CAPTURED GERMAN POSESSIONS

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1914, Page 5

CAPTURED GERMAN POSESSIONS

BY AUSTRALIAN NAVAL BRIGADE. FURTHER PARTICULRS. Received 10 p.m. ■SYDNEY, Oct. 6. Tie newspapers publish lengthy account's of the capture of Rabaul and Herbertshohe in German New Britain, elaborating the main incident already cabled. , The operations included some hard fighting through tropical jungle, particularly the capture' of the wireless station eight miles inland from Rababaul, guarded by lines of trenches and otfier impediments. This . was first undertaken by a small naval party and subsequently strong reinforcements were sent. After a stubborn resistance Lieutenant Kepmf in charge o f*he first line of trenches, surrendered with three Germans and 20 natives. He accompanied the British to the second Ine of trenches which Lieutenant Kepmf ordered to surrender. This was done under the white flag . Arms were being collected when a German made a bolt for the bush, and the British under the white flag, were fired upon by natives posted in trees. Lieutenant Kepmf ordered them to cease firing, but they continued ,-and three British were, wounded, one lyA German named Ritter and a native prisoner rushed into the bush and the British fired, killing ten natives and Ritter. The rest escaped. T<he force advanced to the wireless station and found seven whites and 2$ natives, who surrendered without opposition. The party returned to the ships. Most of the casualties to the attackers were caused by natives sniping from trees.