REPORTS FROM NEW GUINEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 13 October 1914, Page 8

REPORTS FROM NEW GUINEA.

, ] (Received Oct. 13, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 13. * • ' Further reports from the New Guinea expeditionary force show that the force, 'including the Anglo-French naval contingent and half a battalion of the -'■* _\ "Australian military contingent, reached l' " tn«j.'capital, Frederich Welhelmshaven, ■» <~ bn the morning of September 25th, and ' ' ■ Jdenianded its surrender by noon under .y.'< < ' ■

threat of bombardment. No attempt had been made at defence and no resistance was offered.. After little/ parleying the place was surrendered unconditionally. The force landed, the German flag was hauled down^ and the Union Jack was hoisted. A wireless plant was taken ashore and means thus secured for keeping in touch with the outside world.'

One correspondent estimates the population at two hundred whites and five hundred of mixed colored nationalities besides tho aborigines. The latter showed gladness to sow. the visitors and readi.y assisted in landing stores.

Reports from Rabaul, the capital of. New Britain,- to September 27th, indicate that parties visited Toma, where the Germans established their • capital after the capture of Rabaul, and secured and brougtit in stores collected at various bases and numbers of prisoners and concluded a general surrender, which was sighed by Dr. Hader, the act-ing-Governor. ' i

.The work of penetrating the interior was rough and tedious, but everything passed off peacefully. Besides quantities of arms, ammunition and general stores 480,000 marks in specie in buried chests were unearthed. At one place a' "company was pleasantly surprised when informed that the tent wherein they slept was pitched over.forty cases of,bullion, which was duly secured.