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[Page 42]
BRITISH ADMINISTRATION - GERMAN NEW GUINEA:
Rabaul,
New Britain,
15th October 1914.
The Honorable,
The Minister for Defense,
Melbourne.
Sir,
I have the honor to report for you information, the following circumstances regarding the capture of the German War Ship "Komet" (977 tons gross), armed with one Hotchkiss Q.F. Gun.
The vessel was the property of the Administration of German New Guinea, and was bought and paid for out of the funds of the Colony, and is included in the books as an asset. She is a most complete and well found vessel fitted with wireless installation, built in 1911 and used since as the Governor's yacht.
On the transfer of the Administration to me, I demanded the vessel from the Governor, in terms of the agreement, as part of the property of the Colony, and was informed by him that he was unaware of her whereabouts, as in response to a direction from Germany he had transferred her to the German Navy at the beginning of September last.
This information I conveyed verbally to Vice-Admiral Patey immediately after the Governor's surrender, and I understand that the Ships of the Australian Fleet had made constant search for her thereafter.
On Saturday, 3rd October, the "Australia" and "Montcalm" left Rabaul at 11-30 p.m. for Suva, followed on the next day by the remainder of the Australian Fleet, some for Suva and others for Sydney, instructions being left here with the King's Harbour Master (Lieut. Commander Jackson) that the "Madang" was to be kept in commission for my use for communication between Rabaul and Herbertshohe, and the crew of the "Nusa" and the "Sumatra" were to be paid off and the Ships laid up after portion of their machinery was removed.
I might mention that these three small vessels had been captured by the Fleet on arrival here, and were afterwards armed and made use of for scouting purposes, up to the time of departure of Fleet.
At about 2-30 p.m. on the 4th October, I received information which I considered reliable, that the "Komet" was in hiding on the North Coast of New Britain. I at once wrote the following letter to Captain Lowin, and it reached him on the "Encounter" just before 3-0 p.m. same day when he was weighing anchor for his voyage to Suva:-