THE CAPTURE OF SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15711, 11 September 1914, Page 7

THE CAPTURE OF SAMOA.

HOW THE TROOPS LANDED

HARBOUR SWEPT FOR MINES.

THE FLAG OF TRUCE..

DASH FOR THE WIftELESS.

[by TELEGRAPH—speciaI CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday.

The arrival of the New Zealand force was a complete surprise to the Germans at Samoa. They had bee.ft expecting a visit from their own fleet, which was due from the China Seas at Apia on August 2. Very careful preparations were made on board the troopships for the landing. On the morning of Saturday, August 29, the troops breakfasted at six o'clock, and immediately afterwards paraded in squads as they were to go on shore. The drill was repeated in the afternoon. The officer commanding was leaving nothing to chance. The weather was warm, and tho 6ea rough, and many of the troops were still suffering from sea sickness, but they nevertheless went at their work cheerily. The waterbottles were sterilised, and filled with water, lifebelts were put in the boats, and boxes of ammunition were hauled on deck and distributed. The troops seemed anxious for a fight. Under instruction, they had shown a marked improvement, and now looked a serviceable lot, ready for any adventure. At the Destination. In the early dawn of Sunday, August 30, came the first glimpse of German Samoa. The American island at Tutuila was out of sight away to the right. The expedition rounded the south-eastern corner of the Island of Upoiu, with its beautiful fertile wooded hills wreathing their summits in the morning mists, and the white lino of surf breaking along its coral reef. At 5.30 a.m. the expedition was 35 miles distant from Apia and steaming along the coast at 11 knots. Tho Psyche moved slowly in towards Apia Harbour. The mine-sweepers were soon at work, the seamen promptly buoying the area swept with lines of buoys. ] Before 9 a.m. the Psyche went inshore, flying tho White Ensign and a flag of truce, and the warships were formed up in a semi-circle, the largest farthest out and keeping a keen watch. The whole of the naval and military operations in connection with the landing were planned with great care and thoroughness. There was good reason for this, as the expedition was in absolute ignorance of the act position in Samoa. The only known Samoan forces were 80 armed native police under an officer. There was. howover, a possibility that the harbour might have been mined and that marines and reservists and guns had been landed from some of the smaller German cruisers. The Landing. Tho progress of the little boat from the Psyche, steaming towards the shore with the ultimatum from the admiral under a hastily-improvised flag of truce, was anxiously watched. The boat landed and presently the signallers conveyed the information that in the absence of the Governor the deputy had stated that though he could not approve of the surrender, no resistance would be offered to the landing of an armed force.

Captain Marshall promptly made a signal to the troopships to steam to their anchorages. Motor-launches, motor-surf-boats and ship's boats were quickly launched, and the men began to pour over the ships' sides and down the rope ladders into the landing boats. In a remarkably brief space of time the covering party was on shore, officers and men dashing out of the boats up to the knee, and sometimes the waist, in water. Captain Ward and the other beach and boat officers did their work splendidly.

Seizing the Vantage Points. The main street, cross-roads, a.nd bridges were quickly in possession of our men, with their Maxims and rifles, and then, one after another, the motor-boats and launches began to tow strings of boats crammed with the men of the main body, towards the shore. The Jack Tars on the beach dragged them high and dry, and in a remarkably short time Apia was swarming with New Zealand troops.

Guards were placed about all the Government buildings, and Colonel Logan, with his staff, was quickly installed in the Government offices. Horses, traps, drays, and bicycles were promptly commandered and pressed into the services of the expedition. Cutting OS Communications. Captain Tottenham, in his capacity as provost marshal, seized the post office. Captain Fulton dashed off to the telephone exchange and pulled out all the plugs, so that, the residents could hold no intercommunication by that means. The Custom&house and the offices of the Governor were also seized without a moment's.loss of time. An armed party was also despatched along the bush roads to seize the wireless station, the tall latticed iron mast of which could be seen risking above the trees some three or four miles inland.

