THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY; OCTOBER 7, 1914. THE GERMAN COMMERCE DESTROYER.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13592, 6 October 1914, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY; OCTOBER 7, 1914. THE GERMAN COMMERCE DESTROYER.

The prolonged term of liberty tho German commerce destroyer Emden is enjoying in which to carry out the work of destruction entrusted to her illustrates the difficulty of tracking down a raider on the high seas. It is, often difficult enough to locate a disabled steamer when the searchers know approximately where to seek her/ as many a protract- ' ed period of anxious waiting for news of drifting steamers before the advent of wh'eless>kas proved. When, however, the sought for vessel is concerned to evado capture the searchers' task may become a matter of a very considerable timo. The Emden's exploits recall.the.historic, case of/the Alabama during the American Civil War, which roamed the h'<^li seas for two years before she was iv,n down and sunk. The Alabama was just completed" in the builders' yards in England for the Southern States when the war broke out, and through some official negligence which cost Great Britain £3,000,000 in compensation subsequently, she was allowed to sail. During her two years' cruise she sailed nearly all round the world, up and down the Atlantic, round the Gulf of Mexico, down the coast of South America, round the Cape, up to China, past Ceylon, and back along almost the same course. She had captured 68 vessels and sunk <a gunboat." • Fifty-three of the ships wore destroyed, nine were ransomed, two were released, one was used n$ a j cruiser, and in four cases the cargo was I taken out and destroyed, but the ship ! unharmed. United States warships wero looking out for Captain Semmcs during most of this time. The Vanderbilt, a*.swift Northern warship, was expressly despatched to look after him. But -Semines was .careful. He made good use of -neutral harbours, and not infrequently infringed neutrality. It was not until the United States Minister in Franco, .telegraphed- to th« Kearsarge, lying at Flushing, that the Alabama had at last-mn into Cherbourg, that Semmes was finally run to earth The %ht in the English Channel .was .watched all through ■by tho English yacht Deerhoiuid, whose owner wanted to show his children a naval battle. The Alabama was stink att'?r three hours. The Deer-hound rescued some of the orew. In tho natuie of things the-Emden cannot sun ire near-. j.ly as long as the Alabama did. *'■ Tlio" coaling^difficulty alone must bring her to a standstill beforp long,' since all German ports in the Atlantic and the Pacific have been either blockaded or captured, and colliers leaving neutral ports are strictly .scrutinised. In addition to that the TOnvleTi's hull is now reported to bo in so foul a state that her speed has been greatly reduced, and with every reported exploit giving an indication of her whereabouts, her capture becomes more imminent.