It was on today's date, 95 years ago that the HMAS Sydney engaged and destroyed the German raider Emden in an engagement by the Cocos Islands, northwest of Australia. This was the baptism of fire for the newly formed Australian Navy.
This glorious victory was overshadowed by the disastrous Gallipolo Campaign. Being an island, Australia is very dependent on maritime trade.
The German raider Emden, under Lt.-Cmdr. Karl von Muller was cruising the Indian Ocean and in a short while captured or sank 30 Allied merchant and naval ships. Muller was known for both his boldness and chivalrous nature.
On October 28, 1914, he sailed into the British port of Panang and sank a British and Russian cruiser as well as the French destroyer that followed the Emden when it left. Muller rescued the French sailors and put them aboard a British merchant ship he captured two days later and had them returned home.
THE BATTLE
There was great fear in Australia and the Allies dispatched British, Russian and Japanese ships to look for the Emden. On November 9, 1914, the German raider approached an Allied wireless station on Direction Island in the Cocos Islands. It sent out warnings and the HMAS Sydney, which was escorting a convoy was ordered to intercept the German ship.
Even though smaller, outgunned and slower, Muller engaged the Sydney and after a few hits was pounded by over a hundred shells with the loss of 131 of its crew. Muller was forced to ground the Emden, whereupon the Sydneys commander John Glossoy called for surrender. When he received no reply, another shot and the flag came down.
The Sydney that the search was for a few years ago was the namesake of this HMAS Sydney I.
Another Interesting Story. --Coot
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