IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2261, 22 September 1914, Page 5

IN THE PACIFIC

GERMAN CRUISERS AT SAMOA AUSTRALIAN FLEET'S DOINGS Sydney, September 21. Further news of the operations of the Australian fleet reached Sydney to-day. It states that the wireless station at Nauru, mid-way between the Gorman Solomon Islands and tho Marshall Islands, was destroyed, and' the two German civilian operators made prisoners and brought to Sydney. • At Apia, Samoa, a week ago, shots were exchanged between a portion of tho German Pacific fleet and the British troops. Very little damage was done. At Rabaul, in German New Guinea, . tho natives were reported to be troublesome, and there were several conflicts' with the Expeditionary Forco stationed there. Mines were laid round Rabaul. Duruig,"'the l: fighting on the 13th,, natives of Now Britain, under German officers, fought like maniacs, rushing right up to the Australians' firing lino. They showed no signs of fear. When the Australian ships took possession of Herbertshohe, in German New Guinea, the enemy used jagged bayonets, and" also, it is alleged, used dum-dums. The body of LieutenantOoramander Elwell bore a hole large enough to admit a coconut, caused by a jagged bayonet. The wireless station at the Carolino .Islands was destroyed. It is_ stated that the Germans now have no installations iii the Pacific. The whereabouts of the enemy's cruisers, Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Nuremburg, Leipzig, and the gunboat Geier are Known to the fleet, messages having been continually interrupted, ltis expected that shortly they will.be in dire straits, owing to lack of coal. Suva is thoroughly trenched, in the expectation of a siege. Every effort will be made to save the wireless station. In connection with the loss of the submarine AE 1, it is believed she struck a reef. SUBMARINE CASUALTY LIST. Melbourne, September 21. The latest list of the crew of the lost submarine confirms the report that Lieutenant Scarlett replaced Lieutenant Moore. A DENIAL. The Pririie Minister informed a reporter yesterday that the statement that shots had been exchanged between German warships arid the British garrison at Samoa wa3 not correct. Wireless communication with Samoa has been established, and the Government have presumably been advised officially of doings at Samoa. The Prime Minister said he was in a position to say that the cable news was not true, but he would not enlarge upoff that 'statement.