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[Page 40]
H.M.A.S. "Komet"
At Sea,
Monday 12th October 1914.
Sir;
I beg to submit to you this my report on capture of "Komet"; undamaged, and with wireless intact.
Acting under your orders, and on information received, I proceeded in "Nusa" to Talassis, a district on North Coast of New Pommern, 170 miles S.W. b W. from Rabaul, and anchored on the evening of Saturday, 10th inst. under the lee of a small Island off Talassia. This island has a native village on it, and some of the Natives on board "Nusa" had relations in the village, which at once put matters on a good footing.
'Nusa" approached this Island with great caution, keeping close to the Neu Pommern Coast and feeling her way among the off-lying reefs, thus making use of a line of approach which would never be guarded against by the "Komet" should she where we expected.
Owing to the dense haze our approach was entirely unobserved by "Komet" (as will be seen later), and from very perfect native information obtained on the island we were able to lie all night with guns trained on spot where "Komet" must emerge should she leave her anchorage before morning.
It was impossible to attack on Saturday evening owing to failing light and tortuous channel among reefs.
At 5-45 a.m. on Sunday, October 11th, "Nusa" weighed and proceeded towards "Komet", approaching in perfect silence, engines at half speed and with white flag at the fore. The Native Chief from the small Island was on the fore bridge with me and was of great assistance, as the reefs were barely visible at that early hour; also from his information we were able to keep "Nusa's" guns trained on "Komet" through trees, she herself being as yet screened from view.
As "Komet's" masts appeared over the trees we obtained the exact range - thanks to Lieut. Marsden's (Machine Gun Section) range-finder, and we at once increased to 'full speed' and came right on top her completely surprising her crew (Capt. of "Komet" not dressed and shaving himself). Lt. Col. Paton then proceeded on board "Komet" in skiff with a white flag - Mr. Whitemen with him as Interpreter - and the "Komet" surrender.
"Komet" carries one Machine Gun (firing 1.lb. shells) which can fire at rate of 35 - 40 shells a minute, a large number of rifles for native crew and small arms for the Officers, but thanks to the haze of Saturday evening and "Nusa's" inshore approach, "Komet" was absolutely unprepared and had no other course but to surrender. "Nusa's" plan of attack was carefully considered by Col. Paton and myself on Saturday evening, and was decided on for following reasons:-
(1) Should "Nusa" have kept off at 4000 yards and shelled "Komet" it would have caused damage unnecessarily and loss of life; also "Nusa's" shell supply is limited.
(2) Should "Komet" observe "Nusa" carrying out active operations against her, her Captain would either have sunk "Komet" with dynamite or other means, and also would have destroyed wireless .