EMDEN’S END

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4418, 13 November 1934, Page 4

EMDEN’S END

TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

Twentv years ago last Friday the German raider Emden was destroyed on Coeos-Keeling Island by H.M.A.S. Sydney, and there was removed .from the seas a menace that had, in a few weeks, accounted for over £2,200,000 worth of shipping. Actually in a few weeks she had sunk ! half the total British shipping that had been lost up to that time, arid nearly half the estimated value of ships and cargoes lost.

Just after the Indian contingent had left for France the Emden made her first appearance in the Bay of Bengal, having been stationed on the China coast at the outbreak of hostilities. After being “lost” for six weeks she suddenly began operations and captured six merchant ships in four days. British cruisers hurried to the scene of her activities, "but failed to locate her. On September 22 she approached Madras, and in a bombardment of that port, lasting only 15. minutes, set fire to a number of oil tanks.

She again disappeared, but in the middle of October H.M.S. Yarmouth was fortunate in sinking the Hain-burg-Amerika line steamer Markomannia and a Greek-, steamer which had undoubtedly been acting as tenders to the Emden, so enabling her to work so far from a friendly base. The Emden’s next exploits were along the Cochin-China coast, where five more British ships were sunk, as well as a Japanese passenger steamer. In spite of the hue and cry that increased until each fresh success of the Emden, her captain was bold enough to disguise her with a dummy funnel and raid Penang, where a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer were sent to the bottom. The net was drawing closer, covering an immense area, and British cruisers were aided by war vessels from Australia, Russia, France and Japan. It fell to the lot of the Australian cruiser Sydney, which was acting as part of an escort to a convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops, to come up to the Emden as she was off Coeos-Keeling. At that time a raiding party was ashore destroying the wireless station and cutting the cable.

Against a superior fighting unit the Emden put up a brave show. Time was precious and, leaving her landing party ashore, she steamed out to meet her adversary. The two Ships soon came to grips, and the heavier armament of the Sydney began to tell. A running fight ensued, with the Emden rapidly being shot to pieces. Finally, her steering gear out of action, she was run aground on the south side of North Keeling Island. Her destruction was hailed with joy throughout the seven seas, as her successful career was having a definite effect on the safety of convoys of troops and on the British prestige in the East.

Reviewing the situation 20 years later. Vice-Admiral J. B. T. Harper, asks if we-kave learned our lesson. At present, he states, the British have not one warship east of Suez capable'of overhauling or dealing with one of Germany’s “pocket” battleships. There only one squadron of cruisers to protect trade in. Home waters and the eastern Atlantic, in addition to carrying- out its duty as a unit of the fleet.

“Wo have not, at the present ■time,” said Earl Beatty, when opening the Portsmouth Navy Week, “the number of cruisers required 20 years ago to capture Emden and Konigsberg.”