PAPEETE'S FATE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 92, 15 October 1914, Page 8

PAPEETE'S FATE

BOMBARDED BY THE GERMANS BUSINESS QUARTER COMPLETELY DESTROYED HAVOC WROUGHT BY FIRE. POPULACE FLEES TO THE HILLS. On sth October the following brief cablegram from Paris was published in The Post:— "An official report states that the German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gnei-sena-u on 22nd September sank and disarmed the French gunboat Zelee, off Papeete. The cruisers disappeared after bombarding Papeete." Included among the passengers by the^ Maitai, which arrived m Wellington today, was an eye-witness of the bombardment. According to his story, told to a Post reporter, it has left the island town a mass of ruins. The occurrence was of a much more serious nature than indicated in either the brief cable from Paris, or the official ■ message to His Excellency the Governor. About six o'clock in the morning of 22nd September, the inhabitants of Papeete (Tahiti) were aroused by the approach of two big warships. However, they were not alarmed, for every day they had expected a visit from either a 'British, French, or Japanese boat. But it was a misty morning, and the flags could not be discerned. The news of the approach spread with great rapidity, and very shortly the whole population turned out •and lined the water front. The excitement increased as the boats drew closer to the reef, and the atmosphere cleared. It was then discovered that no flags were flying at all, whereupon four blank shells were feed from the small French fort on the hills above Papeete. This was a signal for the warships to make known their nationality. But they did not respond, and after a short time steamed away -to the east. and out of sight of the town. After a lapse of about forty-five minutes they returned, and drew up broadside on to the fort, at a position four to five miles away from the town. PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. The people were now in a state of intense excitement. "Everything was at a standstill for a time, and everybody waited anxiously for - the next move. The Governor saw that trouble was likely, and so all the inhabitants, barring the military, were' ordered to leave the town and seek shelter in the valleys and the hills. The mandate was soon obeyed, but not before the Germans opened fife on the waterfront. After many people had had narrow escapes from death, the town was cleared, and the firing continued. The French thought it likely that the vessels had come for coal, so, without any delay, they poured a quantity of benzine over the stock of 2000 tons in hand, and it burned fiercely. It was still burning when the Maitai left. _ In all about thirty shells were fired in half an hour, each making a terrific roar, louder than the heaviest thunder. "NO SURRRENDER." Then there was a spell for half an hour. The Germans did not leave, but apparently waited for the white flag from the fort. But there was to be no white flag. Commander Destreman, of the 2elee, had taken charge of affairs, and he ordered a fight to the finish. The guns at the fort could not reach beyond the reefs, and the garrison numbered -250 only, but _ still there was to be no surrender. If it could be prevented, the Germans were not going to land. TO BLOCK THE ENTRANCE. Commander Destfematt • then decided to make an attempt to block the entrance to the bay, and for this purpose intended to send the Zelee oufy and sink her. Half-a-dozen volunteers offered* their services for the hazardous task, and very soon steam was up on the little gunboat, which was alongside the Walkure, the big German cargo boat captured as a prize. The Zelee had coaled from her. The French flag was hoisted, and thro acted as a. signal to the Germans to Tesume fire. The little boat was made the object of all the shells, many of which failed to reach their mark. The first few shells fell short, and others -went high. After a dozen shots or so, the Zelee went down in deep water, and efforts to Taiee her have been in vain. THE TOWN ABLAZE. The shells which failed to hit the Zelee had by far thej most disastrous results. The deck fittings of the Walkure were shattered, and some .of the shot© were so high that they struck the business portion of the town. Fires started all along the water-front, and, as there was nobody left in the town to render assistances' the flames spread rapidly, until there was absolutely no chance of checking them. The wharves and the Customhouse were destroyed. The big public markets, and the huge Chinese co-onerative stores, j each of which employed about a hundred Chinese, all went. The Paris Hotel —one of the best in the islands — and another hotel alongside, are now a mass of ruins. The whole town was devastated, including the premises of Donald and Edenborough, an Auckland firm, and the loss has run to thousands. There isr not a solid block of buildings standing. The fire raged fiercely for several days, and Was not extinguished when the Maitai left. STEAMER WALKURE SINKS. One result of the bombardment is that the Germans sank their own steamer, the Walkure, well-known in Wellington. As mentioned above, she was lying alongside the Zelee, and it was natural that she should suffer severely. Some of the shells pierced right through the French gunboat, and struck the cargocarrier beneath the water-line. Further shells blew away the funnel, the navigating deck, and one lodged in the engine-room, exploding, and doing considerable damage. When the Zelee was gone, the idea was to let the Walkure drift into the channel, and she was let go for that purpose. She went on to the reefs, however, and later was found to be sinking. Consequently she was towed off and beached in the bay, where she is now practically a total wreck. A photograph shows that her stern is submerged. THE FIRING CEASES. At about 10 o'clock, after close upon 70 shells had been discharged by the unwelcome visitors, the firing ceased and the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau took their departure. The departure was not* looked upon in the light of relief. U\ was not considered likely that the cruisers had finished with Papeete, and everything was in readiness in case of return in the evening. Such return, though fully expected, did not eventuate, and gradually the citizens returned to their homes to gather together what little remained of household and personal effects. The fleeing had been a Budden happening, and although the inhabitants were well supplied with provisions, ' they had little else. Losses all round were heavy, consequent upon the awful effect of the shell fire. The nature of the latter may be gathered from the" fact that trees two feet in diameter were

