ANNEXING OF SAMOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16188, 25 September 1914, Page 8

ANNEXING OF SAMOA

NOTES FROM AN OFFICER'S DIARY. BIG MOSQUITOES. Below wo give an extract from the diary of an officer who accompanied the Samoa expedition. It was forwarded to a friend, and is dat-ed September 1 : — We left Suva, Fiji, on August 26 amidst pouring rain. We crossed the IBoth meridian the same day, and consequently to get in line with eastern time we lost a day, or, rather, we had two Thursdays, and bur time is now 22 hours behind yours. We arrived off Apia about 8.30 a.m. on August 29, but found the German warships had cleared out and the German still flying. The Psyche sent in a pinnace with, a flag of truce. It was found that the Governor, was in the country, and the Deputy Governor declined in his absence to surrender. He, however, said the authorities would not attempt to oppose a landing by a large force. Accordingly the order was given to disembark, which was done in the ships' boats without accident—though we nearly had a serious one—notwithstanding the fact that a heavy sea was running. We landed and hoisted the "Jack," hauling down the German flag on the courthouse, and we proceeded to bivouac for the night in a large picture theatre with a lot of ground around it. Mosquitos by the million—so no sleep that night. Our only regret was that we had taken the most valuable and important outpost in the Pacific without having fired a shot. The Germans are " funks," for they could have given us a hot time if they had liked, and could have played the dickens with our landing parties. The Sam'oans were undisguised in their pleasure at seeing the "English" arrive, and tile few Britishers and Americans simply went mad with delight. It, appeared that the Germans had been giving them a bad time, and the natives had got to hear of it. The result was that the natives informed the Governor that if any Englishman was maltreated they would rise and kill every German, in the place. Sunday, August 30, will long live in my memory as —up to now—one of the greatest events in my life, at any rate. At 8.30 a.m.," all the troops, under Colonel Logan. with a party of bluejackets, formed up in hollow square in frqnt of the courthouse. New halyards had been rigged cn the flagpole, and a few minutes after 8.30, to a "Royal salute: Present arms," and'" the thunder of all the guns from the six warships and the band playing "God save the King," the Union Jack was hoisted slowly up to the truck by a midshipman. The proclamation formally annexing Samoa was read in a clear, loud voice by Colonel Logan, after which head-dresses were removed and three lusty cheers were given for his Majesty King George the Fifth, and the National Anthem was sung, more solemnly than I have, ever heard. The ceremony was terribly impressive, and when the "Jack" was being hoisted most of those present—including myself— were deeply moved. My eyes were more than moist, and 1 am not ashamed of lilt was a relief almost' when the command to re-form column of route was given. I met several Englishmen .during the morning, and had lunch with a highlyrespected American (Mr Moore), whose building we are occupying, and I had several strange dishes—all of which I enjoyed. The natives brought us beans of cocoanuts and bananas, breadfruits, pawpaws, etc. Yesterday we. were more or less settling down to routine work. Last evening at 11 we received information that four of the enemy's ships had been reported as near Samoa. (Our warships left here with the Monowai and Moeraki on Sunday night.) I, with others, went out and reconnoitred our position and I selected our gun positions, and at 3.45 this morning we moved out and entrenched ourselves ready for trouble. Every man was in readiness at daybreak, but to our disappointment no Germans came in sight. It was a source of wonderment to the Samoans to see us, when they woke up, all entrenched. They could not understand how we had done it so ouietly and quickly. Apia is a very beautiful place—very hot in the sun, but always a cool breeze blowing. Cocoa, cocoanuts, limes, lemons, breadfruit, and pineapples grow everywhere in abundance, *.nd the lanes—they can't be called streets—wind in and out amidst palms and gorgeous hibiscus and other flowers. It is a perfect fairyland. Two rivers with lovely swift-flowing waters run through fche village into the sea, and the water is beautifully cold. From where I #m writing 1 can see R„ L. Stevenson's tomb, about 700 ft up the high hill which overlooks Apia Harbour, and I hope to climb, up and see it. The mosauitors are the " fly in the ointment,'' and they do bite some, I can tell you. Mee's mosquito lotion is like so much water, and useless here—it only encourages them, and they are so big* they pull the cocoanuts off tlie trees. Saturday, 4—9—12. We shifted camp yesterdav to the Apia Racecourse, and we are certainly better off than we were. I have my old bivouac rigged up under 5 i very nice lime tree, and the great advantage is that I am bv myself.