H.M.A.S. SYDNEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 34

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY.

ARRIVAL IN DUNEDIN. A WARM WELCOME EXTENDED. Through a bank of fog in Otago Harbour massive black bulk loomed on Wednesday afternoon, and as the mysterious form developed from its filmy shroud Dunedin had its first view of the famous cruiser, H.MJV.S. Sydney. With the tug Dunedin piloting the way, the Sydney steamed rp the harbour, looking grimly suggestive of the destructive purpose for which she was created, and which she had fulfilled with telling effect in her spectacular destruction of the Emdeii, off the Cocos island, over 11 years ago The orders from the officers in oilskins on the bridge were smartly obeyed, and at 2.15 p.m. the Sydney was secured. The gangway was run up, and shortly afterwards the fir it visitors walked aboard. "We had a beautiful run across the Tasman,” stated Commander Uuihbert J. Pope, the only oflicer now on the ship who participated in the sinking of the Emden. In company with Delhi and Adelaide, the Sydney cleared Hobart for New Zealand. Following winds and calm seas were experienced on the trip, bad weather being encountered only when the vessels reached Foveaux Strait. Coming down the coast the fleet was favoured with hue weather till nearing Otago Peninsula, when another rain storm was met. The Delhi and the Adelaid- separated from the Sydney off the Heads, and continued on their course for Wellington. At 12.30 p.m. the Sydney entered the Heads, and Captain M'Lean boarded the visitor to pilot her up the channel. VVith the precision that marks the arrival of battleshi.-s, the Sydney steamed into the basin at the scheduled hour. Shortly after the arrival of the warship Mr H. L. Tap ley, M.P. (Mayor of Dunedin), Mr G. Lewin (town c:erk), Mr W. B. Taverner (deputy-Mayor), Mr J. Loudon (chairman of the Otago Harbour Board), Mr T. Anderson (Mayor of Port Chalmers and member of the Harbour Board), Mr Keith Ramsay (member of the Harbour Board), Mr J. Sutherland ltoss (president of the Exhibition Company), Mr P. S. Anderson and Mr J. M. White (president and secretary ot the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association), Major Bell (officei comanding the Otago Defence Area), and Mr J. J. Clark (president of the Navy League) paid official calls on Commodore Thomas L. V/ardle and on Commander Edwin O. Morris (chief staff officer) and the officers. A welcome to the commodore was first extended by the Mayor, who assured him that the citizens of Dunedin would do ail in their power to make the stay of the officers and men a pleasant one. Mr Loudon joined in the welcome and assured the commodore that all the facili ties of the port were available to the Speeches of welcome were also made bv Mr Ross, Mr Anderson and Mr Clark. The latter mentioned that the children ot New Zealand were greatly interested in the navy and the visit of such a famous warship would be a source of deep satisfaction to the children of Dunedui. In replying, Commodore Wardle briefly tlhunked the speakers for their hearty welcome. He said that he had been given apt illustration of interest in the navy bv the children, for when the vessel was sailing up the harbour, loud cheeis had been heard from groups of children who lined the road in one of the bays of the haibour.ivic p arty then visited the officers wardroom. In a happy speech ° f Mr Tapley said that every effort would be made to moke the stay of the ships most enjoyable He hoped the officers and men would find plenty to engage their interest at the Exhibition and that when the Sydney departed from Dunedin tile visitors would be unanimous that the visit had b ° en " or ( J while Dunedin had welcomed other sections of the Royal Navy and on this ocS n it would do its. best to maintain the Mutation for hospitality that it had possessed from the days of its fol !U’? tl ° i "„ The. citizens realised, of course that the meu did not wish to be tied down to a Kg programme of entertainments, as the Exhibition would be a big attraction. "On behalf of the wardroom officers 1 want to thank you. very much indeed lor tho very kind way in which you have web wmod us to Dunedin to day, staled Commander Morris in reply. I feel sure that if wo don’t enjoy ourselves ill Dunedin we have only onrfiolvoo to blame.

