The Lambertville record., 1916-04-27
WIRELESS AND
WIT COVERED
GOEBEN FLIGHT

news was communicated to them, "be-
came quiet"
AT four o'clock in the morning of
August the two ships reached Mes
sina. The General was waiting there
laden with coal, but the representa-
tives of the Italian government re-
fused on grounds of neutrality to allow
the warships themselves to coal there.
Planned to Deceive British.
On the evening Of the same day an
other shock occurred. An Italian Of
hcer representing the commander at
Messina' arrived and was ushered into
the admiral's dining room. The ad-
miral asked him to take seat, but he
preferred to stand. What may / do
for you?" asked the admiral. I'VE
want to know" Seplied the officer Tin
Germany, how long the German ships
propose to remain here. They can
only remain twenty-four hours in a
neutral port" The semi-official wri-
ter observes, "The last words came
with difficulty from the Italians lips"
Very well, will remain here twenty
four hours" replied the admiral.
There was pause "Of course l
reckon the respite from this moment
in which you inform me that Messina
is, in fact, neutral port"
At midday on August the admiral
issued the following order to the
three ships under his command;
News about the enemy is uncer-
tain. l presume his strength lies in
the Adriatic and that he is watching
both exits in the Messina straits.
object: To break through to the
East and reach the Dardanelles.
order of going: Goeben leaves at
five o'clock at seventeen miles an
hour; Breslau. follows at distance
of five miles and closes 1t up at dark
ness.
Il want to create the impression
that we are wanting to go to the
Adriatic, and in case | do succeed in
creating the impression that we are
wanting to go to the Adriatic we shall
veer round in the night and make for
Cape Matapan, if possible throwing off
the enemy.
The steamer General to leave at
seven o'clock in the evening, to keep
along the Sicilian coast and to try and
reach Santorin."
"As the ships-flags flying and
music playing-were reaching the
open sea the following wireless mes
sage from the kaiser reached the ad-
miral:
His majesty expects the Goeben
and the Breslau to succeed in break
ing through"
Shortly after leaving the harbor an
English cruiser of the Weymouth
class, alleged to be the Gloucester,
appeared on the horizon. The Ger
man narrative proceeds:
Profted by Enemy's Wrong Guess.
THE commander asked the admiral
whether they should open fire. No,
no. Astonishment The wireless Of
ticers were even more puzzled. The.
could hear the wireless waves being
transmitted by the operators on the
English cruiser. They did not know
the code, but they noted the call and
the answer. The German boats were
evidently expected, and all prepara-
tions for attacking then were being
made.
THE English cruiser was emitting
signals in three groups, and it was
clear that it referred to the Goeben.
The wireless receivers finally de-
ciphered the signal of the British
cruiser as 'Goeben making for the
Adriatic.'
THE German wireless officer ar
gued thuswise: I can jam him. If
break my waves against his l can
confuse, hold up, destroy his mes
sages.' Shall jam his wireless?' he
asked the admiral
No was the answer to both ques-
tions. No one apart from the staff