Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 30
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[Page 30]
The Cocos are a little group of low lying sandy islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, of which only two are of any size at all and only one is inhabited.
It was on this latter last which housed the cable station and wireless that we were making, and we soon saw through the telescope a three funnelled man-o-war lying close in shore. All knew then that it was the famous Emden at last.
The order came from the bridge to clear for action, and there was a wild rush on the part of everyone to do his job and do it more quickly than ever he had done it before.
Ammunition was got up and guns loaded and trained; the sails were lowered to prevent shells bursting on them; the decks were flooded to prevent fires; first aid bags were served out to all the guns, and the surgeons dressing stations got ready. All in a few minutes. Hammocks were wrapped around the bridge and controls to stop splinters, and blast screens rigged to prevent between the guns so that the discharge of one gun would not inconvenience the crew of the gun next ahead and to stop for the Sydney's guns were not in turrets but had gun shields which only protected the crews in front.
The whole evolution was the most orderly chaos one could see: every one apparently was falling over and fouling his fellow but yet the job was done, and in record time.
The Emden when she sighted us was at anchor, but quickly turned and came out to meet us to get sea room; for in the narrow confines and shallow waters where she was lying she could not have fought at all.
With our four battle flags up, the Australian blue ensign flying alongside the more famous white of the British Navy, we rushed in to meet her and soon at ten thousand yards her salvos began to arrive.
When a large a great bow wave and a huge column of smoke told von Muller that at last he had to fight, he formed up his ship's company and said