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ARTIST UNKNOWN - SMS Cormoran
- Notes: SMS Cormoran was built in Germany in 1909 for the Russian Volunteer Fleet. She was captured by the Germans in 1914 as their first prize of the war with Russia and Japan. She was taken to Tsingtao, China, and converted to an armed merchant raider. On 10 August 1914, the Cormoran left harbour and sailed throughout the South Pacific and New Guinea region. She spent most of her time avoiding the Japanese battleships that were chasing her all over the Pacific. Running short of coal, the Cormoran pulled into Apra Harbour, Guam, on 14 December 1914. Being an American protectorate, the Guam Military Governor refused to supply the Cormoran with coal and at the outbreak of war with the Americans (7 April, 1917) Captain Aldabert Zuckschwerdt scuttled the ship. The American forces, seeing the crew of the Cormoran preparing to sink the ship, fired a shot over her bow. It is said that this was the first shot fired by American forces in WWI. 13 crew members went down with the ship and were buried with full military honours in the Naval cemetary in Angana.
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April 30, 2007 3:00 PM AEST
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