CRUISE OF THE MOEWE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15192, 12 April 1917, Page 3

CRUISE OF THE MOEWE.

FIGHT WITH THE OTAKI. RAIDER OP MANY COLOURS. LONDON, March 30. Reuter's correspondent at Copenhagen states that during the fight between the Moewe and the New Zealand Shipping Company's Otafci, British prisoners on the raider forced the iron doors of their quarters. German soldiers armed with hand grenades prevented them reaching the deck. The Moewe on one occasion was cruising outside Capetown. At another time she was off Rio de Janiero. She then turned and made for Germany, by way of Newfoundland and the North Atlantic, when her coal was running out. The British prisoners were kept under strict surveillance, and were isolated from the others. The Moewe carried four big guns. She had five torpedo tubes and was fitted with high removable masts and dummy funnels. She ,was repeatedly painted, different colours. She also had a sham steering wheel. At night time the cruiser went at full speed. In the daytime she steamed slowly. The Moewe passed Elsinore on March 21 and entered the Sound. On arrival at Kiel the British officers among the prisoners were sent to Karlsruhe and the men to Westphalia. The fire on the Moewe caused by the Otaki's shells was responsible for insufferable heat. The Moewe stripper her victims of metal fittings. During the homeward run a British armed steamer attacked the f T oewe. In an obstinate fight the British steamer's second officer was killed and the gunner's arms blown off. The steamer was sunk and the survivors rescued".