“God Save our King and Empire.
“Roberts (Field-Marshal).”
Truly to Lord Roberts may be applied the famous lines:
“Great in council and great in war,
Foremost captain of his time,
And, as the greatest only are,
In his simplicity sublime.”
You will remember my telling you of the exploits of the German cruiser Emden. Well, early in November she was caught and destroyed by the cruiser Sydney, of the Australian Navy.
The captain of the Emden, whose name is Karl von Müller, became a sort of hero of romance. This was partly because of his extraordinary ingenuity and daring, partly because he treated the crews of the liners he captured with humanity and politeness. Our seamen chivalrously gave him and his officers all the honours of war, allowing them to keep their swords.
Von Müller was accused by the crew of at least one of his captures of having sent out S.O.S. signals to lure merchant ships into his net. These signals, as you know, mean, “I am in great distress. Come as quick as you can to the rescue.” If he really played this trick, I find it difficult to admire him for it.