The Surrender of Samoa.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 17, 7 September 1914, Page 5

The Surrender of Samoa.

RETURN OF THE MOERAKI TO WELLINGTON. 11 PH if, ~ ■. >: - ■■■:.)!■ ; ifc '..si .a i ; ■i: .. (. .;i I ■ : n;i' INCIDENTS OF THE TRIP ACROSS TO APIA. '■ ’ 1 :/ 1 doomi ;

[Peb Press Association.]

Wellington, September 7

The Moeraki, No. 1 transport, of the. Jlew Zealand Expeditionary Force, arrived hack in Wellington Harbor from Samoa at G. 30 this morning, in charge of Commanders Ward; and Steward, with 21 invalided Territorials, and - fifteen..of H.MjSj Sealark’s Company. ' ' 1 , G’b-

Sergeant Blackmore, in ilie course of a statement to u representative of the Press, Association, stated , that with the exception of two days, they had good weather during, • the whole of their trip. First of all, they called at Now Caledonia, then went on to Suva, aitd finally to Samoa. At New Caledonia the troops were landed, and a march inland extending over some six miles was made... 'The French v people were wildly enthusiastic, and sang “The Marseillaise” and “God Save the King.” In the evening, the French people held a patriotic concert on the wharf, which was attended by a very large crowd, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Sergeant Blackmore declared he had never seen anything like it in his life. , At the conclusion of the concert, the boats were anchored in the stream, and they sailed for Suva next morning. They reached Suva on Sunday morning, and brought aboard a number of Samoan residents and H.M.S. Sealark’s ship company. The transports left at 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning for Samoa, which was reached on the 29th August. v

H.M.S. Psyche went into Apia and the transports were landed at twelve o’clock. The Sealark’s company worked all night landing the baggage and equipment of the men from the Moeraki. In the morning the Moeraki left for Wellington convoyed by H.M.S. Psyche, but the convoy was dropped at six o’clock next evening and came on by herself, arriving at 6.30 this morning. ♦

H.M.S. Psyche, under a while flag, entered Apia at 9 a.m. and demanded their surrender. Captain Marshall could not find the Governor, but the representatives in power would not surrender. .Eventually they found the Governor in the wireless station, and landed troops and formally annexed the town, and Colonel Logan took command. Tho Monowai took the Governor to Suva the same night.

Not a shot was fired. The natives seem decidedly favorable. The British transports were convoyed hy H.M.S. Psyche, Philomel, and Pyramus, and at Noumea were met hy H.M.S. Australia and Melbourne and the French ship Montcalm. The men landed all in good spirits and appeared to have suffered no particular hardship, except the difficulty during the early days of getting their proper meals.