Second Edition. Fiji in War Time.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 9, 28 August 1914, Page 6

Second Edition. Fiji in War Time.

CUT OFF FROM THE 'WORLD. The Suva correspondent of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, under date the 12th inst., writes: —Great Britain s dramatic war declaration has metamorphosed the little island capital. Gone for the time is its old Sabbatarian quiet, for amateur soldiery holds the place in a tight grip. Streets and sidewalks resound to the martial tread of armed men—and hoys, as even the young cadets have been called out on active service, and ruffle their way as bravely as their seniors. The little force is under the command of Mr Isley M’Owan, Inspector-General of , Constabulary, an Australian of some years’ service in the islands. OBJECT OF MOBILISATION. As given out by the authorities, the object of the mobilisation is to protect the coal supply, the cable, and '"the wireless station. The real object probably is to keep the Indians in countenance, as no effective resistance could be made against a cruiser attack. Apart from the natives, the white population is outnumbered by free and indentured coolies by 12 to I—a serious disproportion in the event of a foreign raid being followed by internal troubles; though happily nothing of that kind is to bo feared.

THE STRICT CENSORSHIP. A censorship of cable and wireless messages has been established here of a severity hitherto unknown in English-speaking communities. All armed guard is in possession of both stations, and according to an order issued yesterday no message will be received for transmission after 6 p.m., and even then a mere pressman is honoured by an armed escort from the sidewalk to the office door. The wireless station has been protected by a formidable mass of barbwire entanglements. Armed sentries ar,e charged ' with the .duty of protecting them. 1 ‘Three i'Chmese'" haVo already

ljad ;, di ! close shave. They had been Ashing, and had landed in the early morning close to the station, the sentry promptly firing upon them, but fortunately missed his mark. The Celestials pleaded hard to he allowed to go and attend to their “cabbagee,” and were ultimately liberated. Several British subjects have also learned: that it is unsafe to “snapshot” defence works. A well-known English writer at present tonring the islands is one of those who have temporarily lost the ns© of their cameras.

In addition to the censorship of outside news, a strict taboo has been placed on the publication locally of all references to the defence preparations. One of the local papers, not realising the condition of things, permitted itMlfjtq apply the epithet “grotesque” 4o certain sand-bag redoubts erected iby the military authorities, and the unfortunate editor has been kept busy fliince framing explanations. FEAR OF ISOLATION.

! The most serious result of tho war as yet is the theatoned cutting off of 'shipping communication with the outside' world.*' Fiji is not jself-supporting in tHd* matter ; 6f foodstuffs JTh©' white population is maintained mainly by th<| supplies that arrive regularly from Australia and New Zealand. No very large stocks are carried by the storekeepers, and lienee, when the Union S.s. Company cancelled the trip of the Navua from Auckland, and announced that the Tofua and Atua would remain in Australia pending further orders, something very much like a rush on the stores took place. The Levuka, from Sydney, fortunately arrived as usual, otherwise our larder would non be empty. Prices so far have remain, ed normal, but unless tho Union boats speedily resume their service a sharp rise is inevitable. GENERAL. I Planters are already keenly feeling the effect of war conditions. Copra is offering nominally at £l2 per ton, but no business is being done. As the Levuka is taking a full shipment of bananas, that fruit is not appreciably affected, but unless regular communication is speedily restored heavy losses will be made. The announcement of the despatch of an Australian expeditionary force has excited much speculation here as to its destination, and by the outgoing Levuka to-day five local residents are voyaging in the hope of finding places in the force. I Members of the Samoan community here are expressing much dissatisfaction with their legal status as German subjects. Many of them were resident jbere before the German occupation of Samoa, and have looked upon themselves os British subjects. A recent ;deputation to the Colonial Secretary, however, elicited that in law they arc German nationals, and, consequently, their offer to do military service had to be turned down. As a result about 30 of the Samoans have applied for naturalisation papers. As is wellknown, the Samoans are restive under German administration, and it is now hoped that tho result of the war will [be the acquisition of their country by Great Britain.