THE KAIPARA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16808, 18 March 1915, Page 2

THE KAIPARA.

CAPTAIN'S STORY OF THE SINKING- . HIGHFLYER'S REVENGE. Captain Makepeace, who is iii charge of the steamer Middlesex, which Arrived at Sydney from London and Liveipool on ''March 7. is making bis first voyage to Australia since the steamer Kaipara, of which he hold command, was captured and sunk by the German armed merchantman lveiser "Wilneim der Grosse off the African coast, wnue homeward bound, from JNew fceaiand to Avonmouth. WJion seen on board the Middlesex on her arrival, says the " Sydney Alornuig Herald." Captain' Makepeace was able to supplv interesting details of the capture and sinking or his vessel,.and ot the fate which eventually befel the German raider when the British cruiser Highflyer arrived on the scene. • •'We were in latitude 25.10 north, and longitude 17.8 west, when we sighted the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, said Captain Makepeace. It was about seven o'clock in the morning when she signalled to us to stop. 1 ma not stop until she fired a- shot across our bows. A prise crew came aboard', and took charge of the ship. The crew of the Kaipara were transferred to the Kaiser Vilhelin der Grosse in the steamer's boats, and were allowed to take some of their things. I was the last to leave her, and went off in the Germans' boat.

FIRED FIFTY-TWO SHOTS. '■The Germaus put a charge of guncotton or some other explosive m-.the stokehold. They eaid it was sufficient to blow a hole 12ft square in her side. They fixed a tea minutes' fuse to it, and" everybody left. In addition to this, the Kaiser "Wilhelm der. Grosse fired no fewer than fifty-two shots at her before she sank. I did not see her sink myself, but my officers did. They said she settled right down, heeled to port a little, and then the Germans put a shot through every hatch. After this she righted herself again, and then went down bodily. She was nearly three hours in sinking. . "On the same day we tell in witn the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's steamer Arlanza. A prize crew wont on board this vessel, and after dismantling her wireless let her go. v At about 6 p.m. on the same day we met the Elder Dempster liner Nya-.za, and she was sunk after the crew were taken aboard. _ « "We then went m Our a Bay, on the West African Coast, which is under Portuguese protection. The collier Duala arrived next day and started coaling us. We were there for ten davs, and during that time the German colliers Magdeburg, Bethania and Arucas arrived. The Duala had IHUU tons of coal, the Magdeburg 1500 tons, the Bethania 6000 tons, and the Arucas 1600 tons. "I was on the deck of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross when the-Magde-burg arrived, and said to my chief officer, ' Have you ever seen her before?' Her funnel had been repainted, and her name was painted out. but he replied, without hesitation, Yes, shp's the German-Australian Company's Magdeburg.' The Germans asked us if wo knew the steamer, and we told them we had often seen her in Australia. We afterwards learned that she still hud cargo for Australia, on board, and her coal was stacked on the hatches and on deck. ARRIVAL OF THE HIGHFLYER. " When the Highflyer arrived off Oura JBay 1 believe she signalled the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse to cease coaling and surrender. The German replied, ' German warships never surrender.' The commander then hoisted a German ens.gn. "The colliers Bethania and Arucas were on either side of the Kaiser Wilhelm .der Grosse at this time. , A lieu-tenant-commander came to us and told us we could go on board the steamer on the port side, as the British cruiser would open fire in a few minutes. " Almost immediately afterwards the Kaiser Vviikeim uer txiosse opened the engagement and iired the nrst shot. \>e- got on board the collier Arucas, and while the iiighnyer was engaging the armed merchantman the comers escaped! Several s.ioss from the Jiignilyer fell near the Arucas, and one passed between the foremast and main mast. As we drew away we saw the port forward gun on the Kaiser Wiihelm der Grosse smashed up and the -rt side of the bridge blown away.

was 'on fire aft when we saw her last, ..-.• .1 >'.ib afterwards sank at Her anchorage. \vo were eventually landed at J ins Palmas. Nearly all our effects, which wo saved from the Kaipart, were lost ou the Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross©.

" Wo were treated fairly well while on the German vessel, and received the samo food as the Germans themselves. Outwardly the German comratnder s>rvpeared to be a very decent fellow. He came down and shook hands with us all after we wore first taken on board h' German vessel. We had to be in bed by eight o'clock every night, and were under "n armed «ua~d; but otherwise we could not complain of our treatment. Tfipre was a crew of 77 German reservists on the Arucas, 400 en the Pe + lisimi. and the Km'ser Wilhelm ''-•• Grosse's total complement was 600."