El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-12
German Sea Rover's Last
Fight One of Greatest
Battles in History.

ONDON, Eng, ian. 12.ZNo phase
Of the world war has been more
- filled with the flavor of romance
and has more, touched the Imagination
than the desperate series Of adventures
Of the German cruiser >Emden, her de-
struction of $15,OOO,BOO worth of hos
tile shipping, the shenlng Of Madras,
the daring raid into the heart of Pc
nang harbor, where a Russian cruiser
and French torpedo boat were sunk,
the last fight with the Australian
cruiser Sydney, near COcos island. and
the forlorn hope of the 40 men aboard
the crazy old schooner Ayessa.
Even the London Times is moved to
say: 1--WE rejoice that the cruiser has
been destroyed at last, but we salute
Capt. Won Muller as a brave and chiv-
alrous foe. We trust his life has been
saved, for If he came to London he
would receive q generous welcome. Our
maritime race knows how to admire a
daring and resourceful seaman and
there are few episodes of modern naval
history more remarkable than the me-
teoric career Of the little Emden.''
Begins Career of Destruction.
1t is now possible for the first time
to patch together the tale Of the En-
den. Her career of destruction started
the day war was declared against Rus
cruiser near VladivOstocl and took her
to Tsing=tao, the German Chinese coll
ony.
The Emden Immediately sailed south
from Using tao, heading for the great
lines of travel about southwestern
Asia. These she haunted like a high
wayman, destroying p ships in Il
weeks. The total loss this $500 TOP
cruiser occasioned to allied shipping
cannot be estimated accurately. but it
was probably around S15,OOO,OOO. In
the, great insurance exchange of
Lloyd's, London, the Emden was the
great topic of discussion, and at each
new exploit Of Capt. Won Muller the
rates for insurance took a bound.
BOmbsrds Madras.
One fine morning she appeared off
the great seaport Of Madras, on the
east coast of Hindustan. Shells began
to fall upon the town, and the great
oil tanks were set on fire, Gripping the
British severely. Then she was away
like the wilI-o'-the-wisp and a few
days later was heard of 1000 miles
distant.
At least 40 warships Cand probably
twice that number) Russian, French,
British, Japanese and Australian
searched high and low for her. She
was never found, her final destruction
being. due to a ship not engaged in the
search.
On the morning Of. October %, she
performed a feat of valor only paraI-
leled by Farragut's dam the torpedOs'
and Dewey's entrance into Manila har-
Dor. In the harbor of Penang, a city
Of about 100000 population on the west
side Of the Malay peninsula, were lying
the Russian cruiser "Jemtchug," on
paper more formidable than the En-
den; the French torpedo boats Mos
quet Fronde, Pistolet, and the torpedo
boat destroyer D'IbervilIe.
Fofv Of .,-f.-
a fourth funnel dummy out of canvas,
and, according to some accounts, put up.
the Japanese flags, although this is de-
MED by the Germans.
Attacks Russian Vessel.
The Mosquet was patroling the en-
trance to the harbor, but in the dark
ness of early morning the Emden
slipped by her unobserved. The cap
tain of the Jemtchug was spending the
night ashore and her decks were not
cleared for action. As to the three
French craft, none Of them had steam
up their decks were not prepared for
an engagement and a large percentage
Of the officers were ashore.
As the Emden steamed full speed for
the Jemtchug, the Russian officers
mistook her for the British cruiser
Yarmouth. Capt Won Muller withheld
his fire until less than 400 yards away.
Then, while still coming on at a ter
rifle pace, the Emden emptied her bow
guns into the Jemtchug. At about 250
yards, she altered her course so as to
pour two broadsides into the Russian
ship. She also sent a. torpedo into the
engine room of the Jemtchug, but this
did little damage.
Aboard the Jemtehug, all was de-
Only a few shots were
fired from the light guns, and most Of
the shells went over the Emden.
The Emden passed the Jemtchug and
entered the inne1s harbor. She saw the