BOTTLING-UP THE KONIGSBERG

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 6

BOTTLING-UP THE KONIGSBERG

Captain Willftt, of Lcigb-on-Sea, who recently returned from South Africa, told an exciting .story of tlie sinking of the Konigsberg. A steamer, he says, was observed going out of the river Rufiji, Just behind Mafia Islands, iler movements aroused suspicion; she was Phased, and was recognised as the German East African liner Somali. Soon after the Konigsberg was located higher up the stream. Both were shelled by the British cruisers, and the Somali was sunk. The Konigsberg got out of range and out of sight by working her way up the liver for a long distance. She was too far away to allow of being effectively shelled, so. to prevent her slipping away again, it was decided to "bottle her up.” To effect this best Captain Willett's boat, tlie Newbridge, was requisitioned. This vessel had on hoard a cargo of 1500 tons of coal. Her own crew were taken out and replaced by naval officers and bluejackets, Captain Willett, however, remaining on hoard. Sandbags were placed forward, and sacks of coal piled up. whilst steel sheet was used for their protection. These preparations were carried out. with the greatest skill, hut tlie Germans were intimate with the visit of the Newbridge and tlie object or her last voyage. Consequently they had made every preparation to give those on board a very warm reception. There is a small island at tlie entrance to tlie river, und a number of the Konigsherg's crew had entrenched themselves here, supported by maxims .and quick-firers, landed from the bottlen-up cruiser. Lieutenant Johnson and a lieu-tenant-commander with one of the British cruisers, together with Captain Willett. were tlie only officers who made the daring trip and came within range; hut, in spite of tlie hail of bullets and shrapnel. only a seaman was injured. The Newbridge was afterwards manoeuvred for the purpose of blocking tlie channel. Three charges of guncotton were placed in her hold, electric wires being led therefrom to the turret dock, and connected with tlie launch accompanying Hie ship on her mission. AVlien ail was in readiness three keys were tapped, fol-low-1 by three explosions, and the ship disanpeered. Tlie launches and heats had to run tlie gauntlet of the Germans lying in wait for them as they proceeded out to join tlie British cruisers. Tlie eox of the .——'s launch was struck in the shoulder hv a bullet, which came out on tlie other side of his body, and tlie whole of his left breast was blown away. Other casualties followed, and many were wounded, hut not seriously. Tlie Berman cruiser had so effectively concealed herself, not only amongst the palms, hut by actually covering the ship with foliage, that it was impossible to locate her exact position. To get over this difficulty a steamer arrived on the scene witli an aeroplane. and Hio position of the hidden cruiser was conveyed to the Britisli by means of smoke bombs, and very quickly tlie big guns of our ships got the range and battered the Konigsberg until she sank, and Captain Willett is ot opinion that her crew shared the same fate.