SEIZURE OF SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 85, 5 September 1914, Page 8

SEIZURE OF SAMOA.

• A WARM WELCOME. TROOPSHIPS AT NOUMEA. • TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT. A local paper describes the arrival of the New Zealand troopships and escort at Noumea as follows: "The population oi Noumea has wel- ' corned with patriotic and profound joy the arrival in our port this morning of the armored cruiser Montcalm, escorted by several cruisers of our friends and Allies, the English. The town is gaily decked. Everywhere the colors of France and Great Britain are married together in fraternal'unity. "Vive la France! "Vive l'Angleterre! "The Entente Cordiale has appeared in our midst in grandiose fashien." In a leading article, the same papci makes the following remarks:— "VIVE L'ANGLETERRE! "It is the cry which rises instinctively to every lip in presence of the various events which are actually unrolling themselves in our roadstead. "Noumea and the whole of New Caledonia, thanks to Great Britan, our loyal ally,,have just lived and arc living hours' of unforgetable patriotism. "What a fine spectacle this is, and with what enthusiasm has the city in which we live received united squadrons of our Allies, actually moored in our waters!

"All Noumeans who read this saw yesterday a magnificent spectacle. They grouped in great numbers on our quay, and when the fine cruiser Montcalm, flying our glorious ensign, cast anchor, what was our emotion wliea we saw her followed by the British cruisers Pyramus, il'syche and Philomel! ''The guns thundered out the customary salutes, and the noise of these wont echoing over the roadstead and tlie town, and everywhere along the public buildings, the commercial houses, a*d the private residences, the Union Jack floated proudly in the blue azure, mixing the same colors which Hew at Trafalgar with the tricolor ensign of Valny, Austerlitz, Jena and Wagram. "Moreover, (luring the afternoon the enthusiasm was redoubled when the transports Monowai and Moeraki arrived at the quay. These vessels have 011 board some 1500 soldiers coming from New Zealand; vigorous and alert young men, wearing the khaki costume and the soft felt hat of the volunteers of the beautiful colony of New Zealand. It is with enthusiasm that these valiant ■boys are marching towards the enemy. What is their destination? I know not, but 1 think 1 can affirm, without fear of error, that all the Pacific lands over which floats the abhorred standard of black, white and red, of Germany, will be occupied before long bv our valiant sailors and our brave Allies. "What are these countries?

"They are: New Guinea ("240,820 square kilometres); Kaiser W ilhelm Land; Bismarck Archipelago and Solomoil Islands, 57.100 s.k.; Carolines, 1450 s.k.: Mariannes, 020 s.k.; Marshall*, 405 s.k.. Samoa, 258S s.k. "Having said this, we should be indcod forgetful and ungrateful, we French,not to recall in the historical circumstances of the hour, the high and great memory of King Edward VII. It was, in fact, this noble Sovereign, wlio lpveil out country with a proiouud affection, who was Ul3 true author of the Entente Cordiale, which manifests itself to-day in such splendid and grandiose fashion. "It was due to this august prince that bv" mutual concessions and equitable arrangements the principal difficulties were removed which produced a conflict of interest between the two great Powers, the United Kingdom and the Frencli Republic, in different parts of tile world that were i.i danger of perpetuating unfortunate misunderstandings. '"Therefore, every time that the strains of 'God Save the King' resound amon!» us, my thoughts turn instinctively towards' Edward VIL. to whom we owe the Entente Cordiale, transformed today into an alliance full, entire and complete. " VIVE L'ANOLETERIiE! "Several hundreds of whose children we have seen defiling past us this morning in the streets of our town, behind their band, with such energy anil martial ardor. "VIVE LAXGLETERRE. allied to France, to Russia, and to Belgium, which is conrtibuting in such powerful fashion j to definitely crush Germany, the spoliator of nations, the violator alike of I civilisation and of peace!"