Cruiser Novara, 4 dgs 6 min North, 168 dgs 7 min West, Wednesday, 16 June 1948
The beneficent weather of the South Pacific was one of the attractions for the sailors of the East Asia Squadron, and this day was much to their liking – brilliant sunshine, calm seas, and a breeze to supplement the fifteen-knot speed of the ships’ northward movement. The weather reports augured well for the present weather pattern to continue; the tropical storm that had formed off the China coast had dissipated quickly, and for the moment at least nothing indicated formation of a typhoon in the region ahead of them. Rogge expected to arrive in Pearl Harbour in five days, and had already advised the consul there of their anticipated needs.
Dire Dawa, East African State, Thursday, 17 June 1948
To the Oromo speakers of this region the name of the town meant "Place of Remedy”; to those who spoke Somali however it meant "Where Dir hit his spear into the ground". The Somali Dir clan was prominent in the neighbourhood, and many of its scions were employed on the railway that ran inland from the coast and brought the city its prosperity. It was they who had spearheaded the formation of the Railroad Workers Syndicate of Dire Dawa, a nascent labour union – whose members were presently engaged in industrial action that had halted traffic on the line.
The workers sought both higher wages and improved safety conditions on the line – their pay had seen no increase for the last five years despite rising prices brought about by inflation, and the number of workers injured this year alone had already reached the double-digits. Strikes, of course, were forbidden by the Government, as the rail line was of national importance; such facts were of little account to the hard pressed workers who had banded together to peacefully seek redress.
An official, backed by police and troops brought in by truck for the occasion, ordered the assembled railway workers to disperse and return to work immediately. They refused, proclaiming that they would continue their demonstration until their demands were met. The official, having again ordered the demonstrators to disperse, ordered the assembled security forces to clear the workers from the square they were occupying. They did so with alacrity and with excessive force, firing on the crowd, killing and wounding many.
The German vice-consul, witnessing the affray, immediately set off by car for Berbera; he knew he should not even try to send a report by telegraph for it would likely be intercepted.
Berlin, The Admiralstab, Friday, 18 June 1948
Siegfried Engel was still getting used to the new shoulder-boards of his rank, and being summoned to Berlin by the Chief of Naval Operations left him with many questions. He knew, of course, that his assignment to the Lehr-Division would end with his promotion; the chief matter on his mind at the moment was what his next assignment might be. However, he forced himself to be calm when he knocked at the door of Generaladmiral von Fischel’s office and announced himself.
“Come in Engel,” said the Chief of Naval Operations. “I trust that you had a pleasant journey from Warnemünde?”
“Well enough Herr Generaladmiral,” Engel replied.
“Then take a seat while I go over a few things.” Von Fischel seemed unusually friendly, but Engel did as he was bidden.
“So tell me,” von Fischel began. “Who do you recommend to replace you?”
“Glaser Herr Admiral, my chief of staff.” Engel was prompt with his reply in recommending his chief of staff. “He has good working relationships with all the staff, particularly the Russians. He is the logical choice.”
“Does he speak French?” Von Fischel dropped the question quite casually.
“He does…” replied Engel, somewhat surprised.
“Good. Our French allies are sending a contingent to participate in Wachsame Entschlossenheit. Avoiding communication errors will become ever more important. Now, as for you, I believe you will find serving in the Atlantikflotte quite a change.”
Von Fischel reached for the telephone and summoned Kapitän Merten, the Director of Operations. Replacing the receiver he smiled. “We have a little plan I want you to look over.”