Australian Naval History on 15 January 1918

C in C, China Station, received a signal which contained information solving the fate of the Burns Philp steamer MATUNGA, which disappeared mysteriously on a voyage from Sydney to Port Moresby. The signal read:- “Bottle found 9 December in sea off Toli Toli, Celebes, by natives, contained two papers forwarded to me by Consul General, Batavia. First (Begins) Prisoners on board German raider. Will reader please notify the British authorities that German raider passed Celebes this day 29 August, on her way we presume to mine Singapore, PEDRA BRANCA having previously mined Cape Town, Bombay, Colombo, North Cape, (New Zealand), Cook Strait, Gabo Island. Crews of following vessels are on board:- TURITELIA, JUMNA, WORDSWORTH, DEE, WAIRUNA, WINSLOW, BELUGA, ENCORE, and MATUNGA. She has on board 110 mines to mine, we think, Rangoon and Calcutta. She was formerly WACHENFELS of German merchant service. (Ends). Second message is a descriptive drawing of vessel, 3-island type, 1 funnel, 2 masts, several 6-inch guns, 2 on forecastle, 2 on broadsides, 1 on poop, 4 torpedo tubes 18-inch.”