NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13148, 1 September 1914, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

PREPARATIONS COMPLETE,

FORCES. TO BE KEPTUP. ■;

(Spocial to "Tlio Timos,")

WELLINGTON, August 31,

Preparations for the despatch of tliy New Zealand Expeditionary Force have been completed, and the contingent is now ready in all particulars'to'respond immediately,it receives the imperial order to sail from New Zealand,

"It is our duty to kccpthcforcc up to the strength ami size at whHi it is sent away," the Minister for Defence-stated to-day. ''The Imperial policy is,' to maintain a steady improvcmej.t of /the British forces at the front,, aml though ve may not be required to intpvovfc" our numbers, it is necessary ,that inake provision for shrinkage in iho •New' Zealand force, caused by-sickness ifiinl Avastage by sending additioiiil 111011." ''':'/ '■....'. I :':. - ■I-':''--

•■ indicated tiiaVtbo firsFsu|K plemenfary contingent ivill be ('oninosei! largely of men Svlid'«yoiun tccrcil forjlie' jna'iii; force'and; .ivore not icquire'd.

"The'number of voluiftcois was - uo>\ sidctobly, in oxpfe'aa ofjho quired,V saldJMr Allen.' "Whciito time comes'to'ask for fuiUicn'ohinJocVr if nceossaiy we, shall asMoi;thCtri.i', \ THE CAPTURE OF SAMOA. |* TI{ENECESSITY FOBBEOBKCfIr. ',; .WELLINGTON, August 31'.,.. A statement }vas\inadc by the Minis-. tor ,fOl Dcfcucii toftowbpapoi representees this morning. "Our men wore scut away at tile request/- of the Imperial, Government to pcifomi an Imperial,} mission," said Mi Allon. "It wis re-, guided'us of' considoiablo importance" nioio paiticulaily as thcie is a powerful" wireless installation on the Island , tile" position of which will be of groat lnp." ,';',

Appreciation was c.\pi eased by the Ministei of tlic'iiumnei an which thr uowspapois of the Dominion have respotted the desires of the authoritjrayJ| gaiding the movements of the force. vx\ n am quite anaic," said Mr) Allen, "that you might have put things into jour .papcis flinch ought to ha\c been with-" held in the mtciosts of the Empire, anil' the membeis of the force, especially the men's. Our object in keeping the matter secret was tho success of the ExpedU tionaiy Force, and in order to avoid danger or loss of life. If information' had been circu'lafed the chances are thM '"! the Expeditionary J'oicc }\oukl npt ha\ c been so successful. The neftspapef? 1 aie canning out*an Imperial mission in lefiaining fiom publishing things lh;lL thej luioa\ something about. I know , that the l*riiiic Minister has had to call on the press to dujJpic&s information Tvhich was in'its possession and it cjiceifully lespondcd."

Mr Allen added that the ml lie Should assist the Government in pieserung silence and socrccy, whim 'ell; enco and secrecy wore desirable and' iiecessd*y in the niteicsts of the Empire and the liu's of the men who were being bent fioni New Zealand on such an im-poitantjiiis-iiou. The Piiiiic Minister, he said, would gnc out in formation as soon as it was received, provided it was; nafe to do so. '.'.-...■. •.'

THE MOVEMENTS.

"' ■. WELLINGTON, August 31. • The successful occupation of Samoa , has in some degree removed the ucecss;.J ity for secrecy regarding the niovpmeiits \ of the first section, of the New-Zealand' force. The .troopships 'carrying the force left Wellington harbour on the 14th August, and an account of the subsequent '.movements of the force was gl : veil' this evening by the Minister for" Defence. Continuing the former precautions, Mi- Allen said it was inadvisable to indicate the,number or class of the warships which; participated in tlio operations.

Leaving Wellington in the early hours, of August 14th the two transports immediately proceeded north to a rendezvous near Auckland, Where they wei'C joined by an escort of warships, The flotilla proceeded, direct to Noumea, the capital of the French colony of New Caledonia, and the expedition proceeded from Noumea'- to Suva, and finally ,to;;spinvh. JMM -little information regarding these successive inovehiciits has reached the Government, and Mr Allen was not able to define the various stages by exact dates. According to |)|c advice received by his 'Excellency't)jc Gqvemor Apia was surrendcerd at }0 a.m. on August 29 (western time), Astini,o'. in Samoa is 2U hours later than New Zealand time the surrender occurred, ac; cording to New Zealand time, at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. ■.! -

Mr Allen remarked that the ultimate i disposition of the island was a j for decision by the Imperial authorities, V but New Zealaiul'might have something ? to say about it,. "We have simply dono ; our duty as part of the Empire in carry' • I ing out the task allotted to us," lie ! added, n and:'iio\v our duty is to hold I Samoa for the Imperial authorities. It ! is impossible, to'say.how long the Now j Zealand force, will be required to stay j there" ■■•" . ' :: !

. "It must be very satisfactory to the whole oi' the people of Now Zealand," said the Prime: Minister this evening, "that we havo been able to. take possession of the island, with so very little trouble. Apart altogether from the area, which is v approximately 1000 ■ square miles, and the fertility of tho Islands, Samoa is of. very great Btrate« gical importance to both Australia and. New Zealand, There is already a very: powerful wireless station some distance inland from Apia, probably'tho most powerful in the Pacific, and wc have reason to believe ,that it is still intact'. Though we have, secured it iniicji moreeasily than we expected, ive have to hold Samoa;" •. ; ■

Mr Musscy added': "A strong force will bo required to-garrison the island' j for sime considcable time to come." "•< . A further reason for gratification 1? /' that not only was the 7 New Zcalantj J , force the first .contingent of British ! troops to'proceed overseas to its allptt- i cd task; but it is.-als'o the first to secure German territory -•if or the Imperii Crown, ',. j-.- ': „ The following message was received i today by tho-Governor from thq fjo- \ vcruor-Goneral of •Australia:—"l do- ! sire,.on*behalf of myself ami my (jo- ■ vcriimcnt, to congratulate your tixwk lcncy and your Government on the ] achievement of the New Zealand trpops j in so quickly and successfully occupy- j iug Samoa. - '.'',. ? ' ' | - The following'reply was dMpi-tclidd j by the Earl of Liverpool this evening:—' ! "On behalf of myself and nly Govprni j incut, I desire to thank your Excellency/ j and your' Government for your .'most J cordial message -of hearty congratulatio""" - ■:.-• ' ./h -

Advice has been received in Wolfing' . ton ofvthe safe arrival at.Loudcin of two of the Shaw Savill steamers, th« Waiwcra'aud the lonie. Tlicse left )Vcl-. lingtoiron-July 1-ttll and Kith rcspoc: tivply, tlncc and fivls days'after the illfated Kaipara left the Bluff fprlvpih. mouth, and therefore they could jiot,,, have far away when the. was sunk by tlie;Kaiscr Wilhcim ie'iiyGrossc. The Wahycra and lonic. rcachejl thc ; Thames ;on.:|'!riday. >and 'riovts". of their safe arrival wiil give relief to' ' inaiiy :peoplc Zealand,- for" tluv ] onlc" earned, a large number of ;■ passcu- - gcrsaud'bdth hid^liiable f •:;.'