Item 01: Ralph Ingram Moore letters, 10 February 1907-15 March 1918 - Page 37
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[Page 37]
[Following on from Page 35]
3.
The "Emden" however fired 1400 shots only 14 of which hit their target. The curves in the courses of the boats was to allow them to get the guns of both sides to work alternately. The "Emden" was practically blown to pieces, and it was only by beaching herself on Cocos Is that prevented her sinking. The casualties on the German side was terrible whereas the Sydney only had 2 men killed and 13 wounded. After the "Emden" was beached, the "Sydney" tore after the collier that had come to the Islands to coal the Germans. When she (the Sydney) caught the collier the its crew were taken off & the boat sunk. When the "Sydney" returned to the Island the German flag was still flying from the "Emden's" mast so a couple more broadsides were put into her, but it was really unnecessary, because the crew were so overcome with lydite fumes that no one had thoughts of lowering the flag. The whole of the time the fight was on, we were only about 20 mls away €“ just a bit too far to see the fun. The Melbourne and "Abouki" [possibly Ibuki] (Japanese warship) went half way across, so that they could keep one eye on us and one on the fight. Both I think would like to have left us and had a finger in the pie, but they did not know if any