A FIJI INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 6

A FIJI INCIDENT.

BRITISH AND GERMAN WARSHIPS. WAR SCARE AT SUVA. A story to hand by the A.U.S.N. C'o.'s steamer Levuka, which has arrived at Sydney from the Fiji islands, says that the population of Suva were recently "battening down hatches" and preparing for the worst possibilities of war right in their own harbor. The battle threatened to be between a German cruiser and two British cruisers, but it did not conic off, as the fighting ship carrying the tri-color took to her heels on good advice. But here is the story:

When H.M.S. Torch was cruising out- I side Suva harbor about the beginning of the month a "stranger" was spied i approaching. She was not recognised for | a while, but she turned out io be the: German cruiser Cormorant, which lias visited .Sydney several times, and which is attached to the Kaiser's squadron in the 'Pacific. The reason the Britishers did not recognise .her was because her color had been changed from white to admiralty grey. The Cormorant proceeded 011 and entered the harbor, with the Torch following her. H.M.S. Tronietheus was at the time at anchor in Suva harbor. The 'Moroccan war scare was at its height, and not only the British officers, but the Suva population knew that Ger- 1 many was taking a big hand in the North Africa question, and the reason of the unannounced visit of the cruiser was not. at all clear. The Cormorant was soon making signals, which, of course, the landsmen did not understand. They were responded to by the British vessels, and flag messages were exchanged for some time. At hist the German cruiser was seen heading for the sea again, followed by the Government steamer Ranadi, and the Suva people were more puzzled than ever, It was gleaned from official sources later on that the Cormorant had approached Suva and requested the authorities to be allowed to send and receive some important communications through ! by cable to and from German. The British officers did not relish the idea, and refused. The Germans protested, but the British were steadfast. Then it is said the Cormorant was given five minutes in which to weigh anchor and clear out, and promptly did so. There was no demonstration against the German cruiser by the British vessels. but the Suva people had got an inkling that there was some trouble brewing, and were not slow in collecting (heir valuables veadv to vanish lest a stray shell should land their way. The Fiji authorities fimnd it opportune to despatch the Ranadi on some unknown errand immediately the Corinurant had cleared port. Tliev might have been suspicious of the German's future movements, but at any rate the two vessels arrived at Lcvuka almost to-

jrether. Upon (lie Ranudi turning up just behind her, tlio Cormorant weighed anchor and proceeded apparently out of tint liroup. A message from Samoa soon after tliis incident, lends color to the whole story hv simply saying': "The German erniser luis arrived here from Fiji . :. j!io cither mails or papers.''