AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 87 of 167 6 War Tales of Madras , Namma Chennai Brig N B Subramanian Genre: War Memories he commercial hub of Madras was never a war loving city. War mongering is not in our DNA. Like it or not, Madras was involuntarily sucked into both world wars, In fact, Madras was the only Indian city to experience attack and some destruction in World War I. Let me recount two stories of Madras’ tryst with wars - one of World War I vintage; and another of World War II. The year was 1914. German Navy was busy concentrating in North Pacific Ocean, to launch operations from the coast of South America. But, there was one exception. There was an obscure light cruiser of German Navy by the name SMS Emden, ( ‘Swan of the East’) commanded by Capt Karl Von Muller. Muller opted for an independent role as a loose cannon, to stealthily move around and destroy British assets and cause shock and awe in British camps and colonies. Tactically, the ambition was suicidal; but when Muller volunteered for the task, it was granted by the German Navy Chief. In its chosen role, Emden was naturally left with no port of its own. It had no fuelling or victualing facilities for rations and stores, it had to fend for itself both operationally and logistically. So, it self-modelled itself into part pirate (to fend for food and fuel) and part, a combat raider. It was 22 Sep 1944. The World War I was still in its nascent stages. The British intelligence completely missed knowledge that smart Emden was lurking in Indian waters, that too close to Madras, ready to strike! The Madras city folks were unaware of the impending danger. They went about their daily chores like any other day.The city remained lit that night, as usual. At the Madras harbour, the oil storage tanks of Burmah Shell, painted in trade mark white with red stripes, and the mooring buoys nearby were equally well lit - making them vulnerable preys for attack. 3,000 yards away from Madras harbour, Emden kept waiting for an opportune T