Battle of Penang

, followed up with a salvo of shells which riddled the ship. A second torpedo, fired as the "Emden" turned to leave penetrated the forward magazine, causing an explosion that sank the Russian ship. Returning to the harbour from a patrol was the French destroyer "Mousquet" (under the command of Lt. Théroinne), which then set off in pursuit of "Emden", but was quickly sunk by the German ship. Casualties amongst the "Zhemchug"'s crew amounted to 89 dead and 143 wounded. The ship was tied up at a state of non-readiness while her captain, Baron Cherkassov, went ashore that night to visit a lady friend. Cherkassov was court martialled for negligence and sentenced to 3½ years in prison. Lt. Théroinne was amongst the Frenchmen lost aboard the "Mousquet". Thirty-six French survivors (out of a crew of 80) from the destroyer were picked up by the "Emden", three of whom later died from their injuries. They were buried at sea at the insistence of von Müller. Two days later, the Germans stopped the British steamer "Newburn" and transferred the remaining Frenchmen so that they could be conveyed to Sabang, Sumatra, then part of the neutral Dutch East Indies.

The "Emden" continued its raiding mission for another ten days, before finally being sunk at the Battle of Cocos.

External links

* [http://www.argo.net.au/andre/emdenforwebENFIN.htm Zhemchug, Emden and Sydney]
* [http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pages1418/Forum-Pages-d-Histoire-aviation-marine/marine-1914-1918/torpilleur-mousquet-contre-sujet_504_1.htm Discussion of "Mousquet" history, specifications and crew (mostly in French)]