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As I write this post script to the "Sydney" enquiry on the last day of September, 1998, there is a distinct possibility that the Labour Party, now in Opposition, could receive a mandate to govern in 3 days time.

It will rest with a new Parliament of whatever political pursuasion it turns out to be, to appoint a Committee, or to reappoint the previous Committee, to complete the enquiry, and make a report with its recommendations.

It is too bizarre to contemplate that it is possible that no further action could take place in this regard, and that the total exercise could remain in limbo. But surely, this will not happen, "One can but hope!"

Komet. (Ship 45)

'Komet," was the last of the first wave of Raiders, and had made a most unusual voyage to reach the Pacific. She had taken the northern route around Russia and Siberia, made possible in July of 1940 because, at that time Russia was maintaining neutrality. It was of course later that this stance was shattered by Hitler deciding to invade Russia.

Like "Thor," 'Komet," was only a small ship of 3,200 tons, and had been named 'Ems," a part of the former Norddeutscher Lloyd line. Her Commanding Officer, Robert Byssen, joined the Navy in 1911, and had spent two long periods in the Adrniralty in Berlin.

The Russians assisted the northern passage of "Komet" by providing ice pilots, and ice breakers, without them, this voyage would have been impossible. After negotiating the final ice barrier, "Komet" was secured alongside the Russian ice breaker "Lenin," and Byssen was invited on board the Russian ship for a celebration party. The vagaries of time played a major role here, the Germans still keeping Central European time, whilst their hosts kept local time. The German Captain found himself partying with copious amounts of both Vodka and Zakurka, at, for him, the unearthly hour of 0600 (6AM.)

This northern passage involved 23 days, and a distance covered of 3,300 miles. For their services supplied, the Russians, put in a bill for 950,000 Reichinarks, or in Sterling, 80,000 Pounds.

It was the 10th. of September by the time '~omct" reached the Pacific Ocean, and they made for the Japanese Island of Ailinglap, it was here, in 1914, that Spee had hidden from Allied Squadrons searching for him.

Fyssen was ordered to meet "Orion," and on the 14th. of October this Raider was at Lamutrik, to fuel from '"Kulmerland," it was thought that the use of Allinglap may have become known to the Allies when the Tanker "Weser," bringing supplies from Mexico for the two Raiders, had been captured in September by the Canadian Armed Merchant Cruiser, "Prince Robert."

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