CRUISE OF THE WOLF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4817, 14 March 1918, Page 5

CRUISE OF THE WOLF.

FATE OF THE MATUMGA. STEWARDESS’S GRAPHIC STORY. WOLF LAID MINES EVERY NIGHT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 13, 8 p.m.) LONDON, Alareh 12. Airs. Alackenzie, a stewardess on the Matunga, lias supplied the following graphic story of her experiences : The Matunga was about 18 hours off liabaui on August 6 when the Wolf came in sight. She had picked up the Alatunga’s wireless on the previous night announcing her arrival and evidently she had been informed that we were taking 500 tons of coaL • The Wolf, desperately needing coal, had awaited us for five days. Immediately the Wolf appeared, she sent up a seaplane, which circled over the Alatunga to investigate whether she was armed. The Wolf then came closer and hoisted the German ensign and signalled us to stop. The chief officer apparently mistook the signals and went on, whereupon the Wolf fired across our hows at 500 yards range. A prize crew from the Wolf, with bombing officers, immediately follow-, ed. They were all fullv armed and carried a large number of bombs. Boats from the Wolf took off the Matunga’s captain and officers with, some military officers and soldiers and three male civilians. We then sailed to Dutch New Guinea, where we discharged our coal. The AVolf shipped the coal and all provisions, and transferred the stewards, sailors and others who had been left on the Alatunga aboard, the AVolf. AA r e proceeded seaward for ten miles on August 27, when the Alatunga was sunk by means of time bombs. Every precaution was taken to prevent floating wreckage. The steamer disappeared in half an hour. The subsequent course of the AA'olf is only surmise, hut we presumed that she went to the Indian Ocean. Once she was off Colombo and later was near Singapore and Borneo. The AA r olf sowed mines nightly, _as we heard the rattle of the ;-oending lines and then the mines being carefully lowered. Airs. Alackenzie then gives details of the capture of the Hitakhi Alaru and other vessels already reported. She proceeds.:— The AA'olf was now making for Trinidad Island, but- picked up a wireless message stating that a Chilian warship had arrived there and thereupon altered her course in the opposite direction. After coaling from the Jgotz Alendi she headed for Germany. In mid-Atlantic two ships, apparently American transports, suddenly hove out of the mist and passed close to the AA'olf and Igotz Alendi, causing great consternation aboard, but proceeded without signalling. There was stormy weather for the latter part of the vov.-ge and Airs. Alackenzie was ill nr three weeks and does not know what iiappeneo till the Igotz Alendi stranded, hutunderstood that she slipped down the Norwegian coast with ait- meeting British warships.

WAIRUNA SUNK IN N.Z. WATERS.

RAIDER AT THE KERAfADECS. NEARLY HAD THE NIAGARA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Alareh 13. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON. Alarcli 12. Messrs. Rees and Donovan, members yu the AA'airuna’s crew, have reached London. They state that the AA'airuna was captured off the Kermadecs, where the raider was close inshore .refitting. A German band was playing aboard ihe AA'olf. when one of tlie musicians sighted the approaching steamer AA airuna. A seaplane then flew over tlie AA'airuna and dropped a paper, ordering the snip to stop. At the same time the AA off fired a shot across the bows. A prize crew went aboard tlie AYairuua and took possession. The raider worked at the AYairuna for 16 days and removed 1200 tons of coal and provisions and 42 sheep. At this time the AA’olf was at starvation point regarding the matter of food and coal. . The Germans twitted the A) airuna’s crew with not scuttling the ves = e \ when capture was inevitable. AYlien dismantling was completed, bombs were placed in the how of the AA'airuna. which was sunk. The AA'olf nearly waylaid the Niagara- on two occasions, but- a cruiser s wireless warned the AA olr of the imminence of- danger. , Sir Tlios. Alackenzie has provided for Alessrs. Rees and Donovan - s wants and entertained them. There may lie-food for reflection in the fact that the German escapees from Alotuilii were recaptured at the Kermadecs _ in approximately the same position as the AA olf encountered the AA'airuna, hut it is morethan likely that both the AVolf and the See ' Adler’s escapees were attracted to the spot by the food depotwliich the New Zealand Government maintains at the islands for shipwrecked mariners. ■- The Kermadecs are situated about 600. miles from Auckland, or less than two days steam. The islands are within a few hours’ easy steam of the direct steam routes to longa and Rarotonga. while they are also within easy Striking distance of the direct route to Fiji and consequently would appeal to a raider as a good temporary base. ~