GERMANY AND THE PACIFIC.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13995, 27 January 1916, Page 3

GERMANY AND THE PACIFIC.

ACTIVITIES BEFOEE THE WAR

DESIGNS UPON TAHITI

ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE ISLAND

; I /Evidence accumulates of1 the plans to j secure German domination in tho South j Pacific that lad been assiduously in preparation by the German Government for yea»*s before it entered upon the war, says the "Melbourne Age." A statement supplied by'a gentleman with business connections in tho South jSea Islands, and at present in Melbourne, shows how, in 1908, German agents wer© at work in Tahiti, oaten--sibly for trading purposes, but really in pursuance oi a commission from the German War Office. .Tahiti," "the paradise of the Pacific," commands tho ocean route between Australasia and America via the Panama Canal, and its importance as a naval base is fully recognised by all authorities. In January, 1844, Captain Bruat landed a strong force, pulled down Queen Tomare's standard, and hoisted the French flag; .but it was not until 1880 that King Tomare finally renounced in favour of. Franco all authority over the Society Islands, which are now tho principal French colony in the Eastern Pacific, with Tahiti as its contrc. Trading under a French name, a German company aroused the suspicions of the French inhabitants by its remarkable activity in acquiring land at the chief harbours of Tahiti. About tho same time there came over from Samoa Herr Schultz, an officer of the German Government. He was said to be on n shoi't visit, for the benefit of his health, but he slaved.six months. Together with ono Herr Coppenwrath, he. became mixed up ir. the land-purchasing scheme. '

So strong Was the. suspicion aroused in tho minds of French and British residents that th'o gentleman wh6 furnished these particulars—ha was then in business in Tahiti —went to London and interviewed the late Lord Jersey, ox-Governor of New South Wales, with whom lie was well acquainted, and asked him to make representations io the Colonial Office. This Lord Jersey did, and a Noto was sent to Fnance giviug information of the German attitude in the Society Group and calling attention to the belief held in Tahiti that Germany intended to acquire tho island by purchase or exchange if possible, but in ;anv case to acquire it. The reply received from France was that no proposal for the, cession of Tahiti would be entertained.

The death of Herr Coppenwrath resulted in important disclosures. Documents which he liad held revealed the fact that the German land-jobbers bad iti their minds neither copra nor mother of pearl, bat, noting on behalf of the German Government, were-, as fast as opportunity could be found, acquiring the 'slar.d by bits, and particularly those sites niost -valuable from the naval and military viewpoint. ■ The discover}' of the plot was timely

When the Gorman cruisers Soharnhorst and Gniesenau were touring the Pacific after the declaration of war. and managing to keep out of range of H'.M A.S. Australia's guns, they, ; one day appeared at Tahiti and bombarded Papeete, the chief town of the island. By way >of 'reprisal the French author i - tdes deported several leading Goranan traders, and other - Germans they interned and set to work repairing" tho damage done by the bombardihent. Tho fate which the two cruisers met soon after is weii known, and luckily the Pacific is now rid of the German menace.