Item 04: General William Holmes intelligence reports, 1906-1914 - Page 35

[Page 35]

INTELLIGENCE REPORT:

The GERMAN NEW GUINEA PROTECTORATE was proclaimed in 1884, and includes:-

Population:

The BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO is the most important group, and consists of Neu Pemmern (formerly New Britain), Neu Mecklenburg (New Ireland),  Neu Lauenburg (Duke of York Islands) and adjacent Islands.

NEW BRITAIN (Neu Pommern) is some 285 miles from end to end and is no where more than 50 miles wide. A chain of hills runs from end to end, with dense scrub, extinct and active volcanoes. The Northern part of the Isand is know as Gazelle Peninsular.

RABAUL:

Rabaul is the seat of Government and centre of the population of the Island; it is situated on the Eastern shore of Simpson Hafen - and inlet of Blanche Bay (Gazelle Peninsular). The town is laid out in chessboard fashioned squares, the Executive Officers being situated in the centre. The Governor's Residence is on a hill overlooking the town (elevation about 600 ft.) from which a commanding view of all the surrounding country and seas through the gaps on the higher distant hills, is to  be had. The surrounding country is mountainous and consists in a great measure of Volcanic lands, The growth of vegetation is rank scrub, but the coast line of Blamche Bay and Simpson Hafen has been cleared for a considerable distance and cocoanut plantations have taken the place of scrub (the clearing goes back from ½ to 1 mile from the water).

ROADS:

1. The roads for the most part, shewn on sketch map, are good and suitable for all arms. A coast road skirts the shore to Blanche Bay and Simpson Hafen. It is in good order and joins Herbertshohe - the old seat of Government; distance 15 miles.
2. A coast road skirts the entire ocean coast from Crater Point to and beyond Talili Bay.
3. A road runs East and West along the shores of Talili Bay, and joins the coast road (1) mentioned above.
4. A road runs in a North-easterly direction across a Col 1000 ft. high and leads to the ocean at Nondup (North); distance 2½ miles.
5. A road runs from Wlawolo South-east and then South of the roads skirting Simpson Hafen.

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