South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-10
Naval Battles of the World War
THE EMDEN AND THE SIDNEY.
BY G. KAY SPENCER.

THE EMDEN AND THE SIDNEY.
1t was early OH Monday, Nov. 3,
1914. that the unexpected arrival
of II. l. G. NJ. 5. Emden broHe 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
ern Telegraph company has cable
station and a staff of men engaged
in relaying messages between Eu-
rope and Australia. All other inhab-
itants are AIalays.
one day in the late September. a
message vibrated through from Sin
sapore, telling of the dispatch of
the German cruiser Emden 10 these
islands. Then the lookouts began
TO sight questioning searchlights
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 Emden. Phantom Emdens
galore were reported from many
southern ports. for the fear of this
will -the-wisp cruiser had been
terrorizing the southern trade
routes.
So, at six o'clock on this fair
Monday morning the Opalescent
waters were churned by four
funnelled, long, gray cruiser, max
ing for the entrance TO the lagoon
at full speed. Suspicion was aroused
as the cruiser flew no FLAG, and
one funnel obviously was a dunn
my made of painted canvas. No
action could be taken, for no weap-
ons capable of a defense were on
the islands.
once inside the lagoon. the cruis-
er lowered an armored launch and
two boats, which came ashore and
landed on the coral beach. three
officers and 40 men. all fully armed
and accompanied by four Maxim
guns
The Germans at once rushed the
cable station; the operators flashing
MESA yes for aid TO the last second.
The operators were soon turned out,
all instruments smashed and gum:
set over all the buildings. The men
We're treated with great civility. IN
deed, the men of both sides We're
soon fraternizing and eXchanging
wine and tobacco.
The launch was, in the mean
time, graphing for the cables with
the view of cutting them. At 9 a.
m. the Emden suddenly began TO
blow her siren furiously, a signal
10 the landing party TO return 10
the ship at once. They dashed for
their boats. 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
Avesha. stocked her with provisions
and set out TO sea. when they ar
rived at Berlin. in the lapse Of
time. they had circumnavigated the
world. fought their way through
robber bands in the deserts, and
buried many of their small force.
who persisted from disease on the
route. Lieut.. Won Muecke was the
leader Of this band - the landing
crew of n. 1. G. NJ. ). Emden.
The Emden's desertiOn of her
I landing crew was ONNd0ANAANA ~ N-AN
sighting OF an Australian cruiser.
The enemy was the Australian sgd
ney. heavily superior to the Emden.
The Australian was making fell
speed northward. The Emden rush
ed out at 20 knots and began a
maneuvre TO eliminate the disad-
vantage of the Sydney's superior
caIibre. The sydney, on her part,
endeavored 10 keep her distance
and destroy the German while
keeping herself out Of the range
of the Germans smaller guns.
At s:4O a. m. FIRE was opened. the
Emden releasing the first shot Her
IRE was marvelously accurate and
the FIRST exchange resulted in the
Sydney's range finder being blown
/ cleanly away.
The superior metal Of the sgd