DAMAGE AT PAPEETE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15747, 23 October 1914, Page 6

DAMAGE AT PAPEETE.

RECENT BOMBARDMENT.

NEWS BROUGHT BY TALUNE.

LOSS OF OVER £100,000.

GERMANS FORCED TO CLEAR

DEBRIS,

The damage done at Papeete, as the result of its bombardment on September 22 by the German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau is computed by the French authorities on the island at between £100,000 and £125,000. Passengers by the steamer Talune, which arrived yesterday morning from the. Eastern Pacific Islands, including Papeete, had an excellent opportunity whilst there of viewing the ruined portion of the town, and a Herald representative obtained from them some interesting particulars.

One of the passengers was Mr. B. H. Turner, representative of the firm of E. j Turner ana Sons, of Auckland, who proceeded to the islands by the Talune on her last trip from this port. The steamer arrived at Papeete on October 9, a week Inter than schedule time, and about two and a half weeks after the bombardment. On going ashore, Mr. Turner said, he found the principal tlamago had been caused by lire following upon the bombardment by Bin shells. The worst destruction was wrought over an area of about 200 square yards, where the chief business portion of the town formerly stood. This was utterly demolished. The premises of Messrs. A. B. Donald, of Auckland, had suffered severely, the whole of the rear portion having been burned down, with its valuable contents of clothing, general stores, timber, etc. Directly behind 'Messrs. Donald's building a freezer, an hotel, and several shops were burned down. The latter were mostly drapery establishments, where valuable goods were stocked, including quantities of silk. In Papeete, Mr. Turner pointed out, the population dress well, not at all in the native style, but after the Parisian fashion. Hence the stocks carried would necessary comprise anything but tawdry goods. Market Almost Completely Ruined. cross the street from the demolished business-block Mr. Turner saw the ruins of the market, only a small portion of which was left standing. Between the market site and the seafront stood the club-house, and the only damage this had sustained was by the passage of a shell through one corner of the building, the hack of which was partially blown out. This particular shell started the fire in the Chinese quarter. A strange fact noted by Mr. Turner was that the premises of a German firm next door to Messrs. A. B. Donald's establishment and only about 20yds away, were untouched either by shells or by fire. The wharf and sheds were very little damaged, with the exception of some holes in the roof of the latter. Ornamental trees in the main street suffered considerably by fire and some by shells. One tree, 18in thick, near the market, was cut in two by a shell. Pieces of the German shells were afterwards in great demand as souvenirs, their possessors selling them at two pieces for ss. Perspiring German Eesidents. When the Talune was in port at Papeete the debris was being cleared away rapidly. The work was being carried out tinder pressure by the Germans of the town, all of whom had been made prisoners and were forced to labour in clearing away the signs of destruction brought about by their own cruisers. The Germans were showing much resentment at being; compelled to do this arduous work, said Mr. Turner. They were kept at it, however, under a guard of sailors from the sunken Zelee. The } natives and many of the whites were much unset by the' bombardment. Several scattered at the first shot and made for the hills, and some had not returned I when the Talune left. No little apprehen--1 sion was felt by the population of the town at. the possibility of a further visit I from the Germans. The 2000 tons of I coal blockettes, believed to have been ' the objective of the Germans' call, and which the French set on fire, were still burning when the steamer sailed for i Auckland. Industry had been partially ! paralysed, but was resuming the normal again, though there were some traders j who suffered financially. Mr. Turner I added that the French are now erecting a wireless station at Papeete. Safp Return of French Vessel. According to the narrative of Mr. H. Hemus, of the firm of Messrs. A. B. Donald, who also went to Papeete and returned by the Talune, the town did not appear to have been deliberately shelled by the Germans, nearly all tho damage having been done on the line of the French' forts and of the gunboat Zelee. His firm's premises had suffered solely from fire, no shells having taken effect -upon them. The front portion escaped altogether. The French boat St. Francis, which left to give the alarm at Apia, had returned safely when the Talune sailed. Mr. Hemus stated further that ho found that several of the inhabitants had packed up since the bombardment ready for flight in case of another alarm. From other passengers it was learned that reports were in circulation in Papeete that the two German cruisers were at Bora Bora prior to the attack on Papeete, where they were said to have obtained considerable supplies of provisions and to have bought several head of cattle for Enclish gold. It was also rumoured that a French official had divulged information to the Germans regarding tho fortifications of Papeete. 1 PRISONERS FROM SAMOA. BEING SENT TO AUCKLAND. TO GO TO MOTL'IHI. [by telegraph.—special COHRKSFONDEXT.] Welm.vuto.v, Thursday. The ex-Deputy Governor of Samoa, Herr Terklenburg. and a party of six, together with two of their wives, were transferred from Somes Island this morning and placed on board the Main Trunk train for Auckland. Upon arrival in the Northern city, they will be taken to ' Motumi Island, where they will be interned during the period of the war. It is understood that the remainder of the German Samoan prisoners on Somes Island, numbering some 20 persons, wilt also be transferred to Auckland during the course of the next few days. There are at present 50 German prisoners of war from Samoa in New Zealand, of whom three, including the ex-Governor of the island, Dr. Sehulz. are already in Auckj land. MANUFACTURE OF KHAKI. NO OPEN ORDER GIVEN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—r-KESS ASSOCIATION'. Weluxctov. Thursday. With reference to an Auckland telegram stating that a communication had been addressed to ten woollen mills in New Zealand, asking them to inform the Minister for Defence how much khaki they could supply to meet the requirements of the New Zealand Government and the Imperial authorities, the Defence authorities state- that ten mills in the Dominion were asked confidentially to give quantities and cost of the khaki thev could manufacture for the Imperial and New Zealand Governments if required. No open order has been given.