OIVXC RECEPTION TO OFFICERS. In the Council Chambers on Thursday at noon Commodore Wardle and the officers of H.M-A.s. Sydney were tendered a civic reception by the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) ami citizens. In addressing a hearty welcome to the Commodore and his officers, the Mayor ■laid that the visit gave the people of Dunedin great pleasure, as the citizens were always more than glad to greet any unit of the British Navy, and the Australian Division was now a significant factor in the Grand Fleet. He was sure the people of Dunedin were proud and happy to meet their visitors, and they ■would be specially gratified to know that Commodore Wardle was the chief-iu-com-mand of the Australian Division. The ship flying his flag had made. history in the war; she had great traditions, anil this lent additional interest to the visit. Her exploits in the war would never ho forgotten, and they were known to both young and old. He said it was pleasing to note that fully 70 per cent, of the personnel of the ship were Australians. New Zealand and Australia were separated by a very small sea, and there were strong ties binding the interests of each country closely together. The heartiness of their welcome was for the men who had come from England, too, to assist Australia to build up a navy. Visits of this nature had in tho past been iho means of linking different parts of the Empire in closer bonds, and he was sure ibo present one would further cement the happy relations that existed between Australia and New Zeeland. lie recalled some <Df the previous oocasions on which Dunedin had been visited People had very pleatent recollections of those visits, and he Was quite sure that as time went on the frilit of the Sydney would be equally vividly

remembered. He hoped that the visitors themselves would retain similarly pleasant recollections of their stay. The speaker went on to refer to the all-importance oi the navy in the Pacific and concluded by mentioning the Exhibition, of which Dunedin |>eople were very proud. Hie visit had been well-timed and he expressed the hope that they would find pleasure and instruction when they visited Logan Park. Mr J. J. Clark (president of the local branch of the Navy League) welcomed the visitors on behalf of his league. He said that in New Zealand there was developing a sea sense, and with it was coming a realisation of the responsibility of citizen ship in this direction. The visit of this ship had lieen anticipated for a long time by the children, and it was all the more welcome to the people as a whole owing to the great things the navy stood for, and always would stand for as long as efficiency was maintained Dunedin welcomed the visitors as representatives of the navy and as citizens of a sister Dominion. Mr J. Loudon (chairman of the Harbour Board) also supported the Mayor in his welcome. He said that despite many and varied rumours to the contrary Australia and New Zealand were and always would be the closest of friends. There was n bond of kinship between them that could never be broken. He had very great pleasure in extending a warm welcome to the commodore and his officers. Mr T. Anderson (Mayor of Port Chalmers) was also asked to speak, and he added a few words of welcome on behalf of the Port, which had opened its arms to the Sydney and had been proud to welcome the men. He also stressed the necessity for the best feelings between the two countries. The gathering then sang “For They Are Jolly Good Fellows,” -and three cheers were hearL.y given. Commodore War die. in replying to speeches of welcome, said that those of his crew who had not been to New Zealand before had been prepared by their comrades for a royal welcome, and they had found that what they had been led to expect had come true, but he himself had been unprepared ** r such warmth and heartiness. As they came up the harbour (or the river, as lie termed it), welcomes had been waved from the shores, though yachting enthusiasts had been quite indignant over his near approach to the yacht race. He spoke of the voyage which had made his ship famous, and explained that the object of the present visit was to exercise with the New Zealand division, which he thought was very necessary, as the more they could combine the more they could do for the Empire and themselves. Co-operation in peace or war was a favourite maxim of his, and he welcomed an opportunity to co-operate with New Zealand in this way. They had, however, come on business, and therefore could not devote much time to pleasure, but they would certainly take advantage of the opportunities afforded them of seeing the Exhibition. He was proud to have come as the commander of the Australian division, which was now doing remarkably well. He concluded by thanking those present for their kindness, and assured them that his men would take with them when they departed the pleasantest memories of Dunedin The Commodore and his officers sang * oi* They Are Jolly Good Fellows,” and gave three cheers for their hosts, after which the singing of the National Anthem terminated the function. Oil Thursday a large number of sailors availed themselves of the opportunitv of seeing the beauties of Dunedin from the City Council’s observation buses. The Mayor (Mr H.