Kiautschou Bay concession
"Emden" spent the majority of her career overseas in the German East Asia Squadron, based in Tsingtao, in the Kiautschou Bay concession in China. In 1913, Karl von Müller took command of the ship. At the outbreak of World War I, "Emden" captured a Russian steamer and converted her into the commerce raider . "Emden" rejoined the East Asia Squadron, then was detached for independent raiding in the Indian Ocean. The cruiser spent nearly two months operating in the region, and captured nearly two dozen ships. On 28 October 1914, "Emden" launched a surprise attack on Penang; in the resulting Battle of Penang, she sank the Russian cruiser and the French destroyer .