CAPTURED BY EMDEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 257, 27 September 1935, Page 15

CAPTURED BY EMDEN.

war-time' Incident recalled

Captain-*Jtobin6on, master of the new Ellerman and liner, City of Manchester, which is on her maiden voyage to Australian waters, can claim to, have been captured by the Germsfith raider Emden, and to have been allowed to escape with his ship (says a Sydney paper). In September, 1914, while in command of the steamer Kabinga, Captain Robinson left Calcutta with a freight for New York. Several days later the Emden appeared, and his ship was captured. An armed party was placed on board, and for four days the Kabinga followed the Emden. During that period five British ships were sunk, and the survivors, .who numbered about 700, were taken on board the collier which was following and refuelling the Emden from time to time. Apparently the captain of the Emden was in a quandary regarding the fate of the Kabinga as the vessel was carying the goods of a neutral country. Then an Italian steamer was captured, and it was decided to place all the survivors on board the Italian ship, together with the crew of the Kabinga, and sink the ship. Italy had not then entered the war. It was found, however, that there was insufficient food and water on board the Italian ship, and the commander of the Emden then transhipped all the British people from tne German collier to the Kabinga, and instructed Captain Robinson to return to Calcutta. The Kabinga later became a troopship. the ASB, and for the remainder of the war was engaged in carrying Australian troops overseas. The capture of the Kabinga had a more pleasant sequel recently when Captain Robinson -was in East London. The new German cruiser Emden arrived while he was still in port, and he received an invitation to visit the ship. The captain of the new Emden had been an officer on the raider, and recalled having met Captain Robinson during the war.