- L. Tapley, M.P.), Major P. H. Bell (chief of the local staff of the Defence Department), Mr T. Anderson (Mayor of Port Chalmers), Mr W. B. Taverner (Deputy-Mayor), Mr J. Loudon (chairman of the Harbour Board). Mr P. S. Anderson (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association), and several other prominent citizens lunched aboard the Sydney on Thursday as the guest of Commodore Wardle DEPARTURE FOR THE NORTH H.M.A.S. Sydney took her departure from Dunedin punctually at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Long before the warship was timed to sail a crowd, estimated at between 6000 and 7000 persons, gathered on the Rattray street and other wharves to bid the Australian naval men goodbye. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.), went on board shortly before 4 p.m. In .saying farewell to Commodore Wardle, Mr Tapley expressed the pleasure the visit of tJie Sydney had given the citizens. It was hoped, he said, that visits of ships of the Australian Navy to New Zealand would be continued from time to time, as such visits did a power of good in sustaining the relationship that now existed between both countries. It was gratifying to know that the officers and mer made so many friends during the all too brief stay of the Sydney at this port. It was felt that the friendships formed would last for all time. Before his departure Commodore Wardle handed a letter to the Mayor, which reads as follows: “Before leaving Dunedin I desire, on behalf of the officers and men of H.M.A.S. Sydney, to express to you and the citizens our hearty appreciation of the great kindness and hospitality which we have received here, Our stay in Dunedin has been most enjoyable, and we take away with us the most pleasant memories. The welcome given to an Australian man-o’-war is proof of the close ties whi.li exist between the Dominion ind the Commonwealth. We wish Di n ' din and New Zealand .all possible success and prosperity in the future.— (Signed) Thomas G. Wardle, Commodore.” As the Sydney drew away from her berth the ship’s band played “Auld Lang Syne,” and the crew sang the song and cheered heartily. The big crowd returned the cheers with equal heartiness. The commander, from the bridge, called for three cheers for the Mayor, which were given by the crew and the crowd. In a few minutes the large grey hull, with thick smoke belching from her fo ’ard funnels, headed down channel and made for the open sea. The Sydney will be joined by H.M.A.S. Adelaide and Delhi off Lyttelton Heads this morning. The

three ships will then steam to Wellington, arriving there to-morrow morning. VISIT TO PORT CHALMERS. Commodore Wardle, of H.M.A.S. Sydney, with his stati' officers, visited Port Chalmers on Saturday at the invitation of the Mayor (Mr T. Anderson). They motored down by way of the Junction and Mihiwaka, and included in their tour a visit to the site of the Scott Memorial Cairn, from which they obtained a fine panoramic view of the harbour. Mr Anderson conducted the visitors round the engineering shops and the marine repair works. A sample of the waterfront activities at Port Chalmers was supplied by the overseas steamer Tairoa, which was being painted in dry dock. In the Mayor's room later the visitors were formally welcomed, Mr J. Loudon, chairman of the Harbour Board, supporting the Mayor’s remarks. Commodore Wardle said he enjoyed these visits and was impressed with the homeliness of their welcome wherever they had been. After they left Home, he said, they found they had come to another home, so to speak, in Australia, and now they found a further home in New Zealand. It was indeed very pleasant. The party returned to the city by way of West Harbour. SYDNEY’S FAMOUS EXPLOIT DESTRUCTION OF RAIDER EMDEN. The famous exploit of the Sydney in destroying the German raider Emden at Cocos Islands towards the end of 1914 will live long in the memory of those who took an active part in the fight, and in the minds of British subjects throughout the world who read the cabled accounts after the deed was accomplished. The Sydney was one of the naval escorts to the big convoy of troopships steaming across the Indian Ocean with the Australian and New Zealand Main Body of troops on their way to Egypt. The convoy consisted of over 38 ships, and presented a splendid target for the enemy’s cruiser. The subsequent destruction of the Emden is fully described in the first volume of the official history of “ Australia in the War,” written by the Australian war correspondent, Captain C. E. W. Bean. The Australian warship Melbourne occupied the leading position in the convoy, the Sydney was on the extreme left, and the Japanese cruiser Ihuki was on the extreme right. Many precautions were taken to prevent the convoy from being sighted, especially at night, when a hostile cruiser might have approached unseen. At the beginning of the voyage the 38 ships were allowed to carry after dark their red and green side-lights and stern lights, only the leading ship In each division carrying a masthead light. All other lights on board were supposed to De screened. It was intended that, when passing the Cocos Islands, all other lights should be extinguished, leaving only on the water astern of each ship a faint glow, by which the following ship was to steer. On the night of November 7, when the Cocos Islands were 36 hours distant, all lights in the fleet were extinguished for half an hour, and the men were ordered to their stations. In the early hours of the morning of November 9 the fleet was due to pass the Cocos Islands. The course had been laid slightly off the track of the mail steamers in order to take the fleet about 50 miles east