Monday Nov 9th

Very fine & almost too
hot to do anything.
7 am wireless from Cocos Is.
stated foreign ship entering
harbour & asking for help.

The message was being
apparently interrupted by
another ship, and the

– 20 –

assumption is that the
‘Emden’ was the ship referred
to. The cruiser “Sydney”
left at full speed, flames
& smoke belching from her
4 funnels. We are now left
with HMS “Melbourne” and
Jap. “Ibuki”. These ships
10 am are flying flags
for action and transports
have been ordered to keep
up full steam. Our escort
is now steaming on the
western flank of squadron
10.45 am. Wireless from
“Sydney” that she engaged
“Emden” which had to run
ashore to prevent sinking.
“Sydney” lost 2 killed and

– 21 –

13 wounded and she is now
pursuing a collier. The
action took place only
50 miles from us. The
wireless operation on this
ship “Arawa” was the only
one to decipher the Cocos
Island call for help. —
News received on board
with great enthusiasm —
“Minotaur” also now at Cocos
Island and reports she is
returning to us.

Ships run today 235 miles