OCR Text |
Show DESTRUCTION OF I BIG GERMAN SHIP New York, Sept. 8. The Germnn steamship Magdeburg, a witness of the naval engagement between th-British th-British cruiser Highflyer and the Ger man converted cruiser Kaiser Wll- jM helm der Grosse off the west coast of Africa on August 26, steamed into this port today. According to hf. captain. S. Orgel, the Magdeburg herself her-self was struck by one of the Higlf flyer's shells after being intercepted while supplying coal to the German cruiser. Captain Orgel assorted that thf Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was attacked at-tacked while at anchor in Spanish waters, neutral territory. without steam up. He said it was reported that several persons on board the Highflyer were killed. Captain Orgel's story of his ship s experience during the encounter, told tonight, sets forth that when thn Highflyer came upon the Kaiser Wilhelm Wil-helm der Grosse the German ship had on board 100 Britons, prisoners taken from British prizes Captain Orgel said the Kaiser Wilhelm transferred trans-ferred these prisoners to another German Ger-man coaling vessel, the Arukas, lying ly-ing nearby. 'The English gave the captain no thanks for this action." commented the Magdeburg's master. The Magdeburg left Gothenburg. Germany, on July 18 for Australia. Putting in at Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Is-lands, on August .", Captain Orgel received orders, he said, to deliver some of his coal to the Kaiser Wll helm der Grosse at the south end of the bay of Rio de Oro, on the African coast. 'This part of the coast belongs to Spain." Captain Orgel said "On Au- A gust 26. at 11:30 a. in., an Euglisli cruiser was sighted, which began to signal to the Wilhelm. "The commander of the German auxiliary cruiser Informed me that the English cruiser ordered him to surrender his ship, otherwise he would open fire As far as I know the German commander replied to the British cruiser as follows: " 'We Germans never surrender." "Captain Reymann, the commander of the Welhelm, thereupon Informed me that the English cruiser would soon open fire, and that he therefore, advised me to weigh anchor and steam out of the firing line. "Tho Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse herself could not leave her anchorage, anchor-age, as she could not get up sufficient steam to move within two hours. It would have required eight hours to get on a full head of ateam. The reason the vessel had no steam on was because she was In neutral waters. wa-ters. "While I was still engaged in weighing weigh-ing anchor the English cruiser began to fire, although the Magdeburg lay directly in the firing line between tho Wilhelm and the British cruiser The English shells fell to the right and left of us, but short of their mark Finally one shell took effect In thJ 4 forecastle of the Magdeburg and caused caus-ed great damage Happily, no mem her of the crew was at that time in the forecastle "The Wilhelm Immediately replied to the fire of the English cruiser with her three available guna. It Is said that the English cruiser was struck several times and that several persons per-sons on board were killed. "I myself took the Magdeburg under un-der full steam southward and soon lost sight of both vessels When we saw the Wilhelm last she was listed heavily to iort I had the lmpres sion that she was sinking." |