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[Page 116]
(1)
The seat of Government of the German possessions in the North Pacific is Simpsonhafen or as it is now called Rabaul. This is on an inlet in the island (adjacent to New Guinea) called by the Germans New Pommern (New Ireland). The inlet is Blanche Bay.
In this Bay there are two settlements, Herbertshohe and Simpsonhafen (Rabaul). Herbertshohe was the original seat of Government but it was transferred 6 or 7 years ago to Simpsonhafen which is strategically much better situated.
On reference to the rough map accompanying this, it will be seen that Herbertshohe is the first settlement inside the Bay. It is on the opposite of the Bay to Simpsonhafen which is about 8 miles farther on. [See page 112]
At Herbershohe there were (4 years ago) only about 20 to 30 white people mainly connected with the Roman Catholic Mission station possessing a very large cocoanut plantation.
The ground rises very gently from the water and there appeared to be no fortification, nor does the ground lend itself to fortification being one large plantation joining another.
At Simpsonhafen there is anchorage for a German cruiser (in port at the time of my visit) and the N.D.L. wharf alongside which the Coblenz and Prinz Sigismund lie. There is a township of about 100 white inhabitants mainly storekeepers, officials, and planters. It is the distributing centre for all the German possessions in the North Pacific.
From the wharf, the township is on the right hand and the road (from the wharf) at about 300 yards starts to rise up the mountain. It zigzags for about ½ to ¾ mile to where a plateau is reached. Here there is a native school and indications of fortifications. The road still rises to the summit of the hill, about another ¼ mile where stands the Governor's House. It was said at the time that guns were mounted or were being mounted on the face of the hill, from the plateau to the summit, which would command the whole Bay. This is the only spot that is or is likely to be fortified.
From the wharf on the right hand side is the township. The main road runs right through it into and through a plantation to the island of Matupi the whole of which is plantation.
Here is the best spot to live except at the Governor's House for it is said the mosquitoes are less prevalent than in the township. The island is joined to the mainland by a rough bridge. Ponies and traps are used as conveyances. The road is about 2 miles, from the wharf to the end of the island.
FREDERICK WILHELMSHAVEN.
Distant about 12 hours by sea from Rabaul.
This is in New Guinea proper. Only 20 white people were there 4 years ago. The settlement is immediately around the wharf with a few outlying settlers. The German New Guinea Company have a very extensive rubber and copra plantation, and a road goes through the plantation, a distance of about 8 miles. At the time I was there this road was being extended by the Government a further 20 miles inland through country suitable for plantations;
At the time of my visit there were no indications of any fortifications. I was informed that 12 or 13 of the 20 white men were in the hospital with Malaria which is very prevalent.