Another tropical port
July 30, 1914. Light Cruiser SMS Nürnberg, Honolulu
ALERT MESSAGE THREATENED STATE OF WAR WITH ENGLAND STOP SMS NURNBERG REPORT TO WEST COAST NORTH AMERICA TO CONDUCT COMMERCE WARFARE ALONG WITH LEIPZIG IN CASE OF WAR STOP
Kapitaen zur See Karl Von Schönberg considered the decoded message. Not entirely a surprise, but then, a career of practicing for war is a different thing that actual war. Especially against the British Empire. Nürnberg had been lingering in Honolulu for several days, since Admiral von Spee ordered him to hold on his original orders to meet up with the East Asiatic Squadron heavy elements at Ponape, in the Caroline Island colony. Nürnberg had just been relieved two weeks ago by Leipzig after several months defending German interests off revolutionary Mexico, as part of an International squadron. So von Spee had different plans for him. Very well.
Not a terrible place to linger he mused. Another tropical port. His crew had been appreciating the shore leave. Von Schönberg surveyed the green volcanic cone of Diamond Head, looming over the tangle of masts and funnels of the harbour. Sea birds wheeled overhead, excited at the return of the fishing fleet. Their cries mingled with steam whistles and engine noise of the harbour traffic. As a cruiser captain in His Majesty’s East Asiatic Squadron, Von Schönberg was no stranger to tropical ports.
At present, still, Germany was in a state of peace with England and her allies, and with The United States of America. Come an actual Declaration of War, Germany and England would become Belligerents, and the United States a Neutral. In this case Neutrality laws would come into effect. Belligerent vessels would legally be allowed to enter a neutral port for 24 hours at most, and to take on only enough coal to reach a friendly port. This put Nürnberg’s supply situation into sharp question. The German south seas colonies were far away and very exposed to the Royal Navy. Von Schönberg looked down from the bridge wing at the filthy trimmers and navies just finishing Nürnberg’s coaling from an equally filthy barge.
“Lieutenant, arrange for another 200 tons of coal to be purchased and stored as deck cargo.”
“Aye, Sir! ” The young lieutenant snapped to attention, turned on his heels, descended the bridge ladder, and approached the foreman on the coal barge.
The young Lieutenant in question was Otto von Spee, eldest son of Von Schönberg's Admiral, Graf Maximilian von Spee. Von Schönberg made sure to give the young officer no special treatment, but held him in high regard. His father’s title Graf meant that Otto would himself be a Count one day, should he survive this war. But then, nobility was as common as rain in the German officer class.
Von Schönberg strolled to the chart room at the back of the enclosed bridge.
“Obermatrose, bring out the charts for Western Canada.”
“Sir!” replied the seaman, who consulted the index, and produced several rolled sheets from the tidy chart locker. Von Schönberg spread one out on the table.
“Let’s see what awaits us in…” his finger ranged over the map “…British Columbia.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Nürnberg_(1906)
ALERT MESSAGE THREATENED STATE OF WAR WITH ENGLAND STOP SMS NURNBERG REPORT TO WEST COAST NORTH AMERICA TO CONDUCT COMMERCE WARFARE ALONG WITH LEIPZIG IN CASE OF WAR STOP
Kapitaen zur See Karl Von Schönberg considered the decoded message. Not entirely a surprise, but then, a career of practicing for war is a different thing that actual war. Especially against the British Empire. Nürnberg had been lingering in Honolulu for several days, since Admiral von Spee ordered him to hold on his original orders to meet up with the East Asiatic Squadron heavy elements at Ponape, in the Caroline Island colony. Nürnberg had just been relieved two weeks ago by Leipzig after several months defending German interests off revolutionary Mexico, as part of an International squadron. So von Spee had different plans for him. Very well.
Not a terrible place to linger he mused. Another tropical port. His crew had been appreciating the shore leave. Von Schönberg surveyed the green volcanic cone of Diamond Head, looming over the tangle of masts and funnels of the harbour. Sea birds wheeled overhead, excited at the return of the fishing fleet. Their cries mingled with steam whistles and engine noise of the harbour traffic. As a cruiser captain in His Majesty’s East Asiatic Squadron, Von Schönberg was no stranger to tropical ports.
At present, still, Germany was in a state of peace with England and her allies, and with The United States of America. Come an actual Declaration of War, Germany and England would become Belligerents, and the United States a Neutral. In this case Neutrality laws would come into effect. Belligerent vessels would legally be allowed to enter a neutral port for 24 hours at most, and to take on only enough coal to reach a friendly port. This put Nürnberg’s supply situation into sharp question. The German south seas colonies were far away and very exposed to the Royal Navy. Von Schönberg looked down from the bridge wing at the filthy trimmers and navies just finishing Nürnberg’s coaling from an equally filthy barge.
“Lieutenant, arrange for another 200 tons of coal to be purchased and stored as deck cargo.”
“Aye, Sir! ” The young lieutenant snapped to attention, turned on his heels, descended the bridge ladder, and approached the foreman on the coal barge.
The young Lieutenant in question was Otto von Spee, eldest son of Von Schönberg's Admiral, Graf Maximilian von Spee. Von Schönberg made sure to give the young officer no special treatment, but held him in high regard. His father’s title Graf meant that Otto would himself be a Count one day, should he survive this war. But then, nobility was as common as rain in the German officer class.
Von Schönberg strolled to the chart room at the back of the enclosed bridge.
“Obermatrose, bring out the charts for Western Canada.”
“Sir!” replied the seaman, who consulted the index, and produced several rolled sheets from the tidy chart locker. Von Schönberg spread one out on the table.
“Let’s see what awaits us in…” his finger ranged over the map “…British Columbia.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Nürnberg_(1906)
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