THE SAMOAN EXPEDITION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 286, 9 December 1914, Page 8

THE SAMOAN EXPEDITION.

ALLEGATION OF UNDUE HURRY.

DENIED BY MR FISHER

WELLINGTON, Dec 8 In an interview tne Hon. F. M.-B. Fisher denied a statement made by the Melbourne correspondent ot the Sydney Sun regarding the New Zealand Government's hurry to get away the expedition. to Samoa, and characterised it as ridiculous as it was inaccurate. The force for Samoa, Mr Fisher says, was sent at a date fixed by the Admiralty, and with tlie convoy sent by the Admiralty. The New Zealand Government at no stage asked for. the assistance of any ship or ships of the Australian navy. The Imperial authorities realised that the bamoan wireless station was the key of information keeping the German ships pre-warned of all goings on, and the necessity for hastening away the force was to "cut .off'a most useful and reliable source of information. The New Zealand transports sailed from New Zealand to Noumea without any Australian convoy at all, and had Admiral Pa toy been in clo^e contact with the German ships he could have ieft the New Zealand :i transports in perfect safety at Noumea and. continued tracing down the'Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.