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No. 12. The Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State. (Received 21st October, 191.4.) (Extract.) Government House, Sir, Dominion of New Zealand, Wellington, 16th September, .1.914. 1 have, the honour, to transmit to you copies of two despatches and enclosures from Colonel Logan, Acting Administrator of Samoa, for your personal inspection. 2. My Government are dealing with all the matters referred to in the despatches. 3. Since these two despatches were written I have received telegrams from Colonel Logan informing me that he desired to replace all the German officials. 4. The New Zealand Government propose filling all offices with capable Civil servants, and will pay them from here, pending arrangement at the time of settlement with the Imperial Government. 5. My Government have duly taken note of the fact that, in Colonel Logan's opinion, the administration can be efficiently undertaken with a smaller staff than was the case under German occupation. I have, &c, Liverpool, Governor.
Enclosure I in No. 12. (Despatch No. I.) Your Excellency,— Government House, Apia, Samoa, 2nd September, 1914. I have the honour to report that the Forces under my command, having embarked on H.M. Transports No. 1 (" Moeraki ") and No. 2 (" Monowai ") on the 14th August, 1914, at Wellington, sailed from that port at daybreak on. the following morning. We were met at the previously arranged rendezvous by H.M. ships " Psyche," " Philomel," and " Pyramus "at 4 p.m. on the 16th August. On this and the following nights no lights were shown. Throughout the voyage musketry and other exercises were carried out by the troops. On the 20th August the convoy arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, at 11 a.m., and there met the French cruiser "Montcalm." During the day I, with my Staff Officer, attended a joint naval and military conference on board H.M.S. " Philomel." On the 21st August H.M.A. ships L ' Australia " and " Melbourne," with. Rear-Admiral Sir George E. Patey in command, arrived in port, and, under instructions from the Rear-Admiral, I attended on board the flagship and received operation orders (provisional) for the attack upon Samoa. In the afternoon 1 paid an official visit to His Excellency the Governor of New Caledonia. The troops were, with the permission of His Excellency, exercised on shore, and everywhere met with a most cordial reception. On the morning of the 22nd August, while the transports were moving out into the stream, Transport No. 2 drifted on to a sandbank, from which she was only refloated at 8.30 p.m., after her cargo had been lightered and the troops temporarily disembarked. On the 23rd August the allied fleets and transports sailed for Suva, Fiji, arriving at that port during the morning of the 26th August, on which date I accompanied the Rear-Admiral on an official visit to His Excellency the Governor of Fiji, later attending a conference on board H.M.A.S. " Australia." At the request of His Excellency the Governor of Fiji I enrolled one officer of the Fiji Constabulary as German Interpreter, and also four members of the Fiji Rifle Association and six members of the Legion of Frontiersmen as privates in the 3rd Auckland Regiment. There were also embarked one officer and nineteen men from H.M.S. " Sealark," one naval signaller Royal Naval Reserve, one nursing sister, and fourteen Natives of Samoa these latter to be dispersed throughout the islands in order to explain our intentions. lam much indebted to the Rev. Father Fox, of Suva, for bringing me into touch with the Samoans above referred to. On the 27th August the allied fleets and transports sailed from Suva, Fiji, in the afternoon, and arrived at Apia at daybreak on the 30th (Eastern time). In response to an ultimatum conveyed under a flag of truce from H.M.S. " Psyche," the Deputy Governor replied that although, in the temporary absence of His Excellency the Governor of Samoa, he would not accept the responsibility of surrendering, no opposition would be offered to the landing of the armed Forces. The troops were thereupon disombarked under cover of the guns of the allied fleets in manner previously detailed in orders ; the disembarkation was carried out without casualty. All Government buildings were immediately seized and Government officials and police placed under arrest. I established my headquarters at the Government Buildings at 4 p.m., received His Excellency the Governor of Samoa, and informed him that I regretted that 1 must place him under arrest. On this date I received from the European residents in Samoa the attached memorial [sub-enclosure I]. On the following day, the 31st August (Eastern time), at 8 a.m., the British flag was formally hoisted on the Government Buildings in the presence of the officers of the New Zealand Division Royal Navy, the troops, and the leading Native chiefs. At this ceremony I read a Proclamation, copies of which in English, German, and Samoan, I enclose herewith for Your Excellency's perusal [subenclosure 2]. I conferred with the Native chiefs, whose attitude towards us is extremely friendly, and I am informed from reliable sources that the vast majority of the Natives are in sympathy with the British occupation of Samoa. I also conferred with the German heads of department and their subordinates, and, as they have given their parole to do nothing inimical to British interests and to carry out their duties loyally, I have retained them, with two exceptions, in their respective offices at the same salaries as they were previously receiving.
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