KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 31 August 1914, Page 5

KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE.

SUNK OFF AFRICAN COAST, DETAILS OF ENCOUNTER. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) LAS PALMAS, August 29. Lieutenant Deane, one of the prisoners from the steamer Galician, in an interview, said the Kaiser Wilhelm cler Grosse sighted the cruiser Higliflyer at 1.30 on Wednesday. The commander then ordered her prisoners below. An hour afterwards, he told them to geT "aboard the collier Arucas, which was coaling the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Tlie l'atter's officers said the Highflyer was going to fire, and had given the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse an hour in which to clear. Owing to the officers' delay, the prisoners only boarded the collier in

the last minute, and evou thou, some remained on the vessel. The Highflyer was four miles off when she opened lire. A shell passed over tho Arucat's deck. There was much delay in cutting the Aruca's hawser, shells falling all the time. It was ten minutes before they got out o? range. The Kaiser Wilholm der Grosse kept her officers and gun-crews, and a few engineers, and the remainder were told to board the Arucas as best they could. There was a frantic struggle to get off the doomed .ship. As the Kaiser Wiihelm der Grosse's bow was on to the Highflver, the latter had some difficulty m finding her mark. She consequently manoeuvred round to get a broadside. The cannonade of both ships lasted for forty minute*. ■ All the Kaiser Wilholm der Grosses shots appeared to fall short. She was herself hit three times, and then caught on fire. When she was .silenced the Highflyer ceased firing. The .Kaiser Wiihelm der Grosse war still afire and the Highflyer was 'standing off when the Arucas got out or sight. It k reported that the Captain gave his sword and a letter to his wife to his secretary, who boarded the Arucas. Ho said he intended to blow up the ship before he surrendered.