LIFE IN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 126, 21 October 1914, Page 3

LIFE IN SAMOA.

THE VISIT OF GERMAN CRUISERS. In a letftcr to his parents at New Plymouth, a member of the force mow '/in occupation of SamoJC thus describes the recent vis-it of the German cruisers to the island: On the morning of the 14Jh, while we were on unrade watting for daylight, i and word from the waterfront picquct, tv scout arrived to say that several ships wero approaching. We wer\j hurried I downj and hy the 4ime we arrived two German warships were well within view corning straight towards us. We were ' Ibustlcd into the trenches and fiat there watching them come right in close, expecting them to open fire every moment. But they stopped just outside the reef : and apparently after a little deliberation turned .and steamed off again. There were very few amongst, 113 who wore mot very disappointed at them not giving us something to do. Our inten--1 lion was to bang into them Lmtmediato- ! ly they started to land, with our battery, machine guns anil infantry, who . were all cntrendhed on, the shore-front : of about two miles. The scores of coal I which were heaped on the beach we had all covered with kerosene and benzine I ready to set going if necessary. -Directly the ships had gone out bey-oral range We returned to camp and started breakfast*, but had hardly finished when Bcoutu brought in word that the Germans were landing "2io miles d-own. the coast, so we stood to arms again and/ waited for further ne\w all tine morning, but got none, so had a hurried lunch, and were all put on to shift camp. They came to the conclusion that ;he raeeco-irse was too exposed a position-, so chose a sheltered place in a sch-00l grounds. Before, dark all transport had finished, and tents pitched in the new 'place, which was auite two imiles awivv, so that, wasn't had going. When they start doing a thing like that at, tliis game thov take possession of every horse and cart they can put their hands on. We still had 110 news- of the Gentians, and the oioq-uets had wither an anxious time that in the pitch dark. All throneh the night odd shots were heard round the picquct lines, and on one occasion quite a succession of shois hut we got no call, and in the morning came to the conclusion that if tihev had landed it was for water only or something.