Page 266a: History Section Precis, (paper M 15552/14). b: letter from Messrs. Cayser Irving & Co. to Admiralty 17th August 1914 –draws attention to value of Anguar Island in Pellew Group, (paper M 15552/14). Page 267: Extract from Proceedings of a Sub Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence 17th August 1914 relating to German New Guinea, German Possessions in the Bismarck Archipelago, Nauru, Yap, Angaur Island and Feys Island –from reports received by Admiralty, it appeared Germans were prepared for surprise attacks on their wireless telegraph stations, they hid their instruments and when danger had passed started reworking the stations as centres of intelligence. It was agreed that Rabaul should be seized and occupied as a base by Australian forces; that Yap, Nauru and Angaur should be occupied as well as German New Guinea and Feys Island. Page 272: telegram from Melbourne to Admiralty 18th August 1914: [HMAS] Australia sailed from Port Moresby for Noumea 17th August. [HMAS] Melbourne left Roussel Island 17th August to join [HMAS] Australia. Page 274: telegram from Marine Paris to Admiralty 18th August 1914 –Montcalm [French cruiser] wires that as Gneisensau [German cruiser] and Scharnhorst [German cruiser] were reported near Solomon Islands 5th August,she has left Suva to rejoin convoy and [HMAS] Australia. Page 275: telegram from Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor General, Australia 18th August 1914 –Feys and Anguar Islands contain valuable deposits of phosphate. Suggests therefore that expedition to Carolines should be extended to Pellew Group. M No Number. Page 276: telegram from Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for Colonies 18th August 1914 –suggests that Colonel Logan commanding troops should assume temporary office of Governor of Samoa shoudld occasion arise. Transports should reach Suva 20th August. Page 280: summary entitled ‘Appreciation of China Situation’ by Captain Vyvyan and submitted to Vice Admiral Sir Henry Jackson 18th August 1914 –relates to movements of German China Fleet in South America and South Atlantic. Page 283: memorandum 16th August 1914 – Sir Henry Jackson wants to know what defences are in place on Thursday Island and Port Moresby and a list of British defended ports in Australian and New Zealand waters. Page 284: handwritten reply to above [no date] – Thursday Island Green Hill Fort: 1-6”BL [breech loader gun] MkIII. 2 -6”BL [breech loader gun]MkVI. Milman Hill Fort: 1-4.7”QF [quick firer gun]. There are also 2-.303 MGs [machineguns]. Port Moresby-Nil. List of defended ports. Page 285: telegram from Manila to Admiralty 18th August 1914-German ships Andalusia,Hamburg America Line, Anghin and Pontong arrived. Evident German using Manila as a base for supply of coal for some point in South East. Page 286: telegram to Navy Board, Melbourne and Commander in Chief China 19th August 1914 –operations should be: seize Rabaul as base then seize Nauru,Yap and Anguar in order to break enemy lines of intelligence in Pacific. Kaiser Wilhelmland will be considered later. Page 287: telegram from Naval Board Melbourne to Admiralty 19th August 1914 –Leipzig [German light cruiser] finished coaling and left San Francisco presumably for Samoa. Page 290: telegram from Senior Naval OfficerThursday Island to Admiralty 19th August 1914 –report of noon position of Australian squadron 18th August. [HMS] Encounter at Port Moresby. [HMAS] Parramatta, [HMAS] Warrego, [HMAS] Yarra at Rossel Island. Submarines AE1 and AE2 at Sydney. Page 291: draft telegram from Governor New South Wales to Colonial Office 19th August 1914 –describes situation in Samoa July 25th 1914. Informant named Harman. New Caledonia cable is cut 70 miles from Queensland, (paper M 15613/14). Page 295: memorandum ‘Cables, Australia Etc Proposed Action’ signed HBJ [Vice Admiral Sir Henry Jackson] 20th August 1914 –movements of Geier [German gunboat] and possibilities of her having cut cables. Proposal to send [HMNZS] Philomel refused, (paper M 15613/14). Page 297: telegram from Admiralty to Marine, Paris 19th August 1914 –proposes that Montcalm [French cruiser] should act in concert with [HMAS] Australia until German cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst have been destroyed. Page 300: telegram from Marine, Paris to Admiralty 19th August 1914 –New Caledonia cable damaged 77 kilometres from Australia. Page 301: telegram from Senior Naval Officer Thursday Island to Admiralty 19th August 1914 –[HMAS] Warrego, [HMAS] Yarra, [HMAS] Parramatta arrived Port Moresby (New Guinea). Page 303: telegram from Honolulu to Admiralty 20th August 1914 –German merchant vessel Pommern arrived 11am. Page 306: telegram from French Admiralty to Admiralty 20th August 1914 –according to St Petersburg telegram 2 German cruisers are at Samoa. Page 307: telegram from Naval Board, Melbourne to Admiralty 20th August 1914 –following should be position of Australian Squadron 21st August: [HMAS] Australia and [HMAS] Melbourne at?Noumea (?Sydney) off Sandy Cape. [SS] Berrima at Moreton Bay, [HMS] Encounter and three destroyers at Port Moresby, Protector and two submarines at Sydney, [HMAS] Pioneer off Freemantle. Page 308: telegram from Admiralty to Navy Board, Melbourne 20th August 1914 -2 German cruisers reported at Samoa. Are all submarine cables intact. Possibly Geier [German gunboat] may be cutting cables in South Pacific (paper M 15613/14). Page 309: History Section Precis, (paper M 15613/14). Page 312: telegram from Admiralty to Rear Admiral, Australia and Senior Naval Officer New Zealand 20th August 1914 –means must be taken to prevent W/T stations being used if re-captured. As soon as expeditions have been convoyed, ships must be replaced for duties laid down in War Orders. Page 314: History Section Precis. M No Number. Pages 315-318: letter to First Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg] and C.O.S. [Chief of War Staff –Vice Admiral Sir F.C.D.Sturdee] 20th August 1914 –following dispositions of our ships in Pacific should be considered after capture of Samoa: [HMAS] Australia and Montcalm [French cruiser] to search for German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau; [HMAS] Melbourne and [HMAS] Sydney to convoy troops to England. [HMAS] Pioneer, [HMS] Encounter and [HMS] Fox made available for escort of transports. [HMNZS] Philomel, [HMNZS] Psyche and [HMS] Pyramus should return to New Zealand; [HMS] Triumph should co-operate with Japanese in attack on Tsing-tau; Commander in Chief China should proceed with [HMS] Minotaur, [HMS] Hampshire and [HMS] Yarmouth to Rabaul. He should be met by [HMS] Encounter and 3 T.B.D.s [torpedo boat destroyers]. [HMS] Fox after convoying a native battalion to Zanzibar should return to Perth; [HMS] Black Prince and [HMS] Duke of Edinburgh should go to Mediterranean or North Sea; after the Australian convoy has been completed, 3 fast light cruisers with[HMS] Weymouth should hunt down German light cruiser Konigsberg; [HMAS] Pioneer, [HMS] Encounter and [HMS] Fox returning to join [HMNZS] Psyche, [HMS] Pyramus and [HMNZS] Philomel in Australian waters.