New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 274, 17 November 1914, Page 3

New Zealand

FANNING ISLAND GABLE, Per Press (Association. 'Auckland, November 16. The damage done to cables and equipment at the Pacific Cable Boaid s station on Fanning -Island on the morning of September 8 has been repaired, and ' communication is now being maintained as usual between Australasia and Canada. Repairs were completed nearly a fortnight ago, traffic being resumed as usual on the morning of November oth, but in Older to protect the repair steamer Iris, the secretary of the Post Office made a request that no announcements should be published until sufficient time had elapsed to enable the movements of the Iris to be kept secret. When the cables were cut ten weeks ago warning messages that were received by Suva and Bamfield Creek stations explained that interruption, was due to a raid by the German cruiser Nurnberg. No information could then be gained regarding the extent of the damage, and: arrangements were, therefore, made on the presumption that the whole equipment of the station would have to be replaced. Preparations for restoration of the cable were made in Auckland by Mr John Milward, manager in the Pacific for the Cable 1 Board’ and at 7 a.m. on October 7 the Iris left Auckland? with' all the necessary instruments, and , also material for this construction of temporary buildings. In the meantime the staff at Fanning Island had effected temporary repairs to the Suva , cable, and on September 23 furnished a report of the raid, and of the damage that had been done. Communication .between Suva and Fanning Island has been maintained since that time, hut as the cable to Canada had been cat" in deep water, attempts to restore it. had to be abandoned. Leaving Suva at 5 p.m. on October 18th, the Iris arrived at Fanning Island at daybreak on October 26, hut the weather was very rough, and repairs were not commenced till four days later. When the sea moderated the broken ends of the cables were recovered, and permanent repairs were completed. The damaged instruments were then replaced by spare ones taken from Auckland and Suva, and i the work was resumed At 7.15 a.m. on November 6/ >''■■■ ■' • ' ■ ■

f On her return voyage the Iris reached Suva at 'll/a.irr. 3 div Saturday, the, trip both Pays ’having been uneventful. ■■»; - Several amounts of German cruisers’ visits id Fanning Island have been published, and' additional particulars have lieen obtained; since the cable was J repaired. According to an account given by the staff, the raid was made by two boats’ crews, the men being fully armedp while machine guns,, were,r, mounted in t}ie bows of the boats. Some members of the staff mot the boats as they touched the beach, and' as the Nurnberg and her cpmpaujpu collier had both flown the -French,-flag, they were greatly surprised when they were covered with revolvers, and informed' ibex were prisoners of the Germans. The German officers, hurried 'to the office, and ordered; the operators to cease ’sending messages, threatening to shoot anyone who disobeyed. They then' proceeded -to destroy the instruments, and seized all code homes private documents, and • the papers belonging to the High Commissioner's Office. Meantime the men who had remained with the boats destroyed the cables with charges of dynamite, while others dynamited the refrigerating and electric lighting plant, end cut down the* flagstaff, apparently thinking, that .they were used as wireless telegraph-, apparatus. No restraint was placed on the 1 staff .when it was apparent that no resistance would be offered,- and the Germa n even expressed ■ regret that it should have been their duty to disturb- the island, and do so much damage: They stated it had been intended to .le stroy the Cable Co.’s offices, but owing to the proximity of private dwellings, and the certainty of damaging them if explosives were us-id. they decided not to interfere with the building.

After shaking hands with member? of the staff, the Germans withdrew, hut evidently, having learned from the documents that one of the precautions to he taken on the island should war break out, was to bury All spare instruments and other valuables, the party returned, and a demand was made that all buried property should he surrendered* and the stoff was compelled to hand over all spare instruments, 25 rifles, 20,000 rounds of ammunition, £7500 in gold! and £35 worth of r stamps. The Germans then made their final departure, having given a promise that they would not return. PRO-CERMANS IN DUNEDIN. Dunedin, November 16. A deputation of representatives of the Dunedin Municipal Association waited upon the Hon. James Allen •to-night regarding the presence rtf pro. Germans in the community. Mr J. C. Connor (president of the Association) was the-chief spokesman. He remarked that there was a feeling of unrest regarding those of German nationality, and suggested that the Government and local authorities should remove them from positions .where they could gain information which they might supply to the enemy.

Mr Hutton referred to the case of the Gorman Consul, who was a naturalised British subject, and had re-

signed. He thought something should be done with regard even to naturalised GerniUnS. He favored also the confiscation of German capital invested here, which would be following the example set by Germany in France and Belgium. Mr Maitland suggested that one difficulty might he met by compelling naturalised Germans to submit to a reobligation test.

In reply, the Minister said the policfe and military authorities were always on the watch. He would be glad if anyone with anything definite to report would lay the matter before/him as early as possible. Rumor and speculation were not o. much value! As for the'Consuls, the German Government had appointed someone already here, perhaps a Britisher, and it would be absurd to arrest such when he had resigned. The Consuls had given up their documents, and were being watched. As for seizing German property, it was hard, ly right to deal with it at the time of i war, because the difficulties could not he permanently settled. If a case could he found of a German or naturalised German who was disloyal, and it could he brought under the notice of the authorities, they would take action. As to Mr' Maitland’s suggestion, what would be the use of - people taking a second oath when they had been unfaithful to their first? If any case -of disloyalty were shown to exist", steps would he taken. Mr Maitland; There will he plenty. Hon. Allen: Then let us have par-, ticulars of them.