"BATTLE" OF THE FLAGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 133, 7 June 1930, Page 11

"BATTLE" OF THE FLAGS.

GERMAN ENSIGNS AT SAMOA.

WELLINGTON MAN'S VERSION.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

Mr. Ernest G. Edwards (No. 1/182), of Wellington, writes to the "Evening Post" as follows:—"Shortly after we lauded in Samoa I was sent in command of a platoon from the Fifth Wellington Regiment to take charge of Vailima and prepare an inventory of the Governor's possessions, and on our arriving there the German overseer of the property handed to me after some persuasion an Imperial German ensign, which he stated had been hauled down by him and secreted when our warships were sighted. Accompanying me were two privates, who> no doubt, recollect the incident. "Several attempts were made to relieve me of this prized possession, and while in Samoa I was under the necessity at one time of having to bury it under my tent. The flag is before me as I write, and I have been induced to give these fe.w facts only because Sergeant Neary, of Auckland, is reported to have stated that the flag is said to have been mysteriously taken from Sergeant Cottmgham on the way back from Samoa on the steamer Monowai. Apparently the flag referred to must be yet'another of the flags claimed by so many."