Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 24
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[Page 24]
In fact one was told that even up to the last minute the Senior Naval Officer was unaware did not know whether he was to steer for Capetown or Colombo.
Had we gone to Capetown this story would probably never have been written.
Rounding Off the Leeuwin the seas were rough, and I fear many soldiers and sailors too were indisposed. One couldn't help but pity the soldiers, all sick probably in their crowded quarters.
Off Fremantle three more transports and two men-o-war joined us. The latter were the Ibuki a Japanese Armoured Cruiser and our own Pioneer which afterwards rendered distinguished service in German West Africa and in the operations connected with the destruction of the Konigsberg. A few hours tumbling in the rough sea, and the Pioneer declared her innings closed and returned to port with engine defects.
The Ibuki now took the Melbourne's place in the flank, & the Melbourne dropped astern to prevent straggling.
The speed of the convoy was of course that of the
We could always tell where the Jap was even when we couldn't see her. She was using some atrocity which may pass for coal in Japan but gave the ship an appearance of a factory on fire. After a few days the convoy settled down for the long trek to Colombo, its speed of course being that of the slowest ship, the Southern, whose maximum down hill was nine and a quarter knots - down hill.
This ship was often the occasion of sarcastic signals made by Captain Kiddle of the Minotaur,