Go home Logan, look after your sheep

Invincible Strangers 25 Chapter 12.1

Go home Logan, look after your sheep

FIRST BLOOD IN THE PACIFIC: ‘LONDON. Aug. 30 It is officially announced that Āpia, the capital of German Sāmoa, has surrendered to the British,’ a New Zealand Press Association report said.

Governor Liverpool filled in details: ‘All the London newspapers warmly praise New Zealand’s seizure of Sāmoa.’ Captain Lionel Halsey of the cruiser New Zealand telegrammed: ‘All on board New Zealand congratulate Dominion on their action Sāmoa.’ On the same day as the invasion, New Zealand was involved in the Battle of Heligoland Bight. It failed to make a significant contribution although Halsey created something of a custom by wearing a Māori piupiu into battle.

Massey said a strong garrison was needed; ‘Having got the place, our duty is to hold it.’ An improvement in trade with Sāmoa was expected, said a report. It had not been large: ‘So far Sāmoa has been taking a quantity of our tinned meat and other food products, including some flour, although the principle supplies of the latter article are drawn from Australia.’ Happily, there was a ‘considerable margin in distance in Auckland’s favour….’ 

Advance Party force at Malifa, pic Alfred Tattersall, National Library of New Zealand

When Psyche arrived back in Auckland, Captain Marshall said enroute they visited Navua, Fiji, where the British and German residents were in ‘perfect friendliness, and were unaware of the war between the two countries.’ Calling at Tonga, King George Tupou II had not heard of the war but gave his assurance of neutrality. Tonga had signed a treaty of friendship with Germany in 1876. Although under British protection, Tonga did not join the war. Germans were to remain free and trade - for a time.