THE END OF THE EMDEN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 267, 15 December 1914, Page 8

THE END OF THE EMDEN.

ARAWA PICKED UP S.O.S. SIGNAL

INCIDENTS OF AN EXCITING DAY.

The following official bulletin was issued on the transports after the Eniden was destroyed, and conveys a vivid idea of the sequence of events: —

EXIT EMDEN. Nov. 9, 1914. 6.31 a.m.—lo/777 Private W. P. falconer, 6th Wellington Infantry Regiment, on wireless duty on H.M.N.Z.T. No. 10 Arawa, picked up from Cocos Island "5.0.5." and '' Strange warship at entrance" sent repeatedly. He woke Wireless Operator Raw. In a few minutes the Emden tuned to block messages by continuous interruptions. Raw tuned his receiver differently and managed to keep reading Cocos message through Emden's block. He immediately -reported to the Naval Transport Officer and tried to get the Melbourne and Maunganui; but other stations working blocked the message. (5.45 a.m. —Waima'na said "Signals quite good," but could not get the Maunganui. (5.50 a.m. —Signalled successfully to the Maunganui by semaphore. 7.4 a.m. —Maunganui got message through to the Melbourne. 7.10 a.m.T-H.M.A.S. Sydney left for Cocos Island, about 50 miles. 9.32 a.m. —Sydney sending code messages. Emden trying to block by sending at the same time. 9.47 a.m. —Everybody .ordered to stop signalling. 11.7. a.m.—H.M. A.S. Sydney to H.M. A.S. Melbourne: "Enemy beached to save herself from sinking.'' 11.27 a.m.—H.M.A.S. Sydney to H.M. A.S. Melbourne: "Pursuing merchant collier." 11.29 a.m.—H.M.S. Minotaur first spoke asking for movements of enemy. 11.41 a.m.—H.M.A.S. Sydney to all stations: "Emden beached and done for." Noou. —British casualties, 2 killed and 13 wounded.

Nov. 10,1914. 6.15 a.m.—H.M.A.S. Melbourne reports to Ibuki (Japanese): "No further apprehension re Emden. Ashore on North Coc.os. Foremast and three funnels down, and she has surrendered, while Sydney is intact and proceeding to Direction Island. Do not know when she will rejoin convoy. She is remaining to take off all guns and will probably land wounded prisoners on Direction Island. She is also to report on condition of cable." The Arawa was the only ship out of 38 transports .and four warships to pick up the message. The following verses were composed on the Arawa in honour of the event: — "SYDNEY" AND "EMDEN." Here's to the Sydney cruiser, That put the Emden out. She beat the German cruiser With a good Australian clout. No more the German pirate Will sink our helpless ships. She took the count for the full amount, When the Sydney came to grips. The German wanted, something soft, - So to Cocos went. The wireless saw him from aloft, So "5.0.5." was sent. The Sydney quiptly took the hint, And turned hor nose about. In an hour or two the news came through, •The Emden's down and out. —A.H.W. H.M.N.Z.T. No. 10. 10/11/14.