El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-10
Naval Battles Of The
World War
The Sydneys Sinking of the Emden
By G. KAY SPENCER.
The Sydney's Sinking of the Emden.
By C. KAY SPENCER.

= was early on Monday. Novem-
Der 9, 1919. that the unexpected
4 arrival OF H. I. G. n S. Emden
broke before the calm OF the Isolated
little Cocos Islands in the southern
seas.
One OF the islands IS known as
Direction Island and there the East
eru Telegraph company has cable
station and a staff Of men engaged
in relaying messages between En-
rope and Australia All other inha5-
itants are 11alays.
one day in the late September a
message vibrated through from Sir
gapore telling Of the dispatch OF the
German cruiser Emden TO these Is
lands. Then the lOOkouts began 10
sight questioning searehlignts out
over the black waters during the
cool dark nights Their fears had
been so worked upon that every
speck OF phOsphOrescence out on the
waters was reported as the cruiser
Emdeus Phantom Emdens galore
were reported from many southern
ports, for the fear OF this Will-o the
Wisp cruiser had been terrOrtZing the
southern trade routes
So, at s. o'clock on this fair Non
were churned by a four funneled,
long. gray cruiser, making Tor the
entrance to the lagoon at fuu speed
Suspicion was aroused. as the cruiser
flew no flag, and one funnel oovious-
y was dummy made OF painted
canvas. No action could be taken, for
no weapons capable OF defence were
on the islands.
Germans Land; Take Charge.
Once inside the lagoon, the cruiser
Tr.rrHnrEH al launch and
boats. which came ashore and landed
on the coral beach. three officers and
30 men. all fully armed and accom-
panied by four Maxim guns.
The Germans at once rushed the
cable station, the operators flashing
messages for aid to the last second
The operators were soon turned out
all Instruments smashed and guns set
over all the buildings The men were
treated with great ctvihty. Indeed
the men Of both sides were soon fra
ternizins and exchanging wine and
tobacco.
The launch was. in the meantime.
graphing for the cables with the
view OF cutting them. At a. m. the
Emden suddenly began 10 blow her
siren furLously, a signal 20 the land
ing party 10 return TO the ship at
once. They dashed for their brAfs.
but the Emden got under way and.
leaving her boats behind, dashed out
Of the lagoon
The landing party. promptly cap
tured an unseaworthy yacht, the
Ayesha. stocked her with provisions
and set out 70 sea When they ar
rived al Berlin. in the lapse OF time.
they had circumnavigated the world, I
fought their way through robber
bands in the deserts, and buried
many OF their small force. who per
ished from disease on the route.
Lieut. Won lTuecke was the leader OF
this b1nd-the landing crew OF h J.
C.. H. s. Emden-
Australian ship the Victor.
The Emdeu's desertion OF her land
Ing crew was occasioned by the
sighting of an Australian cruiser. /
The enemy was the Australian sgd
new. heavily superior 10 the Emden-
The Australian was making fun
speed uorthWard- The Emden rushed
out at % knots and began a maneu- F
yer 90 eliminate the disadvantage 7
of the Sydney's superior colber- The b
sydney. on her part, endeavored % /
Keep her distance and destroy the I
German while keeping herself out o.
the range OF the Germans smaller I
guns.
At $40 a. m fire was opened. the [
Emdeu releasing the first shot Her +
fire was marvelousIy accurate and
he first EXCHANGE resulted IN -he I
Sydney's range finder being blown
Clearly away.
First the foremost funnel OF the
German went then the foremost As
the second and third tunnels crashed
over her decks she broke seriously /
afire. The Esuden's turrets were. by
this time. literally boxes Of MANNED
human bodies. Weltering around in
their own blood At 11.20 a. m. she
grounded on North Keeling Island.
having got beyond control The sgd
ney steamed up and sent two broad
sides into her as she lay. and then
left temporarily 10 pursue a mer-
chant ship. which had come up dur
ng the action
Fail to Save Collier.
The Sydney overhauled the mer-
chairman. the S. s Bureslz. a British
collier which had been captured b.
the Emden- The prize crew opened
The seac0cks and mutilated them so
hat repairs were impossible The
ship was already setting as the sgd
ley overlook her and she soon
plunged beneath the water
On arriving again off the Euden,
the Sydney found that she still had
her col0rs up at the main mast head