CHAPTER XX
THE "EMDEN"
"The Emden," said Lord Hastings to Jack and Frank, "has probablydone more damage to British, French and Russian shipping than allof the other German raiders and fleets at large."
"Has she accomplished anything lately?" asked Frank.
"Yes," replied Lord Hastings, "she has indeed. I suppose youhave not heard the story of her raids?"
"No," replied both lads, and Jack added: "Will you tell us whatyou know of her?"
"Well," began Lord Hastings, "the Emden is commanded by CaptainKarl von Mueller, a courteous gentleman and a competent officer--also,by the way, in times of peace, a friend of mine."
"Then you know him well?" asked Frank.
"Very well," returned Lord Hastings. "He has visited me morethan once, and I have been his guest in Berlin. But to proceed.The first report of the activity of the Emden was received onAugust 6, when word came that the German cruiser had sunk thesteamer City of Winchester the day before.
"The Emden has contributed to the history of the war one of itsmost remarkable chapters. For sheer audacity and success it hasfew parallels. Twenty-two ships, mostly British, have been sunkand one has been captured by this German cruiser, rightly named'The Terror of the Sea.'
"Since early in August the Emden has been at work. Most of thistime she has been preying on shipping in the Indian Ocean. Thevessels destroyed by Captain von Mueller had a total value ofabout $4,000,000, exclusive of their cargoes. The Emden'slargest guns, according to the best figures obtainable, are only4-inch, and of these she has ten. Her speed of 24.5 knots is hergreatest asset, but the Sylph has the heels of her. She has beenable to run down merchant ships with ease and then escape fromlarger but slower vessels that pursued her. British, Russian,French and Japanese warships in the East have been trying forweeks to put an end to her, but without success."
"But," Frank broke in, "how has she been able to keep to seamonth after month without replenishing her coal supply?"
"That," said Lord Hastings, "is a mystery that is as yetunsolved. It is assumed, however, that she has obtainedsufficient food and fuel to meet her needs from captured ships.In at least one instance this is known to have been done. Thecaptain of the British steamer Exford, captured by the Emden,informed his owners that Captain von Mueller said that before hesank the Exford he intended to take on board his cruiser the7,000 tons of steam coal with which the Exford was laden."
"Captain von Mueller must indeed be a capable officer," said Jack.
"He is," said Lord Hastings. "But to continue. After sinkingthe City of Winchester the Emden steamed into the Bay of Bengal,five days later, and sent two more British vessels to the bottom.Within three days she had sunk four vessels there. She wasaccompanied by the Markommania, a converted liner, as a collier.The collier was sunk off Sumatra October 16 by a British cruiser.
"Leaving the Bay of Bengal, the Emden sank three British steamersin the Indian Ocean on September 14. September 22 she appearedoff Madras and shelled the city, and, extinguishing her lights,disappeared when the forts replied. Then she renewed heractivity in the vicinity of Rangoon, where more British shipsfell to her prey. Where she is now I don't know."
"How large a vessel is she?" asked Jack, greatly interested.
"She has a complement Of 361 men," replied Lord Hastings. "Herarmament, besides the ten 4-inch guns I referred to before,consists of eight five pounders and four machine guns. She isalso understood to be equipped with two submerged 17.7-inchtorpedo tubes. She displaces 3,600 tons. She is 387 feet longand has a beam of 43 1/3 feet. She was built in 1908. That'sabout all I can tell you about her."
"And Captain von Mueller," said Frank, "is he an elderly man?"
"No," replied Lord Hastings, "I should hardly call him that. Idon't know his age, of course, but he is under forty. Iunderstand that the Germans are bailing him as the modern Nelsonand Paul Jones, in memory of two of the greatest sea fighters ofall time."
"Well they may," declared Jack, "for he must be a man ofexceptional ability. I should like to see him."
"So you may, with good fortune," said Lord Hastings. "It is myhope to see him again before he has done further damage toEngland."
Lord Hastings' account of the brief history of the Emden madequite an impression on Frank and Jack. The brief though activecareer of probably the greatest of German sea fighters interestedthem greatly, as it should all young readers.
The boys talked much of the gallant German captain as the SylphII continued on her course from the Adriatic into the sunnyMediterranean once more, through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea,after a stop for coal at Port Said, and on into the warm watersof the Indian Ocean.
And more news of the Emden was not to be long forthcoming. LordHastings had no means of knowing just in what part of the sea theEmden might be in so, after two days of fruitless cruising, heput into the port of Penang, on Malacca Straits. Here LordHastings received first-hand information concerning thewhereabouts of the German "Terror of the Sea."
