| A German Sea
Captain shows the chivalry of war while a Russian noble
comes a cropper in the waters off Penang. But what has this got
to do with Japanese hookers and Russian seamen?? |
In 1914, was in Europe saw many
forsake their tropical siesta and answer Lord Kitchener's call.
One October morn out in the Straits, that far off slaughter
touched the lives of those who stayed behind. |
The exploits of the dashing Captain von
Müller and his ship Emden had First Lord of the Admiralty Churchill
fuming as, single handedly they cruised the Asian waters, sinking more
than 20 vessels, shelling Madras and Penang, tying up the Allied navy
while at the same time behaving in a most chivalrous manner. Prisoners
were well treated and released; the injured received the best treatment
possible, neutral ships were treated with respect. It was war by the
rules as the British understood it, engendering a respect for Müller and
his crew among the public and the sailors if not Winnie. A far cry from
the senseless slaughter at the Somme. And to think it had all started in
late June when British and German sailors had played football in the
Chinese port of Tsingtao. The match had ended 2-2, the British winning
after extra time. Today of course the Germans would have won on
penalties.
In Penang at the time were allied vessels
from France, Britain and Russia, all on Emden's trail. The Germans, on
learning the British destroyer Yarmouth was on patrol, erected a fourth
funnel, raised the ensign and got in close to the island, convincing the
authorities she was the Yarmouth returning. Their silhouettes were
similar, the ruse worked, and Emden got into position.
Up went the German flag, the Emden
trained her guns on the Russian ship, Zemschug which was in port having
its boilers cleaned. The Captain, an ennobled gent named Cherkassov, had
gone ashore leaving his ship effectively unarmed. From the E & O he was
to have a grandstand view of his folly. At 5.10 the firing began. Half
of the Zemschug's shells were rendered ineffective when a dingy fell on
the port side gun where they were being kept. The other half were by the
starboard gun which was facing the wrong way. The Russians manfully
dragged the shells into position and returned fire but it was
ineffective. At 5.18 the Germans fired their first torpedo before
leisurely changing position. The second torpedo, fired from 800 yards
hit just below the bridge, blowing the ship in half, killing 89 and
wounding 143. Müller decided to get out while he was on top. He stopped
a steamer and bid the captain convey his apologies for not collecting
the wounded and then headed for the open waters.
For Cherkassov the ordeal wasn't
finished. With the Emden still in the vicinity boats we sent to collect
the dead and wounded. Among the bodies were found 12 Japanese ladies who
most certainly should not have been on board. Mind you, with their
captain entertaining a lady on shore they were just following his
example. The Baron, later seen looking glum on a vessel heading for
Singapore, was found guilty of inefficiency, dereliction of duty and
maintaining poor discipline on board. He lost his rank, his title and
his liberty for three and a half years and the Russia he returned to was
totally different to the one he had sailed from in 1914. Two of the
sailors he left behind were buried in the grounds of the tuberculosis
hospital on the island of Jerejak. The rest lie with the ship they all
neglected on the floor of Penang harbour. The Zemschug's anchor found
its way to the Catholic cemetery, a reminder of the Russians who never
left. |
