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[Page 180]
BRITISH ADMINISTRATION - GERMAN NEW GUINEA:
Rabaul,
New Britain,
29th December 1914.
The Honorable,
The Minister of State for Defence,
Melbourne:
Sir;
On the 17th instant the H.M.S. "Fantome" arrived here, and Lieut. Fitzgerald, in command, waited on me and presented his sailing orders from Sydney, shewing that the vessel had been placed by the Navy Board under my orders, apparently for use in connection with the Expedition to Bougainville, but as the occupation of this place had, as reported in my despatch of 15th instant, already been accomplished on the 9th idem, I instructed Lieut. Fitzgerald to remain in Simpsonhafen pending the arrival of the "Una" and the "Eastern", which I was advised by Colonel Pethebridge were on their way here from Frederick Wilhelmshafen.
About noon on the same day (17th Decr.) the S.S. "Eastern" escorted by H.M.A.S. "Una", arrived in Port, and immediately afterwards Colonel Pethebridge landed, being received at the wharf by a guard of honor.
The "Eastern", in addition to the 200 Troops of the Tropical Force, organized for the occupation of the Islands North of the Equator, under Colonel Pethebridge, brought back with her from Frederick Wilhelmshafen the Troops I had despatched there on the 2nd instant under Lieut-Commander Bracegirdle, to take part in the Expedition up the Kaiserin Augusta River. The Steamers "Siar" and "Nusa", which conveyed my Force to Wilhelmshafen, were retained by Commander Cumberlege (Commander Destroyers) in order to assist him in some further search he proposed for the discovery of the German Ship "Cormoran", believed to be in that locality.
Previous to the arrival of Colonel Pethebridge I was under the impression, owing to a mistake of one word in the wireless message received by me from you, that he was coming here to supercede me as Administrator, but I find on inspection of his Commission that there was no such intention on the part of the Government, and that his mission extended solely to the Islands North of the Equator, which, however, I have since been advised are to remain in the occupation of Japanese Troops.
Colonel Pethebridge and I then conferred as to the relief garrisons required for the various Islands South of the Equator. It will be remembered that I had previously recommended that the relief force for these Islands should consist of half battalion of infantry and machine gun section, but as the destruction of the German Pacific Fleet has since taken place, the whole of the circumstances have altered, and I have come to the conclusion that 300 men would be sufficient for the purpose. I suggest that the 200 troops of the tropical force on the "Eastern" should