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[Page 57]
H.M.A.S. "Berrima",
Rabaul,
New Britain,
13th September 1914.
The Chief of the General Staff,
Melbourne;
Sir;
The Expedition under my command reached Blanche Bay on the 11th instant. At daylight on that day an advance party of 50 Naval Reserves under the command of Lieutenant Bowen, and accompanied by Captain Pockley, A.M.C. was sent ashore. Half of the party was landed at Kabakaul and the other at Herbertshohe, with orders to push on rapidly and seize the wireless station believed to exist in the vicinity. It was soon discovered that these places were defended and the enemy did not intend to give them up without a fight. Finding that these two parties were met with opposition, I reinforced them with two more Companies of Naval Reserves, two Machine Gun Sections and a detachment of the A.M.C. under Commander Elwell at Kabakaul. About 11-15 a.m. a request was received from the shore for a Medical Officer to be sent from this ship to attend to a wounded German, and soon afterwards I received information that Captain Pockley and A.B.Williams had been seriously wounded and were being sent back to the ship. I then determined to put on shore at Herbertshohe four Companies of infantry under Lieut. Colonel Watson to co-operate in the attack. It was necessary to land this latter force in boats, which naturally occupied some time. In the meanwhile the Naval Force had pushed on in the direction of the Wireless Station.
The force which they had to meet consisted of German Reservists and Native Armed Constabulary, all led by German Officers. The arms carried by the Natives were all up to date German weapons.
The line of attack was, owing to the very heavy timber on either side, practically confined to the road, across which at several points trenches had been placed, and a good deal of trouble was caused the attacking force by Natives posted high up in cocoanut trees armed with rifles.
As it did not appear that the operation would be successful before dark, instructions were given to Commander Beresford and Lieut-Col. Watson to retire to the beach before dark, and I arranged with the Admiral that on the following morning, if the resistance still continued, that the fleet would shell with schrapnel the high ridge between Kabakaul and Herbertshohe at daylight, and that immediately thereafter the attack should be resumed with vigor and the places carried. However at nightfall the wireless station was surrendered to the force attacking from Kabakaul. I may state that this force was also accompanied by Captain Travers (my Intelligence Officer), who was present at the surrender. It was found that the wireless station was complete and well equipped, and working almost up to the last moment; but prior to surrender the iron supports of