GERMAN SHIPS AT SAMOA

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 248, 21 October 1914, Page 7

GERMAN SHIPS AT SAMOA

WHAT A GOMMANDER SAID.

"A GALLANT BLADE."

Reports from Samoa, received from private sources, gives interesting details of the German cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, which recently put in an appearance at Apia and Mulifunua, 18 miles west of Apia (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph). Both the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau ran in close to the Mulifuntfa1 plantation, one of them making signals and hoisting a pilot flag.. In response, a German subject, Captain Hagedorn, described as "a* rather jovial citizen," went off to the ships. He did more— h-e went aboard the Scharnhorst. The commander invited him up on deck, and discussed the situation with him. . .Captain Hagedorn stated the position and added that the Germans had, no reason to complain of the (treatment they were receiving from Colonel Logan and the British force generally. He was honest enough to say, ■in fact, that they were receiving absolutely fair and impartial treatment,! and were being put to as little inconvenience as possibl6. The comjnftndor expressed his pleasure at having this news. "We have no fifr T't with Englishmen who behave well," hn- said. "We shall refrain from Celling Apia or the positions of the British troops." Avd ,h»> kopt his word. Both the Scharnhorst and tho Gn©isenau visited Apia on tho morning of September 14th. One of them steamed in. close, and a Oorman residing at Apia, together with two natives, pulled off to the shin. It is. not known what communications passed, but the German was promptly placed under arrest on bis return. Nothing eventful happens!, however, and Apia was not .fcornbarfM. Not only did th* commander of the

Scharnhorst say that the German warships would leave Apia unmolested, but he added that if they fell in with ithe town's provision ships —meaning the Tohia and the Nayua —they would let them proceedl without injury. "We have no fight with/ that class of ship, engaged in provisioning out-stations," he said, "but would like to come across some of the British Warships—any of them except the Australia. We're not in her class."

'When Captain Hagedbrn's story reached the. ears of Colonel Logan, commanding the British force, he is reported to have described the Scharnhorst's commander as "a gallant blade," and to have expressed a desire to meet him when ithe war is over, and shake hands with him. It has been suggested as quite likely that the German ships were anxious to husband their ammunition, and not throw any of i|t away unnecessarily, for, whilst it may .be possible 'for them to obtain coal and provisions by waylaying other vessels, their ammunition is a thing they cannot hope to replace. They were last seen steaming awny to \the westward of Apia, and a few days later they were busy shelling Papeete, the French capital of Tahiti.