Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 83
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[Page 83]
down the Brazilian coast for Pernambuco. If the Huns had any doubts as to our whereabouts they were quickly set at rest for the Sydney steamed [down?] in sight of land, for all who cared to see.
We had heard a rumour that the Germans were planning to capture the Alcantara a large merchant ship which was due at Pernambuco and when we arrived off the port the Alcantara was just going in. We waited till she came out and escorted her on her way for a hundred miles gave her the safest course for England and then turned back.
The Alcantara soon afterwards was taken over by the Admiralty and fitted out as an auxiliary cruiser and now ends her days. She now rests at the bottom of the North Sea having been sunk by the Greif some months later.
at the bottom of the North Sea. She was sunk by the Greif early in 1916.
In later days the writer met an Officer who was aboard her at the time and his story was that the Greif torpedoed the Alcantara, which still fought on; the Greif herself was sinking and struck her colours and asked for assistance.
The Alcantara closing in, lowered her boats but the Huns torpedoed her again and both ships went over and sank. It is just another instance of the curious notion of etiquette which obtains in Germany.
We returned to Pernambuco and took stock of the sheltering Hun ships for future reference. There were several big vessels in port and as usual in sighting as they hoisted their ensigns.
It became a part of our job later to visit and revisit all the neutral ports on our beat and count the chickens to see that none escaped unawares. The Sydney then turned North again towards [Lavanderia?]