TAKING SAMOA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1914, Page 8

TAKING SAMOA

HOW IT WAS DONE RETURN OF THE MOERAKI AN IMPRESSIVE LANDING UNDER COVER OF SHIPS' GUNS HOISTING THE FLAG

After a three-weeks' eventful voyage, i his Majesty's troopship Moeraki, which conveyed the major portion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Samoa, put into Wellington Harbour shortly after 6 o'clock this morning, and anchored in the stream. She was later cleared by the Port Health Officer, and berthed at Clyde-quay, where' she now lies. The Moeraki since she went away has undergone a transformation. In place of the usual colours the whole of her superstructure has been painted a dull grey — a work which was performed soon after the vessel left Wellington with her sister transport, at 6 o'clock on the morning of 15th August. The Moeraki brought back with her 21 members of the Expeditionary Force who were returned as medically unfit, 15 men-o'-warsmen under Lieutenant A. L. Jackson from H.M.S. Sealark, and five British subjects who had been detained by the Germans in Samoa as prisoners of war, and who were immediately; released when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force occupied the territory. DEPARTURE FROM WELLINGTON. The story _ of the voyuge and of its memorable incidents was related to » Post reporter by a number of the tth turned soldiers. They explained that after the official farewell tendered to them at the Basin Reserve, they embarked in the troopships and pulled out into the harbour, where they anchored for the night. At six o'clock on the following morning, 15th August, the two transports got under way and headed out to sea, where they took a northerly course. On the following day, about ' 4 p.m., they were joined by a convoy of three British warships, and proceeded on their way. Next day, Monday, reveille was sounded at 5.30 a.m., and after the troops had had breakfast, they were set to drill, which became the daily practice from then on. The Monday was enlivened to some extent )aj the appearance of two big whales, which were blowing at close quarters. ARRIVAL AT NOUMEA: French New Caledonia was sighted on Thursday, 20th August, and at midday both troopships and their escorts anchored in Noumea harbour, joining a French warship which was already there. At 4 p.m. the troopships berthed at the wharf and the troops were given an enthusiastic official reception by the residents of Noumea, comprising French people, natives, Chinese, Japanese, etc. "The residents," declared the spokesman, "were very good to us. We were heartily cheered, and they tdid everything they could for us, handing up cakes and all sorts of things and providing us with keepsakes. They're good sorts the Frenchies, let me tell you, and simply love the British — not to mention the New Zealanders. Many of us would have liked to have got ashore, but unfortunately we were not allowed, and so missed a rattling good time. In the evening a band aiane aKongside and played all soits of lively airs, including the 'Marseillaise, ' 'Rule Britannia,' and so foilh. Their hospitality, in short, was all that we could have asked for — and more." MONOWAI GOES AGROUND. The principal features of the following day, Friday, 21st August, were the arrival of two Australian warships and a route march. On the Australian vessels making their appearance a salute was fired and exchanged. The men were disembarked at 10 a.m. and exercised ni a route march of about five miles. Early on the following day a. commencement was made with the departure, but this was delayed for twentyfour hours through the Monowai getting stuck on a mudbank. The Moeraki, however, went out into the roadstead and remained there until next day, when the Monowai was floated off. The whole fleet, comprising tha two transports and six escorting warships, left Noumea at 10 a.m. on the 23rd for Fiji. The whole of the troops were also inoculated for typhoid on the same day. SUSPICIOUS-LOOKING SHIP On the voyage to Fiji an exciting incident was provided, The fleet had not left Noumea very long when a suspicious looking ship was sighted on the horizon. She was, stated the men, immediately chased by one of the Australian cruisers, and being brought to was searched. She j proved to be a Norwegian collier. What was done with her the men. said they did not exactly know, but they had been told that a prize crew had been put j aboard her. This will be doubted if the j collier in question belonged to a neutral, country. WHAT WAS DONE AT FIJI Nothing further of aoiy moment occurred until 26th August, when the two transports and their escorts arrived at Suva. Fiji. There they took aboard fifteen men under Lieutenant Jackson, from H.M.S. Sealark, a. British surveying vessel employed at the Solomon Islands. These men, who have several years' experience in surfing, were sent along to Fiji as specialists, to await the arrival of the transport* and to assist in landing the troops at Samoa should any difficulty arise. In addition to these the transports also took on board about twenty Samoans, in case of trouble with the natives up6n arrival at Samoa. "Those men," said the speaker, "were taken on board as interpreters. They were to explain to the natives that wo were not going to harm them— that" it wa» thr Germans we were after. We also picked up twenty Legion of Frontiersmen, .who wanted to be on the spot

