Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 258
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[Page 258]
and the bulk of the work fell upon the two Australian surgeons. The wounded, considering the heart-breaking conditions, did very well, though of course many came on board in a hopeless condition and died before we reached Colombo. Burials at sea occurred every day. The ship was hove to, and the body, sewn in a hammock and weighted, was covered with the German flag. Then all hands mustered aft, the Chaplain read the burial service, and while the buglers sounded the Last Post the body was lowered into the sea.
The men from the Emden were housed under awnings on the Sydney's boatdeck, and the officers lived in the flat outside the wardroom under a guard. To those who were badly wounded our people gave up cabins. The Germans were very well treated in every respect, getting also exactly the same food as ourselves, and the officers soon became friendly and told us the story of the Emden's voyage. One cannot help thinking that the German naval officer as an individual is a good fellow, at any rate of the Emden's officers were fair samples of their kind. It is the people who pull the wires in Berlin that have made accursed the name of the seagoing Hun.
Here, in brief, is the story of the cruise of the Emden as it was told us by our prisoners. The Emden was at sea when war was declared, and arrived back at Tsingtau on August 6th. She was ordered to join the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, then cruising under Admiral von Spee's command in the East Indies. She was however soon sent on detached