COLONEL ALLEN'S WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 10 July 1928, Page 20

COLONEL ALLEN'S WIN.

KING'S BIRTHDAY AT APIA. THRILLING MOMENTS. VICTORY FOR NEW ZEALAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, July 5. The King's Birthday, 1928, will never be forgotten in Samoa, according to people who have just returned from a visit there. What happened was a triumph for the recently installed Administrator, Col. S. S. Allen, D.5.0., and through him for New Zealand, which exercises a mandate over Samoa. It was a triumph, too, for the Mau, showing that they are capable of taking Q. defeat in a fine, sporting spirit. The Mau are standing solid, evidently, in their demand for a change of Government from that of New Zealand. Most people who have been there say that there is no doubt about this. Beyond this determined stand there is no feeling of disloyalty to the Empire, no desire to spurn the flag of the Empire or to separate from the Empire. Accordingly, the King's Birthday was i day calling for the usual ceremony >f a march past with a salute, either '■> the King's representative or to the flag. Would Salute -Flag Only. A salute to the King's representative, Colonel Allen, the appointee of the New Zealand Government, was out of the question, therefore, the Mau police, soldiers and people would salute the flag. The organisation for the event went ihead, the greatest secrecy being maintained. Most important it was that the Administrator and Government should not know the time set for the march past. The Administrator did not know the time set, and, in spite of repeated efforts on the part of his staff, he was in ignorance on the very morning of the King's Birthday. The Colonel, Mrs. Allen, the A.D.C., and a guest came down for breakfast that morning about 7.45. One of the !irst questions asked was whether any information had been secured as to the irrangements for the day. It was an unenviable position for the hninistrator to be in. Startling News. No news was available, but the guest u! been in Apia on the previous evenand volunteered the information that he had heard, on reliable authority, that event was timed for eight •>Vlock that morning. It was then 10 minutes to eight. Consternation reigned supreme. The Administrator was in his morn"2 clothes, and Apia was four miles tway. Mrs. Allen was the first to move, 'lie made for the bedroom and pulled [ lit the colonel's uniform. Ihe A.D.C. made for the garage and laOied to the front door with the car. Struggling with his uniform, the colonel scrambled into the car, which !eaj>ed forward in a wild dash for the I flagstaff in front of the Government Euildings in Apia. | As the clocks started to chime the hour of eight an immaculate Administrator stepped coolly from his motor j ear, walked calmly to the saluting base | and raised his arm to take the salute j is the first file of the Mau procession came abreast. A Thrilling Moment. It was a thrilling moment. Chiefs standing grouped near the base saw the Administrator arrive. Not an eyelid ilieke.ed. Tamasese, who led the procession, expecting to salute the suddenly saw his Excellency appear below it. His step did not falter, his salute was perfect, and the Mau masses tiled past in perfect order. A tactical victory had been scored, the Mau recogn sed it, and the first to congratulate n.m was the man who had led the procession and ordered the salute.