[Page 215]
SUNDAY - 6th DECEMBER 1914:-
The Administrator, accompanied by Lt. Cols. Watson and Paton and attended by A.D.C., paid a visit to Bita Paka wireless station returning at 6-0 p.m.
Church parade was held at Rabaul and Herbertshohe.
The Administrator has decided to despatch the "Meklong" to Kieta to-morrow, should the "Una" and "Eastern" not then have arrived. A detachment of 50 men under the command of Lieut. Maughan with provisions for two months, will be left to garrison this place. Lieut. Col. Watson, with 200 troops, machine gun and A.M.C. detail, will be in charge of the expedition.
The following wireless message was received:-
"Please censor all letters arriving per "Marsina" and "Matunga", object to ascertain if any information as to expedition is disclosed by unauthorised persons in Australia - Legge."
This has been arranged for.
The health of the troops continues good.
The following message was received from the Secretary Defence:-
"Telegram as follows received from Secretary State (begins) - Decr. 3rd. With reference to your cipher telegram Novr. 25th, and to previous telegrams, as to occupation of German Islands in the Pacific, as Pelew, Marianne, Caroline and Marshal Islands are at present in military occupation by Japanese, who are at our request engaged in policing waters Northern Pacific, we consider it most convenient for strategic reasons to allow them to remain in occupation for the present, leaving whole question of future to be settled at the end of war. We should be glad, therefore, if the Australian Expedition would confine itself to occupation of German Islands South of the Equator (ends); to which reply as follows sent:- Your telegram of 3rd Decr. occupation German Islands in Pacific noted, and your Government's wishes will be complied with (ends). Colonel Pethebridge has been similarly advised - W.7736."