WITH THE TROOPS IN SAMOA

Evening Star, Issue 15600, 17 September 1914, Page 7

WITH THE TROOPS IN SAMOA

'> \n ex-High School boy, who is with 1 the Expeditionary Force in Samoa, hae > written the following letter, dated bep- ■ tember 5, to his parents in Dunetdin :-=- Well, we are at our destination, and 1 have had a bloodless victory. W# mi & : good trip across, and called in at Noumea . and Suva. On our second might out from ' Wellington we picked up the three New Zealand cruisers, and on the following i day we painted our, ship grey. It was ; a great sight to sec the two troopships with a warsh ; p on cither aide of us and one HI \ front scouting. The weather across wi»» ; very good, but for a couple of days we : rolled a bit. The warships relied terribly, ! 100 l ing at times as if they would go rigM ' over. At night we sailed under concealed ! lights, not one being, seen from outside. I was a mess orderly all the way till the day before we reached Samoa. We had ' saloon tucker, but worked very hard for it. None of us knew where wo were going, and everyone was very surprised when on Thursdav, August 20, we steamed into Noumea" When we sailed past the big French warship Montcalm our hand struck no the 'Marseillaise,' and their band.returned the compliment with 'God Save ♦he Kins.'. We cheered, and they cheered hack. When we arrived at the quay we ot a reception that could not be equalled ■mywhere. The people went mad, singing the French national song, and we singing 'God Save the King.' Women and men on the quay were throwing up fruit and chocolate as fast as they could buy theni. Tho people were typically French, the girls having that chic' French style. The na-1 tives are a dirty-looking lot, but were just as enthusiastic and generous as the French. While in Noumea H.M.S. Australia and Melbourne came in and coaled. On Saturday morning we were leaving Noumea, when we ran onHo a reef, and were hard and fast, until tugged oft' on the same night liv the U.S.S. Company's Koromiko and a French tug. It was aii exciting time, all the warships having their searchlights plaving on us, while pinnaces and cutters were running back and forwards with naval officers, half a dozen of whom were on our ship. We left eventually on Sunday morning, being accompanied by the six warships, including the Montcalm. As we wero in dangerous waters all lights in the ships were out, and the eight ships sailed in one lout; line, to lessen tho danger of mines. We reached Suva on tho 25th, and after we had taken in water and the warships were coaled, wo left on the following'morning. After we left Suva wo crossed the 180 th meridian, and therefore had two Thursdays—a unique experience. We reached Samoa on the Saturday, having sailed straight to Apia, contrary to our expectations, we thinking that the warships would bombard the town and tha : t wo would march from the other side of the island and attack them in the rear. The warships formed a big half-circle, and trained their guns on tho town, while the Psycho went in under the white flag, demanding a surrender. As perhaps you know, tho Germans would not surrender, hut would not resist an armed force. In the afternoon we all landed in the ship's boats, towed by launches. The harbor is an open roadstead, and had just a small foot-pier to land on. At the landing stage was,a huge Union Jack, and there were many naval and military _ officers, besides several prisoners, including the native police. We marched through the town, dressed in our long trousers and puttees, shirt on only, with our Mills-Webb equipment, holding 150 rounds, and a blanket strapped on our back, the whole weighing about 601b. Our platoon were put on picket that night. We experienced our first taste of active service, sleeping in tho open, and being' on the qui vive the whole time. Thosa who were not on picket duty, etc., slept in the market hall. Yesterdav we shifted to the racecourse, about half a mile from the water-front, and axe now all under canvas. There are ten mem in a tent, and we all have our mates together. If we are on duty for a day and a night (24 hours) we have the next day We do watches of two hours on and four off, so do not get a surplus of sleep. Last night wo were on picket, the '' "furthest from the town. During my watch fat 1.30 a.m. to 3.30 a.m.) a big motor car 'came racing down the hill, with big hcad- ■' lights shining, so I immediately took a position in a shady place (that is, from the moon), amd when it was 50yds away challenged, jt. On my sescond challenge tli3 car .pulled up with a grinding of brakes, and I went up to examine it, expecting anything, and it turned out to be Colonel Logan going to towm from Vailima (R. L. Stevenson's old residence), which was the Gorman Governor's place, and is now occupied by the Colonel. who, is Ad- ., ministrator or Governor now. My challenge woke the guard up, and the officer came out with his revolver cocked, followed by several of tho men. It was quite exciting." After our second challenge we are entitled to shoot or bayonet, and no courtesies are paid to officers. We hava reveille at 4.15 a.m. in camp, and take up our position at the water-front ready for an attack (which usually takes place at dawn). This place is very pretty, and fruit (cocoanuts, limes, lemons, oranges, breadfruit, etc.) is very abundant. I have had a sickening of coco'inut milk. The natives are a iine-iooking lot, and live in their natural state. They are scrupulously

clean in their bodies and, clothes. The water here is exwllerit for drinking, and is to bo had everywhere you go. We have a fresh-water swim at least one© a day, and sometimes two and three. We are all settling down io the heat, which is a bit high, but not oppressive. I do not know how long we will be here. I pick it to be between sis and twelve months. Tilings ynll be all right when we are to get leave. We have not had a second's leave gineo ws.went on board at Wellington. I wfll have to close now eo as to catch the Mcoiowai, which I believe leaves to-night. There are some of the boys going back, a# they are reducing the regiment. I hope I am not one ol the unlucky ones.