e were awakened from
our calm and were made to feel that we had suddenly become the most
important place in the whole worldwide war area.

At 6 o'clock on Monday morning a four-funneled cruiser arrived at full
speed at the entrance to the lagoon. Our suspicions were aroused, for
she was flying no flag and her fourth funnel was obviously a dummy made
of painted canvas. Therefore we were not altogether surprised at the
turn of events. The cruiser at once lowered away an armored launch and
two boats, which came ashore and landed on Coral Beach three officers
and forty men, all fully armed and having four Maxim guns.

The Germans--for all doubt about the mysterious cruiser was now at
end--at once rushed up to the cable station, and, entering the office,
turned out the operators, smashed the instruments, and set armed guards
over all the buildings. All the knives and firearms found in possession
of the cable staff were at once confiscated.

I should say here that, in spite of the excitement on the outside, all
the work was carried on in the cable office as usual right up to the
moment when the Germans burst in. A general call was sent out just
before the wireless apparatus was blown up.

The whole of the staff was placed under an armed guard while the
instruments were being destroyed, but it is only fair to say that the
Germans, working in well-disciplined fashion under their officers, were
most civil. There was no such brutality as we hear characterizes the
German Army's behavior toward civilians, and there were no attempts at
pillaging.

While the cable station was being put out of action the crew of the
launch grappled for the cables and endeavored to cut them, but
fortunately without success. The electrical stores were then blown up.

At 9 A.M. we heard the sound of a siren from the Emden, and this was
evidently the signal to the landing party to return to the ship, for
they at once dashed for the boats, but the Emden got under way at once
and the boats were left behind.

Looking to the eastward, we could see the reason for this sudden
departure, for a warship, which we afterward learned was the Australian
cruiser Sydney, was coming up at full speed in pursuit. The Emden did
not wait to discuss matters, but, firing her first shot at a range of
about 3,700 yards, steamed north as hard as she could go.

At first the firing of the Emden seemed excellent, while that of the
Sydney was somewhat erratic. This, as I aft