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[Page 134]
appointed Australian Commissioner.
The Expedition duly left these shores, but before getting far from the Australian coast, was intercepted, as the British Government did not desire the Australian troops to proceed any farther, as they stated Japanese troops were already in military occupation of the islands north of the Equator, and their ships were policing these waters at the request of the British Government.
Colonel Pethebridge was therefore, in somewhat of a dilemma, being left without a job. He came across to me at Rabaul in the "Eastern" escorted by H.M..S. "Una", the old German Warship "Komet", which you will remember, was captured by me. I then recommended that Colonel Pethebridge's tropical force, together with others to be raised in Australia, should be utilised for the relief of my original command, whose period of enlistment was for six months only.
I feel very grieved indeed, at the turn which events have taken, as far as the islands in question, are concerned, because I am certain, knowing the Japanese have been looking with loving eyes on these parts for many years, and they now in possession, they are not likely to vacate the same at the end of the war, but will look upon their retention as recompense for the assistance they have rendered in the campaign.
I knew before I started from Sydney that the Japanese were keenly anxious to secure Angaur on account of its rich phosphate deposits. Of course, I notice in the press it has been stated that the Japanese will turn them over to Great Britain at the end of the war, but knowing them as I do, I doubt this very much.
Only a fortnight before I left Rabaul, I had a visit
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