Item 01: Ralph Ingram Moore letters, 10 February 1907-15 March 1918 - Page 35
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[Page 35]
[Following on from Page 33]
2.
an S.O.S call was received from the Wireless station at Cocos Is. A shore party from the "Emden" had landed and cut one cable and destroyed two wireless instruments but the operators had time to give the alarm and then escaped with a third instrument. The "Emden" after landing the shore party, proceeded S. to Direction Is. When the "Sydney" received the call she immediately turned and raced S. at 25 knots. At 7 a.m. she sighted the "Emden" steaming back to Cocos Is at 17 knots. Twenty minutes later firing range was obtained. The "Emden" fired the 1st and 2nd shots at 10,000 yds. The first hit forward of the conning tower, but did not burst. The second hit aft, and though it burst did little damage. The "Sydney" then turned north and ran parallel with the "Emden" exchanging shots as they went. You will see by sketch that the "Emden" had not gone far when she turned sharp to the East, this was to allow of her getting a torpedo away. The "Sydney" anticipating the action swerved also, so the German refrained from wasting a torpedo. Shortly afterwards the Sydney let one go, but missed. Apparently the torpedo was the only thing fired from the "Sydney" that did miss. It was reported afterwards that the firing was perfect €“ 560 shots being fired & practically every one was a hit.
[Continued on Page 37]