New Guinea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 34, 26 September 1914, Page 5

New Guinea

HOISTING THE FLAG.

KAISER WILHELM’S LAND

SURRENDERS.

[Bt Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 11.10 a.m.) Melbourne, Sept. 26. . It is officially announced that the Australian troops occupied Kaiser‘Wilhelm Land on the 24t h without opposition, and the British Flag was hoisted. The principal officers of the German administration were absent,’ but four officers and thirteen others surrendered and subscribed to the oath of neutrality. These officials will be temporarily engaged, j;o assist in the administration. The others are planters, missionaries, and business men.

Forty German fighting men left a fortnight ago for the purpose of reinforcing the. German troops in New Britain, hut arrived after its capitulation. They are now prisoners at Simpsonhaven.

The health of our troops is excellent.

The message was delayed by the censor.

/ (Kaiser Wilhelm’s Land.—The German portion of New Guinea, lying to • the north of the British territory. Its area, with Long Island, Dainpier Island, etc., is about 70,000 square miles, and the population 110,000, includ’ng 720 Europeans. Capital, Erie !ricl; Wilhelmshafen. Tobacco, cotton, col fee, and the coco-palm are cultivated with much success and there are rich forests.

(New Britain.—One of the islands i the Bismarck Archipelago, the island being situated north of the ea iten part of New Guinea. The archipelago has belonged to Germany since 138-1.1