Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 43]
Government House,
Rabaul,
4th October '14:
To -
Captain Lowin,
H.M.A.S. "Encounter".
"I have just received information from Captain Fry that he was informed by Mr. Whiteman at luncheon time today, that the Steamer "Komet" is at present in hiding on the North Coast about 100 miles from here; that the masts had been taken out of her and erected on shore to form a temporary Wireless Station, the vessel herself being screened from view by being surrounded by cocoanut palms.
Mr. Whiteman is at present in Rabaul, and is prepared to take an Expedition to the place.
The erection of this temporary Wireless Station may account for the message that was intercepted last night.
In view of the information, which seems pretty definite, would it not be well before you leave Rabaul, to send round and clear this matter up, as it seems to me so long as the "Komet" is free to molest any small Ships conveying stores to this place, our position here is precarious."
(Sgd) William Holmes, Colonel.
Administrator:
Captain Lewin sent me a verbal message saying he had orders to proceed to sea and could now take any action, and explained that he was unable then to reply in writing to my letter.
Next day (Monday, 5th.) I received the following wireless message from Captain Lewin:-
"Regret I was unable to comply with your request, but did not consider there was any risk of molestation from "Komet". "Sumatra" and "Nusa" could prevent that if it is necessary.
It would appear from this that Captain Lewin had lost sight of the fact that instructions had been given by the Admiral, that the crews of the "Nusa" and "Sumatra" were to be paid off and the Ships laid up.
I did not regard this reply as satisfactory and felt uneasy as to the welfare of the of the "Moresby" which I am daily expecting to arrive here with stores. I therefore sent for Lt. Commander J.M. Jackson, R.N., King's Harbour Master, and directed him to disregard the instructions he had received as to the paying off the Crew of the "Nusa" . I aslo conferred with him as to the possibility of effecting the capture of the "Komet", and as a result I issued to him the following commission:-