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[Page 64]

went forward with Lieutenant Bond on my orders, rallied the  Black Soldiers, and he was immediately shot down, and ten Black Soldiers were shot at the Ridges.   Three of our men were wounded, Able Seaman Tonks, Sullivan and Street, two of whom were shot before we opened fire.   Hearing this fire, I at once despatched reinforcements to the front.   Lieutenant Kemf and Captain Travers then returned, and the  Machine Gun Section and one section of supports arrived at the trench in an exhausted condition.   Lieutenant Bond left these in the Trench, and mounted the Machine Gun with orders that the prisoners in the trench were to be protected at all costs. Lieutenant Bond seeing that the  situation required immediate action, and fearing the escaped Officer might rally the Black Soldiers who had escaped at the Wireless, moved forward himself to capture the Station, and was accompanied by Captain Travers, Lieutenant Kemf and one of the machine Gun Section, Private Eikel, who acted as Interpreter.   On the way up,  Lieutenant Bond in conjunction with  Captain Travers captured a mounted German Officer with despatches from the Governor, ordering the Wireless Station to be destroyed, and the Force to retire on Rabaul.   This despatch was handed to Captain Travers, and the German made prisoner.   

The party then moved forward to the Barracks, where three more Germans and about twenty Black Soldiers, all armed, were ordered to surrender, and with some demur, reluctantly did so. They then moved forward to the Officers quarters, where the remainder of the Officers surrendered, and were dis-armed. They then took possession of the Wireless Station.   This was about 7 p.m.   At about 9 p.m. Gunnery Instructor Greaves reached the Wireless with the remainder of No. 6 Company, leaving the Prisoners in the Trench under the guard of the Machine Gun Section, Captain Harkiss.   Half an hour later, Midshipman Buller reached the Wireless in charge of twenty-four men of Lieutenant Bowen's Party, of whom he  had assumed command.   I moved forward, Midshipman Veale with half a company of supports, who reached Lieutenant Bond at the Wireless.   At 1.15 a.m. on the 12th, I received a despatch from Lieutenant Bond informing me that he had captured the Wireless, but had not found any Code, which I specially directed him to obtain if possible.   At 12 Noon, I received your despatch to destroy the Wireless and return to the Pier with Instruments and embark for Herbertshohe in Destroyer "Warrigo".   The Force returned finally to the Base from Kaba Kaul, and embarked at 6 p.m.   My casualties, I regret to say were One Officer killed Lirutenant Commander Elwell, R.N., two Officers wounded, Lieutenant Bowen, R.A.N., and Captain Pockley, A.M.C. Two men killed, Able Seamen Courtney and Street, R.A.N.R.,   wounded Five, Able Seamen Moffatt, Skillen, Williams, Tonks and Sullivan, R.A.N.R.

The Motor Lorry with the Instruments and small parts from the Wireless Station, I despatched to Herbertshohe by road, which broke down about two miles from Herbertshohe, and two Prisoners, namely the Engineer who erected the Wireless Station and the Lorry Driver, we marched into Herbertshohe under escort.   I arrived at Herbertshohe with the Force by H.M.A. S. "Warrigo" and Motor Boat at 7 p. m., where I found Captain Morrison with two Companies of Infantry and Lieutenant Cameron with one Company of Naval Reserves in possession.   After landing I sent out a Working Party from No. 5 Company to bring in the Stores from the Lorry in hand carts, and let the Force which I had brought from Kaba Kaul go into Camp for  the night, as they were all very exhausted.   Today I threw out Scouts, Guards and examined buildings and received your Despatch not to use the Governor's house behind the trees south of the Flagstaff, but I regret to say that on my arrival, I was informed that the whole of the houses found empty on arrival of the Australian Expeditionary Force had to be found to be broken into and looted.   I have however, had the Governor's house locked and a Guard   placed thereon, but I fear very much damage has been done to the property left in it.   Investigating this case, the Force under my command, deny absolutely having had anything to do with this matter, and this is substantiated by Colonel Watson, who states that it was done before he landed on the 11th inst.   At five minutes passed  three, I received a verbal message by Sergeant Shaw whom I had sent out with Lieutenant Bond to bring in the broken down lorry with an escort of Forty men, that Lieutenant Bond was attacked by a number of Germans and a strong force of Blacks, and that some of the Black Soldiers were dressed in Khaki with Hats turned up at the side, and others dressed in White.   I at once asked "Protector" [Submarine tender] if she could protect my left flank whilst I despatched my Force to the south to the relief of Lieutenant

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