Late that evening the man in charge rang up to state that there was dynamite lying about, and that the engine had been tampered with to such an extent that wireless could not be used until the expedition got its own outfit into position.

GERMAN - MADE NEWS.

WHAT THE ISLANDERS READ.

THE KING" OF SAVAII.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Thursday.

When, on the morning of August 29, the smoke of the New Zealand fleet was seen in the far distance, the people of Samoa thought that the German ships were arriving. The British also thought it was the German fleet with the Navua and the Tofua captured as prizes of war. The sun was against the flags, which could not clearly be made out. Presently, through a telescope, the British Ensign and the tricolour were descried flying over the two largest ships of war, and in a little while the troopships with crowds of soldiers along their decks came clearly I into view.

The first inkling that tho British had of trouble was on a Sunday, when a race meeting was being held. The Governor hurriedly drove up oil to the course in his motor-car and called for the postmaster and the officer in charge of the recently-completed wireless station. The Governor, during the subsequent days, appeared to spend a very anxious time. He often waited for hours at the wireless station, day and night, and then returned to his residence at Vailima to work till far into the morning. He was very serious, and seemed to worry a good

deal. The New Zealand newspapers that came down by the last marl were seized, and the letters of British residents and tourists were opened. The American Consul's letters also had been opened.

Stories of German Successes.

Tho publication of the local paper which contained an English section was stopped and scarcely any news except that which was favourable to Germany was given out. In its place bulletins published in German and Samoan were issued by the authorities. Seme of these bulletins stated that the German soldiers had already landed in England and that German soldiers in their dirigibles were flying over London day by day. News of German successes and French and Belgian reverses were published. Quite early in the campaign came a message from Berlin stating that Liege had been taken at the point of the bayonet, that Brussels was in. flames, that Antwerp had been blown up, and that the Kaiser at the head of the army was ex peeled to reach Paris in a week. There was great rejoicing. Even in distant Samoa flags wore hoisted and there was a great consumption of lager beer. When the New Zealand troops landed tho Germans in Samoa faced the altered fjtuation calmly and bravely. There was not a single armed German on the beach when the landing took place. There were no garrison troops in Samoa. The Governor was absent at a meeting of Samoan chiefs. For two days the work of unloading the ships went merrily on, night and day, gangs of friendly Samoans giving splend'd service. The work was not unattended with risk. During the night one of the launches and a lighter got into the danger zone where the waves were breaking on the coral reef. Signals were made and a boat from ono of the warships got the motor-launch off but the lighter, with some 15 tons of provisions and equipment, was wrecked on the reef. Next day another boat and lighter had a narrow escape, when there might easily have been loss of life. A Genial Irishman. Everybody in Samoa knows that ''Vil- j liami," the "King" of Savaii, is R. Williams. He is a man of about 55 or 57 and has spent the greater part of! his life in Samoa. For several years he has acted for the Germans as a sort of sub-Governor in Savaii, and he is the only Britisher who has been put on the pension list of the German Government. His geniality and bis ready Irish wit make him a delightful companion, and many are the good stories told about him. Colonel Logan was not long in seeking an introduction to Williams. " I have heard of you as a king,' said the colonel, as he shook hands with the genial Irishman. Yes, said Williams, simulating an air of solemnity, "Yes, colonel, a king without a kingdom." The reference, of course, was to the fact that upon the outbreak of war the German Government couid no longer continue Williams, a British subject, in his official position in Savaii. The colonel and the "king" walked upstairs into the former's room in the Government offices, and in a little while Williams was crowned " king" of Savaii. Colonel Logan was most fortunate in obtaining the services of such a man. So far as the attitude of the natives of Savaii is concerned it makes the position quite secure.

A STEAMER STOPPED.

SHOT OVER HER BOWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION".]

Dotedix, Thursday.

When the oversea steamer Invertay was entering the harbour this morning she was brought to a standstill by a shot across her bow? from the heads battery. A misunderstanding in respect to the signal flags is said to have been the cause. The error having been rectified, she was allowed to proceed.