DISAPPEARANCE OF THE WISMAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 51, 28 August 1914, Page 2

DISAPPEARANCE OF THE WISMAR

Concerning the report of the Wismar having been sighted by ,the Port Lincoln, which arrived at Melbourne recently trom London, the ivielbouine Argus says that the oliicers of the latter vessel reported having passed the German cargo steamer Wismar m the Southern Ocean, at a point about lOQU miles to the &outhwest of Cape Leeuwin. The vessel was sighted making towards the Port Lincoln from the southward during the afternoon of 12th August, and, as officers had learned of the outbreak of war by wireless a few days previously, they maintained a close watch. The Wismar did not approach too aear the British liner, anu on ascertaining her identity, promptly turned back over her original track. It was surmised that her master had picked up news of the war by wireless, and was seeking the Altona, which also belongs to the same line, but is not equipped with wireless. The vessel's auspicious movements aroused much cunosity on the Port Lincoln, and subsequently efforts to establish communication by wireless were lruitless, although friendly interchange had taken place between the vessels on several days prior to the repeipt of the declaration of war. Both German steamers left Capetown two days, ahead of the Port Lincoln, so that it is quite possible that the Altona, has been warned by her consort. In that event, however, it would be a difficult matter for tho steamers to reach a distant neutral port, as their "coal supplies ai'b likely to be low after the loag voyage. When the Port Lincoln was at Capetown on. 31st July a visiting German warship was in Table Bay, but evidently got news of imminent trouble, as she put to sea hurriedly the next day. A number of warships attached to the British South African squadron were also in Simon's Bay, busily preparing.