Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 162]
(3)
It seems to me, however, under all the circumstances, it would be better to withdraw the whole of my Expeditionary Force from these parts in sufficient time to arrive in Australia at the expiration of their six months period of engagement, and that a new relief force should be organized in Australia and despatched here not later than the middle of January '15, to allow time for the outlying garrisons being replaced by the new men.
At the present time the garrisons at Rabaul and Herbertshohe are out of all proportions of the requirements and they are only being wasted here, i,e, always supposing that the Pacific Ocean is kept clear of hostile cruisers which would be likely to land any considerable body of troops. I have given this matter consideration, and have come to the conclusion that for the territory South of the Equator a half battalion of infantry, with perhaps two machine gun sections and the necessary proportion of signallers and army medical corps, would be ample to meet the requirements, and provide garrisons for Rabaul, Herbertshohe, Frederick Wilhelmshafen, Kaewieng, Kieta and Manus.
As you are aware, at the present time I have 2 Officers and 55 men at Nauru, but I do not think there is any occasion now to retain them there, but what I would suggest is, that the white population, employees of the Pacific Phosphate Company, who were repatriated by me (some 42 in number), should be organised into a local defence corps and armed in the same way as has been done at Ocean Island, where quite an efficient corps exists; but now that it has been determined to hand over the control of Nauru to the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific to administer in conjunction with Ocean Island, this is a matter which should be left to his discretion.
In regard to your message of the 22nd instant, suggesting that the services of certain officials of the late German Administration should not continue beyond present term of engagement, I have prepared the following reply, which will be transmitted as soon as the atmospheric conditions will permit:-
"My action in temporarily retaining services of certain former German Officials has proved a wise course, on account of intricate laws and methods; unlikely services will be renewed, except in case Director Botanic Gardens, which have been established at great cost, and should not be neglected. If, however, expert in tropical flora can be sent from Australia services of local man will not be renewed. It is also absolutely necessary to retain services of 5 German Doctors, who are experts in native and tropical diseases at various Native Hospitals, until medical men arrive from Australia to replace them. In my despatch of 27th October I recommended that 4 Junior Medical Men be engaged and sent here; I now find 6 are required, also 4 nurses."
I think this sums up my views on the situation, and requires no further comment from me.
On the 22nd November I received the following wireless message:-