THE N.Z. TROOPS AT SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2245, 3 September 1914, Page 6

THE N.Z. TROOPS AT SAMOA

HOISTING THE FLAG GERMAN GOVERNOR A PRISONER NEV/S FROM THE OFFICERS. The following telegrams have been received by. His Excellency the Governor from the officers commanding tho naval and military forces comprising the Samoa expedition:— From Commander Marshall, Senior Naval Officer:— "Beg to thank Your Excellency for kind message, which I have communicated to all concerned." "Expedition arrived Apia August 29, Western time. In view of the overwhelming force, the Governor had no choice but to give in without opposition. Landing of the troops commenced about one o'clock p.m., and was carried out with great expedition, reflecting great credit on the population concerned. British flag was hoisted on shore 12.30 p.m. Colonel- Logan took over from the German authorities at 2.30 p.m. At 8 a.m. on August 30, the Union Jack brought from. Now Zealand was officially hoisted, and tho proclamation was read in the presence- of naval and military officers, native chiefs, and local residents. A salute of 21 guns was fired by H.M.S. Psycho. The German Governor- was sent with the prisoners to Suva. The German wireless station is at present hors de combat, but it is expected to be in use shortly. The completion of installation taken from New Zealand is expected to-morrow. The new Administrator, Colonel Logan, visited H.M.S. Psycho, and received a salute of thirteen guns." From Colonel Logan— "I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the expedition : under my command occupied the town of Apia, August 31, with the assist- , ance of the ships of tho allied fleet. The Governor of Samoa has' surrendered himself to mo, and is being sent with' the prisoners to Fiji. I . am glad. to be able to' inform Your ; Excellency ; that there was no opposition, that there ha'vo been no . serious casualties since the Expedition started, and that the health of tho troops is excellent." POSTAGE RATE REDUCED. The Postmaeter-General has announced that the letter postage to Samoa is now one penny per ounce, which is the usual rate to a British possession. Formerly the postage to Samoa was 2£d. for the first ounce, and ljd. for every additional ounce. CALL AT NOUMEA A RIGHT ROYAL RECEPTION GREAT DEMONSTRATION. (By Telegraph.-SpecioJ Correspondent.) Auckland, September I. lire Dominion's currosponuent »t Noumea writes as follows:— . Wednesday, August 20*1914, will long bo romembered, at .i\ew Olleclonia as Uie first rendezvous for the Allied Meets ox the French and Jinglish navies m the So-ut'h Pacific. A supposed rupture of the cable to Bundaburg tor two or three (lays had - kept tho population in tho dark, aiid on a very kueu vensiou, which was relieved by the wireless- telegraphy of a mail- steamer in the harbour to tne effect that on the morrow a number of French and British warships would arrive. . . . In tho lovely earlv morning the semaphore signalled the vosseis, which were accompanied by two steamers. - These latter were at first supposed to bo prizes, but it soon transpired that they were the transports. Moeraki and Monowai from ■ New Zealand, with, tho advance guard of that Dominion's Expeditionary Force. The transports came alongside the wharf at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, to vhe. intense delight of the townspople, as well as of those on board. It was a rightdown royal reception. The band played "God Save the lling," and "The Marseillaise/ , followed by the singing of "Rale Britannia." The scene was a striking example of the strength of the Entente. Cordiale —a . veritable joining of "hands across the sea.". The demonstration was continued with little or no intermission until the bugle sounded "to bed." Orders (necessary no doubt) were riven that no visitors were to he allowed on the transports, and not a single case of leave was granted. After the Noumean dinner liour (8 o'clock), the town band serenaded the visitors 1 to their hearts' ooritent.. This was interspersed with the singing of "The Marseillaise" and- "God Save the King,", with many repetitions. The Rus-' sian National was not so freely indulged in, hut was replaced by "Vive, La France, "Vive Republique," "Vivo "l'Angleterre," "Vive P Anglais," "Vivo la New Zelandaie," "Vive la Russia," and "Vivo la Belgique." A March Out anda Warm Welcome. On Friday morning, at '9.30, the contingent was landed, and. treated to a march, out of five miles or so, headed by their band, and followed by\as motley a congregation as could, bo found in this Hemisphere. This march out created a great sensation. A detachment, who liad remained on board in the morning, on guard were sent on the inarch during the afternoon, led by the "infanterix de marine," the local garrison. ■ The town was en fete, and all the commercial houses were closed. Tho up-to-date uniform and tho practical appearance of the visitors elicited compliments from every side. The New Zealauders indeed scored "a win." Demonstration at the Port. During the afternoon a continuous reception was held from the deck to the wharf, all along the lino. Peoplo of every grade of society fired orangevs, lemons, , coconuts, chocolates, __ biscuits (in paper bags), cigarettes, postcards, and every, littlo luxury that an hospitable people could suggest were heaped without , stint on tho "distingue Anglais. 1, There-were also many who delivered littlo packets at the gangway after -1 o'clock. All the ladies and, families for miles, around swelled the joyous crowd, among whom could bo seen little parties making rosettes of small tri-colour ribbon and passing them along to the men on the end of their 6unshadcs. This part of the programme was gracefully led by tho wife of tho consul for Belgium, who also addressed tho soldiers in their own language. When the struggling winner of theso losefctos had safely stuck it in his buttonhole he would invariably waft a, kiss to the donor. Of courso this dTeadful familiarity of "les Anglais" had rover been seen before, and tho ladies made great objection to it, or protended to do so for form's sake. During the demonstration a lady was heard to remark, "Oh! Le charmant sans geno do cos Anglais." ("Oh! -Tho charming coolness of these Englishmen I") Good nature beamed on overy face till about six o'clock and nightfall, when a smart tropical shower fell and caused tho crowd to quickly disperse After the rainfall ceased the demonstrations continued. Departure of the Troops. At daybreak on Saturday morning the troopship loft tho wharf. Despite the early hour, a considerable number of people wero astir to see thorn do

part. "Ploaso say that wo are. all nappy," said one of tlio New Zealanders to the writer on learning of the lattor's intention, to forward this letter to The Dominion. Tho Monowai, in going out, took a. short cut across the harbour, and ran on a sandbank. Sho remained there until 8.30 in tho evening, . when she was floated off, and the transports sailed finally on the Sunday.