of the islands. Dawn found every ship in her place. Ahead was the Melbourne. As the day broke the ships turned in succession a few points to port. They were at that moment swinging round the Cocos Islands at a radius of 50 miles. The critical point of the voyage appeared to have been passed. At 6.24 that morning the wireless operators in many of the ships suddenly received a short message. It was very loud and clear. It began with a certain call sign, and simply said : KATIVBATTAV. Immediately upon this the wireless station on Cocos Island was heard calling: ‘‘What is that code?” To this there came no answer. The next signal caught was that of the Cocos Island station calling the Minotaur. No answer was heard. Cocos Island called the Minotaur again, and added: ‘‘Strange warship approaching. Then came one general call from the Cocos station : “S.O.S. Strange warship approaching.” On receiving these signals the Melbourne left her place at the head of the convoy and started on a direct course for the Cocos Islands. She was pouring smoke from every funnel, and was working up speed, when her commander, Captain M. L. E. Silver, R.N., realised that, a 9 officer in charge of the convoy, his duty was to stay by the transports, for whose safety he wa g responsible. He, therefore, signalled to the Sydney to make for the Cocos Islands, and the Melbourne returned to her place at the bead of the convoy. Within an hour the Sydney had disappeared over the horizon to the west. The whole fleet had 9een the Sydney leave, and every man knew that she had gone to meet some ship of the enemy. Twice or thrice a sound, which the men thought to be the beating a big drum, was heard by the troops drilling on the forecastle of the Ornrah. But no sign of any vessel appeared. The news had come at 9.30 a.m. from the Sydney, then not far beyond the horizon, that she had sighted the enemy’s ship, and that the stranger was eteaming northward. At 10.45 a.m. a further wireless message arrived from the Sydney: ‘‘Am briskly engaging enemy.” At 11.10 a.m. came the signal: “Emden beached and done for.” The news spread quickly round the ships. The relie* felt that thi9 destroyer of British merchant ships had been destroyed, and the pride that an Australian ship had done it, was intense. The Emden was now out of the way, but the Konigsberg, her sister ship, might still be met with. News then arrived that the Konigsberg had been definitely located on the coast’ of Africa. From that time all fear of ihterference with the convoy in the Indian Ocean passed. On November 11 the Melbourne went on to Colombo to coal, leaving the convoy in charge of the Ibnki. The night of November 8 was too bright for the Emden to have reached the fleet unobserved from any direction except astern. The Emden had arrived at the Cocos Islands the evening before the fight too late to land a l>ouy of men to destroy the cable station on Direction Island. Von Muller was asked by one of the officers in charge of tl>© prisoners what he would have done had he sighted the fleet. ‘‘l was 52 miles away from the convoy that night,” was the answer. “If I had got np to the convoy I should have run alongside her (indicating the cruiser on the port bow of the convoy)— and fired a torpodo. Then, in the confusion, I would have got in among the transports. I would have sunk half of them, I think, before your escort camo up. I would have been sunk in the ond, I expect—l always expected that.” Those who hacl dealings with this gaunt, clean-ahaven, big-boned sailor, far more resembling an Englishman than a German

in both bis appearance and his outlook, were of opinion that there was one chance in a thousand that he might have succeeded. The Sydney rejoined the convoy while the ships were at Colombo taking in fresh water and coal. On the Sydney's decks lay the maimed and dying survivors of the Emden’a crew. In Colombo most of the German raider’s survivors were taken on board three of the transports. Captain von Muller, Prince Franz Josef of Hohenzollern, with the Emden's surviving doctor, an engineer officer, and 48 men were received by the Orvieto. EXIT THE EMDEN. An Interesting paragraph concerning the Sydney’s exploit was published in the Maunganui Mirror Ocean Chronicle, the official daily newspaper of that transport. It is also interesting to note that copies of these transport newspapers have been preserved by Mr W. B. M‘Ewan, chief librarian at the Dunedin Public Library. The paragraph in the Mirror reads:— While the editor and staff were feverishly bestirring themselves this morning with the final preparations for the printing of the Mirror, momentous events were taking place on the high seas to the south-west. History was being written, not with the quill pen of the academic historian, but with the big guns of H.M.A.S. Sydney, the first ship (so far as we know) of the new-born Australian Navy to. participate in a naval engagement. About 7 o’clock this morning the Sydney left her station In the escort, and swinging round towards the south-west, set off at full speed—a squat, sombre figure which rapidly receded to a dot on the skyline, and finally disappeared from view. Speculation and conjecture mostly occupied the early hours of the forenoon, until at 11.30 a.m. we were signalled "that the enemy had beached herself to prevent sinking.” The message was received with enthusiastic cheering, which was redoubled when we were further informed that the enemy was none other than the notorious Emden.