There were two Russian cruisers, two French destroyers and oneBritish vessel in the harbor, under the guns of the little fort,when the Sylph steamed in. These vessels also had been in searchof the Emden, and had put in for coal.
The commanders of the various ships exchanged visits. The Emdenwas practically the sole topic of their conversation. TheRussian commander had just returned aboard his own ship after avisit to Lord Hastings. There came a call from the lookout-onthe Sylph.
"Cruiser coming into the harbor, sir!"
Lord Hastings, Frank and Jack hurried to the bridge.
"She shows no colors," muttered Frank. "Wonder who she is?"
"Maybe the Emden come to pay a little social call," said Jack.
"No," said Lord Hastings; "this cruiser has four smokestacks; theEmden has but three."
"They could easily rig up another one," said Jack.
"Lord Hastings, some way I feel that all is not right."
"Nonsense," replied Lord Hastings.
There was the sound of a shot from one of the Russian cruisers.
"She'll show her colors now," said Lord Hastings.
All glanced toward the approaching vessel. A flag was run tipthe masthead. Lord Hastings made it out immediately.
"Japanese," he said, unconsciously breathing easier.
Slowly the cruiser came closer, heading right for the other shipsof war in the harbor. Lord Hastings returned to his cabin andFrank followed him.
Jack continued to gaze over the rail at the cruiser. Suddenly,why he never knew, he rushed hurriedly after his commander.
"I am sure that is not a Japanese cruiser, sir," he cried. "Idon't know why, but something tells me it is an enemy."
"Nonsense," said Lord Hastings again. "You are a bit nervous.That's all."
"No, sir, it isn't that," replied Jack. "I--"
He was interrupted by the boom of a single big gun followed by aheavy outbreak of cannonading. Lord Hastings jumped to his feetand dashed to the bridge, Jack and Frank close at his heels.
They glanced quickly at the supposed Japanese cruiser. But theJapanese ensign had been hauled down, and now there floated fromthe cruiser the flag of Germany! And the cruiser's fourth smokestack had come down.
"The Emden!" cried Lord Hastings.
Bugles were sounding on all the allied ships, of war in theharbor, calling the men to quarters. Caught thus unprepared, theallied vessels were at an immense disadvantage.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion aboard one of the Russiancruisers, and a moment later it burst into flames. Now the otherships poured broadsides into the Emden, but she stuck to herpost. One of the two French destroyers suddenly dived,head-first, into the sea, one of the Emden's submerged torpedoeshaving dealt her a deathblow.
A shell sped over the stern of the Sylph, but did no damage.Then, calmly, almost ignoring the remaining ships of the alliedfleet, the Emden put about, and made off. Her raid had beensuccessfu
l, and it was another victory for the Kaiser.
The Emden continued to rain shells at her foes until she was outof range. Not minded to take any unnecessary risk, Lord Hastingslet the Emden get well out of range, before he gave the commandfor the Sylph to follow.
Then, stripped for action, the Sylph set out upon the trail ofthe German cruiser.
"We are on the trail at last," said Lord Hastings, "and on thetrail we'll remain until the Emden has been sent to the bottom."He turned to Jack. "Hereafter," he said, "I'll place faith inyour premonitions."
The Sylph kept just far enough in the rear of the Emden to be outof range. After three hours, it became apparent that thecommander of the German cruiser was aware that he was beingfollowed. He slowed down, waiting the Sylph to come within rangeand give battle.
But while Lord Hastings was a brave man, he had no idea ofaccepting battle now. For had the day gone against him, theEmden would have been able to disappear once more. With thesuperior speed of the Sylph, Lord Hastings knew that he couldremain on the trail, using his wireless to pick up some Britishvessel big enough to put an end to the "Terror of the Sea."
Accordingly, the Sylph also slowed down. After waiting in vainfor the little scout cruiser to approach closer, the Emden againset out on her course, at full speed. The Sylph also quickenedher pace, and the Emden was unable to shake her off.
Then the Emden slowed down again. So did the Sylph. Thewireless operator approached Lord Hastings with a message.
Lord Hastings read it aloud:
"Remain where you are till I come up, or I shall sink you.Signed, von Mueller."
Followed by the two lads Lord Hastings made his way to thewireless room, and ticked off this message himself:
"The Emden is doomed. Signed, Hastings."
Boy Allies under Two Flags Page 20
