KING JAKOB (Part 10)


By KATZMAREK (C)


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This work is fiction. It remains the property of the author and
may not be used for profit without the author's express
permission in writing. It contains sex, so if this offends etc...


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Part 10


Jakob became aware of the knocking on the big hardwood door of the master bedroom. He mumbled into Gretchen's sweaty shoulder, withdrawing his hand from its purchase on her great bare teat.


"Master Colonel Jakob?" a voice called.


"Whatizzit?" Jakob growled,


"Much smoking on horizon... coastwatch telephone from hill."


"Put it in the log, Yu, and call me in an hour... or more."


"Yes Master Colonel..."


"And stop calling me that!" Jakob growled.


"Another sighting?" Gretchen asked, her voice dreamy.


"Probably a passing steamer," he told her, "but we need to keep a record of these things, according to Berlin."


"Did you hear back from Westermann last night?" she asked him.


"Yes. We are not to take 'offensive action,' as if that's a possibility. The official order is to negotiate with any hostile force for the peaceful handover of power. The Colonial Office has appointed Schapinski and myself as 'negotiators.' Um... the radio station is the only thing of value to Berlin and probably to the British. The same with Nauru, Yap, Rabaul and New Guinea. We're part of the Admiralty network, as if you didn't know."


"Westermann approved of your sudden elevation to Colonel?" she asked in surprise.


"Of course not," he smiled, "but he approved my 'stabilizing' the situation and 'bringing calm and assurance' to the island. Berlin is prepared to overlook my 'presumptuousness' but officially cannot confirm my 'appointment'. There were some in the Colonial Office that were quite put out until Westermann suggested they take personal charge down here themselves. Then, I believe, opposition became less vociferous."


"What of Spee?"


"I'm not privy to the Admiralty code, Stadler just sends anything on he receives. Logically von Spee would be making a run for home around the Horn, I can't see him going around the Cape. He'd be able to coal somewhere in South America then break out either through the channel or around Scotland."


"Can he make it?" Gretchen's face showed concern.


"With a lot of luck, just maybe. But it would take extraordinary ineptness on the part of the English and perhaps a storm or two conveniently placed. My feeling, dear Gretchen, is that the odds are staggering. In 1905 the Russian fleet was escorted by units of the Royal Navy's Channel Squadron down the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar. I have never seen ship handling like that, they mocked us. Rhozdventsky was beside himself so I heard. They made fools of us. