Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-09
Steamer Magdeburg Was De-
Ilvering Coal to German
Vessel When HighfIyer APP
peared on Scene.
TEUT0NlC CAPTAIN
REFUSED TO SURRENDER
Battle Occurred in Spanish
Waters and II Was Believed
Several Of Assai|ant's Crew
Were Killed.

feF H0FNifo totNNet HFttist ts@ttu WtHal
! New York, Sept, S.-The German
steamship Magdeburg. witness OF
the naval engagement between the
British cruiser Hghflyer and the Ger
man converted cruiser Kaiser Will
helm der Crosse. off the west coast
of Africa on August 26. steamed into
this port today. According to her
captain. $. Orge. the Magdeburg her
self was struck by one Of the Highly
er's shells after being intercepted while
supplying coal to the German cruiser.
Captain Orgel asserted that the Kali
ser Wilhelm der Crosse was attacked
while at anchor in Spanish waters.
neutral territory. without steam up.
He said II was reported several per-
sons on hoard the Highflyer were
killed.
Transferred British Prisoners.
Captain Orgels story of his ships
experience during the encounter. told
tonight, sets forth that when the
Highflyer came upon the Kaiser Will
helm, the German had on board 100
Britons. prisoners taken from British
prizes. Captain Orgel said the Kaiser
Wilhelm transferred these prisoners TO
another German coaling vessel, the
Arukes. lying nearby.
The English gave the captain no
thanks for this action. commented the
Magdeburg's master.
The Mngdeburg left Gothenburg.
Germany. on July is. for Australia.
Putting in at Las Palmas. Canary is
lands. on August 5. Captain OrgeI re-
ceived orders. he said. to deliver some
of his coal to the Kaiser Wilhelm der
Crosse at the south end of the bay
of Rio de orc, on the African coast.
Ordered to Surrender.
This part of the coast belongs to
spain.' Captain orgel said. "On Au-
gust 26, at 1880 a. m. an English
cruiser was sighted, which began to
signal 10 the Wilhelm.
''rhe commander of the German
auxiliary cruiser informed me that
the English cruiser ordered him to
his ship: otherwise he would
open fire. As far as ! know the Ger
man commander replied to the Eng
lish cruiser as follows: We Germans
do not surrender
Captain Reymann. commander of
the Wilhelm. thereupon informed me
that the English cruiser would soon
open fire and that he therefore ad-
vised me to weigh anchor and steam
out of the firing line.
''The Kaiser wilhelm der Crosse
herself could not leave her anchorage
as she could not get up sufficient
steam to move within two hours. II
would have required eight hours TO
have got on full head of steam. The
reason the vessel had no steam on vas
because she was In neutral waters.
Hit by One Shell.
While was still engaged in weigh
ng anchor, the English cruiser began
10 fire. although the Magdeburg lay
directly in the firing line between the
and the British cruiser. The
English shells fell to the right and
eft OF us. but short of their mark.
Finally one shell took effect in the
'orecastle of the Magdeburg and caus-
ID great damage. Happily, no mem
Der of the crew was at that time In
he forecastle.
THE Wilhelm Immediately replied
o the fire of the English cruiser with |
Ter three available guns. 1t was said |
hat the English cruiser was struck !
everal times and that several persons
m board were killed.
Il myself took the Magdeburg un-
Ter full steam southwark and soon lost |
light of both vessels. When we saw
he Wilhelm last, she was listed heav-
ly to port. had the impression that |
he was sinking"