broken in half by fragments. At tho J roll-call it was discovered that there had been only two casualties — a Chinese and a kanaka* — both of whom were killed. FOR MAKATEA? When the cruisers left they set a course which, if maintained, would take them to Makatea. Here, if they so desired, they could have taken a supply of coal, for there are some big works on , this phosphate island which bum a great deal of coal. It is noteworthy that, at about this time, the collier Detmoor, with 2000 tons of Newcastle coal, was clue at Makatea. When the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were at Papeete they brought a collier with them which remainedfar out to sea. It is suggested that this was a prize. WERE THE GERMANS MISLED? Considerable surprise was shown at the fact that the Germans did not enter the bay. It is presumed they came for coal, and expected a surrender. According to The Post's informant the guns mounted at the fort had been removed from the Zelee, and were not of large calibre. Probably the Germans thought that the entrance had been mined. At any rate, they made no attempt whatever to land, and had they done so they would have been strenuously opposed. The French garrison showed splendid courage, and was prepared to resist to the last man. A proclamation was issued praising the men for their splendid work, and also thanking the population for the way in which instructions were carried out. CHINESE LOSE HEAVILY. The Chinese had what was practically a monopoly of the busineses at Papeete, and conducted four large co-operative stores, in which everything was sold. These stores gave employment to about 400 men. When the bombardment commenced the Chinese merchants became terrified, and when they ran to the hills and the valleys they left their money behind' — big sums in many cases. Their stores were completely destroyed, and the remains pilfered by the kanakas. Many kanakas are now serving terms of imprisonment for these crimes. The sight of the Chinese and kanakas fleeing to safety was a pitiful one, and the Chinese, particularly, showed a disinclination to return. When, once back they proved they had not then recovered from their fright, as tho following 6tory shows: A Chinese employer had a dream or presentiment that the German cruisers had captured a cargo boat, and that they were returning to Papeete. He spread his story among the Celestials, and another panic set in. They gathered ' large stocks of rice and other provisions, and set off for the hills again. When the Maitai left the majority were still | sheltering, although the Germans had not put in an appearance. The rest of the population remained absent for about ten days. A PREVIOUS EXPLOIT. ■ A previous exploit by the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau is related. The two vessels visited a neighbouring island and seized a large quantity of provisions, for which, however, they paid the inhabitants. The kanakas who helped in the loading operations were well treated, and so was everybody else. The Germans then enquired if there were any mails, as they were leaving for Papeete in the morning. What they did on arrival at Papeete is above recorded.