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- More westerly course was taken. received that two German Kaiser der Grosse Sunk Description of the Capture of the Union Castle Liner Galician--Her Subsequent Encounter with the HE Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse i was fitted out. as an duxiliary cruiser by the German govern- ment to seek and destroy the British merchant ships in the South Atlantic. She was equipped with eight 5.9-in. guns, four 4.7-in. guns, fourteen machine guns and several torpedos. She _ had captured three British ships including the Galician of the Union Castle Line when she fell in with the British cruiser High Flyer off the West Coast of Africa on Aug. 27. The result of the encounter was that she was sunk, though the British cruiser succeeded in rescuing the greater part of her crew. The Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was a favorite pas- senger liner and it is believed must have been short of fuel as she was a much faster boat than the High Flyer and never could have been overtaken by her under normal conditions. In connection with this affair the fol- lowing interesting narrative of. the cap- ture of the Galician was published in the London Times: "On account of your women and chil- dren I will not sink the ship. You are released. Bon voyage.' This message was released at 5 o'clock in the morning of Sunday, Aug. 16, by the captain of the Union-Castle liner Galician, from the commander of a German cruiser, believed to be the North-German Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. The story of the incidents which ended with the message is a remarkable one. "S.O.SE Signal: Sent Out The Galician left Capetown on July 28. War had not then been declared, but a German gunboat was noticed busy coal- ing in the harbor. A call was made on Aug. 2 at Mossamedes, in Portuguese West Africa, to land a number of horses bought by the Portuguese authorities. On the same day the Galician resumed her voyage, making for Teneriffe. A few days out the news was received by wireless that war had broken out be- tween Great Britain and Germany, and on Aug. 8 the following notice was issued by the captain :-- Owing to a state of war existing between England and Germany pas- Sengers are requested as a precautionary Measure to draw curtains over the port- hole at night and not to leave the cabin light burning when not in use." At the same time the ordinary route of the Cape liners was abandoned and-a Rum- Ors were cruisers were near Teneriffe, and pas- sengers were accordingly informed that the liner would not touch at that island, although they know that they had barely sufficient coal to take them home. At mid-day on Saturday, Aug. 15, while the Galician was off Ferro, the western-. most of the Canary Islands, about 90 miles from Teneriffe, a dark speck ap- peared on the horizon. It grew rapidly, and in less than half an hour a: black ugly-looking, four-funnelled steamer came alongside flying the German flag, and signalled to the Galician to stop at once and not to use its wireless apparatus. The wireless operator, however, quickly sent out the "S.O:S.> signal' and had already sent the first three letters of the ship's name--"Gal'--when a second mes- sage came from the German ship, "Stop your wireless. We blow up the bridge if another letter leaves." The next signal from the German ship--"It appeared to be the Kaiser Wil- helm der Grosse," says one of the pas- sengers--was "Follow us," and at once the Galician turned to follow its captor at full speed towards the south. Pres- ently a third vessel appeared in the dis- tance and the German ship made straight for it, the Galician still following. The newcomer was a small steamer, painted grey, with a red and black funnel. She, too, was ordered to stop. She took no notice, and the order was repeated, again with no result. The order was given a third time, "Stop or we fire," and the steamer hove to. She signalled that she was a German liner disguised in the colors of the Union-Castle Line. The German cruiser was not satisfied, but after the newcomer had hoisted the Ger- man mercantile flag and given her name, she was allowed to proceed. Then the onlookers on board the Gali- cian saw a small boat lowered from the German cruiser, and it made towards her, bringing two German naval officers and some sailors. They were met on the gangway by the captain of the Galician and some other officers and shown into the captain's cabin. Here they asked to be shown all the ship's papers and con- fiscated them, giving a full receipt for them. Passengers and crew were then mustered and the cargo inspected, and the papers were found to be absolutely correct. There were about 30 second- class and nine first-class passengers on board, and the cargo consisted mainly of mealies for Hamburg and Antwerp, whale oil, and some ostrich feathers. The German officers signalled to their Highflier ship for instructions, and talked of throwing the mealies--about 2,000 tons-- overboard; but they received no reply. The next inquired of the officers of the Galician how many military and naval reservists were on board and were told not quite truly--that there were no naval reservists in the ship. The passenger list contained the names of two Army officers, and both were taken prisoners. The German officers asked very politely for quinine, and were given about 200 'tablets. The purser next produced half a dozen boxes of cigars and some cigar- ettes, and the captain offered them to the Germans. 'The latter, however, refused to take them without payment. '"We don't want it to be said that we robbed 'your ship," they explained. Similarly, when they: were asked whether they were going to land the passengers on one of the islands, they answered, "We are not barbarians." From the conversation which took place it appeared that the German ship had intercepted a wireless message from the Galician to Teneriffe asking, whether the track was clear, as she wanted to put in to coal, and the Galician had received the reply--probably from the German ship--that the track was clear. The Germans asked if there was an English cruiser near, and were sceptical when they were told "No." Meanwhile the German sailors had gone to the Marconi cabin, destroyed the apparatus, and thrown part of it overboard. Exchange of Courtesies It was now evening, and orders came from the cruiser to go ahead at full speed southwards, showing no lights except the head lights. Passengers were to stand by at day-light the next morn- ing, ready to be shipped. Further orders would be given later. The German off- cers, who had behaved throughout with the utmost courtesy, shook hands with the British officers and apologized for the trouble they had given. Then they went off, taking the two British Army officers with them. The passengers gave them a cheer as they went. The Galici- an steamed south throughout the night, closely watched by the German cruiser, which showed no lights at all. At 5 o'clock in the morning came the unex- pected but very welcome message already mentioned. Immediately afterwards the cruiser steamed past at full speed, still going south, and disappeared from sight. The Galician turned northwards again and reached Gravesend safely.