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The Samoa (N.Z.) Expeditionary Force 1914–1915

Chapter XV. — The "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau."

page 93

Chapter XV.
The "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau."

The German ships were known to be still in the Pacific, and stringent precautions against surprise were being taken. A lookout had been established on the summit of the wireless mast, where some 400 feet above his less fortunate fellows, and away from the mosquitoes and flies, the centipedes and ants, he swung his improvised hammock and watched. From this point in the early hours of 14th September, lights of two ships were reported, and daylight disclosed two large war vessels making for the port. The Signallers at the Pilot Station soon identified them as the long-expected "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau." The Apia Wireless immediately endeavoured to send out a warning to all shipping, and though the Germans "blanketed," it was sent several times without interruption, and was received by at least one ship, the "Sonoma," bound Sydney to San Francisco. The alarm quickly flashed from camp to camp, where the troops,
German Ships in Apia Harbour. (The four funnelled vessel is the Scharnhorst.)Photo by A. J. Tattersall, Apia.

German Ships in Apia Harbour. (The four funnelled vessel is the Scharnhorst.)
Photo by A. J. Tattersall, Apia.

page 94according to custom, were already standing to arms, and they moved off rapidly to their positions for defence against the landing parties. Two platoons of the 5th Wellingtons proceeded to their stations in column of route across the Vaisigano Bridge with the 12-inch guns of the "Gnoisenau" trained upon them, at 3200 yards range, and following them along the beach road.

The conduct of the whole of the troops now lining the waterfront positions was a wonder of steady coolness. In view of the fact that they were young in years, discipline and training, and that they believed they were about to participate in a bloody fight under high velocity fire, their behaviour was beyond praise.

On came the two powerful vessels, cleared for action, their heavy guns apparently ready to open fire at any moment, the "Gneisenau" steaming right into the entrance of the outer reef, where the troops had disembarked into the boats a fortnight before. Here the German sailors on deck made an effective target for our guns, and a salvo from these, together with a burst oi machine-gun fire from our two M.G. sections could have wrought some havoc in their ranks. Such action was not taken for, to the eagerly waiting troops lining the waterfront positions, an attempted landing appeared certain, and instructions were to reserve fire.

Meantime the native population (who, through bitter experience, knew of the damage to be wrought by ships' guns) was in full flight to the hinterland, with its worldly goods and chattels in bundles suspended from a stick across the shoulders—here a cherished possession in the shape of a young pig, there an old iron kettle, a rooster, a lighted lantern (though day had long since dawned) and the inevitable "epu"!

But the unexpected happened. Both ships slowed down— they had apparently just discovered that the Union Jack had replaced the German eagle on the Government Buildings—turned slowly in their course, cruised around for some time, and then made off slowly to the Westward, down the coast towards the Apolima Straits, without firing a shot!

Patrols proceeded towards Mulifanua, and soon reports filed through from native sources, of parties being landed in page 95boats there. The Aucklanders, less one platoon, which remained on the waterfront, proceeded some miles down the coast to a selected position on the Mulifanua Road.

Meantime the remainder of the troops were back in camp enjoying breakfast, with all dreams of hope and glory in being the first New Zealanders in action vanished into thin air. At noon it was ascertained that no parties had been landed within striking distance of Apia and the Aucklanders were recalled. The partols penetrated as far as Mulifanua and reported that the warships had stopped off the anchorage there and that a German resident (who was immediately interned) had visited the warships, and advised the Admiral it would be useless to attempt a landing as the opposing force was fully 2000 strong.

The ships disappeared about 3 p.m. in a North-Westerly direction, and a few days later bombarded Papeete, firing about 150 shots into the town, sinking the old French gunboat "Zelee," lying at the wharf, and destroying about half the town with the loss of five lives. The small steamer "Saint Francois," which was also lying at the wharf, received a shot through the funnel, and was the subject of much interest to the troops when she put into Apia some weeks later. The "John Williams," the London Missionary Society steamer, which put into port a few days after the visit of the German ships, reported she had heard Telefunken calls which were judged to be near, and energetically commenced to send out a set of signals calculated to convey to the Germans that she was something a good deal more formidable than she really was. The next news of the ships that reached Apia was from the remote and uninhabited island of Suwarrow, of the Northern Cook Group, where, on 1st October, the small schooner "Vaite," returning to Rarotonga from the North, reported having sighted them, apparently coaling from a collier, in the lagoon, and after keeping the troops on the qui vive for weeks, they fell in with Admiral Sturdee off the Falklands.