At Tsingtao our commander found orders awaiting him from the Admiral
of our squadron, Count von Spee, who, with the armored cruisers,
_Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_, and the small cruiser, _Nürnberg_, was
in the South Pacific, steering northward. The _Emden's_ orders were to
join this squadron at a stated point of meeting in the South Pacific.
* * * * *
At sunrise on the following day the _Emden_ left Tsingtao in the
company of a large number of German ships, all bound for the south,
where they were to join the Admiral's squadron.
* * * * *
With fair weather and a smooth sea the _Emden_ slipped out of the
harbor moles. Our band played "The Watch on the Rhine." The entire
crew was on deck, singing as the band played. Cheers rang from ship to
shore, and back again. Everyone was confident and in high spirits.
* * * * *
Cautiously the _Emden_ made her way between the mines which barred the
entrance to the harbor. The sun had just risen. Behind us lay Tsingtao,
the gem of the far East, brightened by the golden-red beams of the
young day--a picture of peace....
As we gazed, there was not one of us who was not conscious of a strange
tugging at his heart. But duty called with an imperative voice.
Therefore, farewell to the fair scene we were leaving behind us! For
us, it was, "Onward, to the South!"
We were accompanied by the _Markomannia_, the other ships taking
different courses. The _Markomannia_ remained our faithful companion
for a number of months.
* * * * *
On our way to the South Pacific we learned, by wireless, of the rupture
in the relations between Germany and England, and of the latter's
declaration of war.
A few days later we learned of Japan's remarkable ultimatum, without
its causing us any special anxiety. It might as well all be done up at
one and the same time, was the general feeling among us.
* * * * *
On the twelfth of August, in the evening, we had reached the vicinity
of the island where we were to join our cruiser squadron, and soon we
fell in with some of the ships that were serving as outposts. As we
approached the group of assembled warships, we saw the stanch cruisers
_Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_ lying in the midst of them, each with
a coal tender alongside, and engaged in coaling. To the left lay the
slender _Nürnberg_, also busy with taking on coal. Distributed about
the bay, many larger and smaller auxiliary ships and tenders of the
squadron could be seen. The _Emden_ was ordered to an anchorage close
beside the flagship, in the right-hand half of the bay. Rousing cheers
were sent from deck to deck, as we passed by the other ships, and soon
our anchor rattled seaward, and to the bottom,--it was to be the last
time for many a long day.
Our commander went aboard the flagship to report to the Admiral of
the squadron, and to submit to him the proposal that the _Emden_ be
detached from the squadron, and be sent to the Indian Ocean, to raid
the enemy's commerce.
On the following day the squadron steered an easterly course, the ships
keeping a long line, one behind the other, with all the coal tenders
bringing up the rear. The Admiral had, for the present, reserved his
decision with regard to our Commander's proposition, and we were all
impatient to learn what it would be. At last, toward noon, signal flags
were seen running up on the flagship. They read, "_Emden_ detached.
Wish you good luck!" Sweeping a wide curve, the _Emden_ withdrew from
the long line of warships, a signal conveying her Commander's thanks
for the good wishes of the Admiral fluttering at her mast head. There
was still another signal from the commanding officer of the squadron,
ordering the _Markomannia_ to attend the _Emden_. Ere long we had lost
sight of the other ships of the squadron, which now were steering a
course contrary to our own, and we all knew full well that we should
never meet again.
* * * * *
These days were strenuous ones for our men, as the war watch was
continued without intermission, in order that the ship might be ready
at a moment's notice for any emergency. There was no opportunity to
give the crew even a short season of rest. For us, there was not one
harbor of refuge where we might lie free from danger....
To reach the open sea, our course now led us through a number of
narrow water ways. These straits swarmed with fishing boats and other
small sea craft. The nights were bright with moonlight, which made it
possible to recognize the _Emden_ at a considerable distance. To meet
so many boats was a source of anxiety to our Commander, who expressed
himself as apprehensive that our presence in these waters, and our
probable course also, would be noised about by some of these vessels.
All English ships have either two or four funnels, whereas the _Emden_
had three.
The happy thought came to me that much might be gained if the _Emden_
were provided with a fourth funnel....
Out of wooden laths and sail-cloth we soon had constructed a funnel of
most elegant appearance, and, when it had been placed in position, the
_Emden_ was the exact counterpart of the British cruiser _Yarmouth_....