OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2280, 14 October 1914, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA

TAKING OF THE CAPITAL Sydney, October 13. : Further reports of the operations of the Now Guinea expedition- show that the Force, including an Anglo-Frenoh. naval contingent and half a. battalion , of the Australian military contingent, reached the capital of Freidrich Wil- *. helmshaven on the mornuig of September 25, and demanded, its surrender by noon, under threat of bombardment. No attempt had been made at defence, and no resistance was offered. After a little parleying the capital surrendered unconditionally, a force landed, the German flag was hauled down, and the Union Jack hoisted . A wireless plant' was taken, ashore and means thus secured of keeping in touch, with the outside world. One correspondent estimates the population at two hundred whites and five hundred mixed coloured nationalities, . besides aborigines. The latter showed; gladness to see the visitors and readily assisted- in ' the landing of stores. Reports from Rabaul, the capital of New Britain, to September 27, indicate that parties visited Toma, where Germans had established the capital after tbo capture of Rabaul, and seoured and brought in stores collected .at the various bases and numbers of prisoners. This concluded, the general surrender was signed by Dr. Hader, Acting-Gov-ernor. The work of penetrating the interior was rough and tedious, but everything passed off peaceably. ■ . ..- ■.■■:.,^ .. ~. Besides quantities of arms and ammunition and general stores 480,000 marks (£23,500) iji specie, buried in, chests, was unearthed. In one place a com- .' .pany were pleasantly surprised when informed that the tent where they slopt was pitched over forty cases of. bullion, which was duly secured. PRISONERS AT SYDNEY: ■■•'-• (Rec. October 13,• 9.35 p.m.) - . ■ , Sydney, October 18. Among the prisoners taken" at New. . Guinea and brought to Sydney are Herr Berghausen, formerly Deputy-Commis-sioner, and Herr Tulkie, late Burgomaster of Rabaul.