Aug 17, 2050 hours
SMS Nürnberg, Prince Rupert harbour.
SS DESALBA CARRYING 4000 TONS OF NUMBER 6 HEAVY FUEL OIL FROM SAN LOIS OBISBO CALIFORNIA TO JUNEAU ALASKA.
“Hmm,” thought Von Schönberg out loud. “That ship would make a perfect tender for the Prince Rupert, if we detach her as an auxiliary cruiser. She is a belligerent ship, but carrying a neutral cargo, and an American cargo at that.” He considered for a moment.
HAVE DESALBA CAPTAIN STAND BY.
The
Nürnberg lowered her one good dinghy. The
Desalba’s crew were in two boats side by side at the tanker’s landing stage when the dinghy arrived. The
Desalba’s astonished captain was handed a hastily written purchase order, and two 50 pound gold ingots. “Please deliver that as payment to the owner of the cargo. And sign this as receipt of payment.” instructed the German petty officer commanding the dinghy.
When the
Desalba had enough head of steam to make way, the Nurnberg’s wireless operator ceased jamming, and transmitted.
NURNBERG TO ALL STOP WITHDRAW STOP AM SOUNDING SIREN AND ILLUMINATING
DESALBA ACKNOWLEDGES
BENGROVE ACKNOWLEDGES
KRUGER ON GALIANO ACKNOWLEDGES
VON SPEE ON PRINCESS CHARLOTTE ACKNOWLEDGES
“Very interesting,” said Von Schönberg. “I expect we get the whole story soon.”
The scattered German prize fleet headed for
Nürnberg’s siren, at dead slow, until they could see the glow of her powerful searchlights. At times they passed lifeboats rowing towards land. In the distance, from the city of Prince Rupert, could be heard fire bells, and vehicle engines, and the occasional gunshot. Von Schönberg noted that the
Prince Rupert was lashed alongside this new coastal liner prize, the
Princess Charlotte, and work parties seemed to be passing supplies across to the bigger liner bucket-brigade style. Not visible, between the ships, a bridge had been built of timbers across the gap between the two liners’ side cargo doors. Barrels of fuel oil were being rolled over, and sacks of coal that not been burst by the
Anadyr’s shells were being lugged across.
The ships formed up on
Nürnberg, and arranged themselves in close convoy with the
Princess Charlotte and her experienced navigator in the lead. The
Prince Rupert, lashed alongside and uncrewed, caused the
Charlotte to move somewhat crabwise, but this was still considered to be much safer than towing her in the narrow current-swept foggy channel. Likewise, the
Galiano had been retained rather than scuttled for now, but been left with the barest of skeleton crews to sail her, rather than being towed.
With Radl sounding the fog horn to echolocate their way, the convoy threaded the needle that is the entrance to Prince Rupert harbour. When the ships passed between Lima Point and Ridley Island, they could smell the open Pacific, but also a heavy burnt creosote odor. Red flares appeared overhead, and the two steam powered boats carrying Lieutenant Adler’s landing party approached and were recovered by
Nürnberg. The two militiamen were taken below as Prisoners of War. The ships reached the southern end of Chatham Sound and stopped.
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