when things were happening in Samoa." THE CAPTURE OF SAMOA After bidding the good folks at Suva "good-bye" the- transports and cruisers made straight for Samoa, and arrived off Apia on Saturday morning, 29th August (Western time). One of the cruisers which lias been employed in New Zealand waters for some years past sailed in closer than the other warships under a flag of truce and sent a party | ashore to demand the surrender of Somoa. The Governor, the men stated, could not bo found, and in his absence his representative said he could not surj render the place, but would not resist an armed force landing. This message having been duly signalled,' preparations were at once commenced for landing the New Zealand soldiers. A track was swept to the shore in case of mines, and the wholeof the troops were taken ashore in the ships.' boats, being towed by pinnaces. The landing was effected without accident under cover of the guns of two of the bigger warships, which had slewed^ round in order to present their broadsides, and had their big pieces trained. It was an impressive, not to say a stirring, sight, which had its effect not only upon the men, but also upon those on shore, who had taken up various points of vantage in order to view the ceremony. It was, in short, New Zealand's first act of conquest, which, fortunately, was unaccompanied by loss of Me. GOVERNMENT OFFICES SEIZED. The troops had no sooner landed than they were split up into detachments and took possession of the whole of the Government departments, including Government House. Later, the narrator stated, the German Governor was discovered up on the hill near the wireless station, and xyas immediately taken prisoner. The Samoans hoisted the Union Jack and received the troops with the utmost enthusiasm, the explanation for which, it appears, is that they simply hate tho. Germans who are hard taskmasters, and infinitely prefer to be pnder the British rule. The unloading of the ships' cargo and stores was immediately commenced by the islanders. "TAKEN IN THE KING'S NAME." At 6 o'clock in the afternoon tha new Governor of Samoa, Colonel Logan (Officer Commanding the New Zealand Expedition) read a proclamation ashore taking Samoa in the King's name. The British flag was officially hoisted to the sound of guns, the warships in the roadstead firing salutes, and to the cheers of the populace, the natives in particular making their voices heard. The unloading of the men's equipment and stores was continued on the Sunday, the troops performing the work. The iUoeraki left Apia a little after 4 p.m. on Monday night (New Zealand time) for Wellington, and arrived here this morning, as stated, without encountering anything of a sensational description on, the way back. A SAMOAN POLICE CHARGE. The men stated that the occupation of Samoa on 29th August (Western time) was characterised by one collision which looked serious for a time. Owing to the dislocation of shipping, supplies had been running out and the Chinese on the plantations were feeling the pincH, particularly in regard to rice. When the troopships arrived in Apia about 2000 of them had come in from the way* backs and were loitering about the Courthouse sullenly. Upon landing, Colonel Logan immediately swore in the Samoan police in the service of King George V. Noticing the Chinese loitering about <in a big body, Colonel Logan gave orders for them to disperse. These were at once conveyed to the Celestials, but they took no notice. The Samoan police, armed with clubs, thereupon got to work, and, charging the Chinamen, sent them scattering in all directions. "It was something worth seeing," remarked one of the men. "It resembled some of the scenes during the strike' in Wellington last year, and I guess there were some sore Chinese heads about after that. The Chinese, at any rate, gave no further trouble after that." The men who returned by the Moeraki as medically unfit included Private F. B. King of the Railway Engineers, and the following members of the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment:— Privates J. Cosiello, J. L?. Simpson, T. Fordyce, W. Hardinge, W. C. A. Rider, and 0. O'Meara. The remainder included one Wellington man and several of the Railway Engineers, all of whom refused to give their names. The men are only suffering from a few minor complaints and are being returned to their homes. They are keenly disappointed at being sent back, but recognise that the authorities have adopted the proper course. They" have also no complaints to make, saying that when a man takes up the soldiering life he must expect to gut up with some luudships. The men-o'-warsmen, under Lieutenant Jackson from H.M.K. Sealark, expect to be despatched with the next Expeditionary Force. The British subjects who were detained in Samoa owing to the outbreak of the war, and who were released by the arrival of the New Zealand forces, were Mr. and Mrs. Sawyers, Miss Rogers, Miss Ball, and Mr. Gutline Smith. They aic English tourists, and happened to bo visiting Samoa when hostilities broke out. They were all brought on by the Moeraki, and are now staying in Wellington. Dr. Schultz, the German Governor, on being taken prisoner, was placed' on board the Moeiaki. Later, he was transt'erreu to the Monowai nnil taken to Fiji, where ho is at present being detained.

Several of the men who returned from Samoa to-day, including several of the sailors, state that the German wireless station at Samoa was found intact. YOU SHOULD BE DETERMINED In_ rejecting the xvorthloss and frequently injurious counterfeits which are sometimes pushed for the sake of greater gain as "just as good "' as the Genuine Sander and Sons 1 Pure Volatilo Eucalypti Extract. Be not deceived. Sander's Extract is recognised by tho highest Medical authorities ns possessing uniquo stimulating, healing, and antiscptio powers. Tho preparation of SANDER'S EXTRACT from the pure selected leaves, and tho refinement by special procesaeti, give it curative, virtue;! peculiarly its own. Demand and insist upon tho GENUINE SANDER EXTRACT.Ailvt. Tho annual French Corcle ovaimnnlinn will bo held at the Thoosopliical Hall, Ballance-street, on Saturday, 26th. Particulars are advertised in this issue. Ladies arc invited to assist in providing caltos, ore.., for afternoon tea at the patriotic carnival on Wednesday aftornoon at tho Basin Reserve. Contributions may bo loft, at the Stiu- Boating Club tibed before 10. or nt tho Ha''\n Reserve before 12 on Wednesday morning.