mans at o'clock in the evening EN-.
oarked on the old schooner Ayesha
belonging TO Mr.. Ross, the presen;
''unerowned king" Of the island. took
clothes and stores and sailed for an
unknown destination.
The Sydney returned the next morn,
ing and anchored al S:45 o'clock
From accounts given by the crew i;
seems thai the Sydney. being tbs
speedier. kept out of range Of the
Emden's guns. bombarding her with
heavier artillery. The engagement
lasted eighty minutes. The Emder
was beached north Of Keeling Island Z
complete wreck
The Emden fred two effective
shells One smashed the main range
finder Of the Sydney and killed one
man, without exploding. The othel
killed three and wounded fourteen
Both cruisers attempted 10 use tor
pedoes. but failed. The Sydne,
steamed al the rate Of twenty knots
during the fight; the Emden st IN,
rate OF twenty-four knots.
The collier Bursk. which bad beer