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[Page 170]
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of plans was contemplated in regard to these two vessels, or that their departure from Sydney had been deferred beyond 26th November, the date I was advised they would definitely leave Australia.
What I had in mind, in the absence of specific information on the subject, was, that troop were required to clear up a report which I knew had been conveyed to Colonel Murray, Lieutenant Governor of Papua, that Germans were present in some numbers at Morobe, which he was somewhat anxious about.
However, immediately after receiving Colonel Pethebridge's message above referred to, another message from him, somewhat disjointed, reached me, as follows :-
".....Recoinnoitred.......Kaiserin Augusta River and found no armed..........Arriving at Rabaul about Wednesday."
From this message I assume that the information as to the presence of the enemy's forces in Kaiserin Augusta River, has been proved by the expedition despatched there to have been incorrect, and the the "Una" and the "Eastern", together with the Troops I sent on Steamers "Siar" and "Nusa", are on their way to Rabaul.
I have found it necessary, in order to carry on successfully the administration of the various Islands under my jurisdiction, to promote and appoint Officers and Non-commissioned Officers in excess of the authorised establishments of the Naval and Military Units, of which the Expedition- are Force under my command is comprised, and also to approve of special duty pay for skilled workmen.
For instance, no Engineering or Army Service Corps details were included in the personnel of the force, but in order to provide for the construction of barrack accommodation, and sanitary conveniences, to maintain Government roads, tramways, wharves, bridges, residences and other works, also construct additions to water supplies, it became absolutely necessary to form an Engineering Section, while to construct a Field Bakery to provide the troops with a change from hard biscuits, and for general supply duties, an Army Service Corp Section was improvised. Moreover, the Colony has been denuded of German Administrative Officials, and their places have been filled, but in far fewer numbers, by selected Officers and Soldiers of the Expeditionary Force. The official positions thus filled are mostly of considerable responsibility.
The demand for responsible persons to carry out these important duties, had reduced the Officers of one Company to one Subaltern, and the Sergeants to two only. It therefore became essential, if the fighting efficiency of the various Companies was to be preserved, to make additional appointments.This then is the explanation of what would otherwise appear an excessive number of Officers and Non-commissioned Officers in the force.
Attached hereto I am forwarding a report by Captain Travers, Intelligence Officer, on the result of his visit to the Hermit and Admiralty Groups of Islands.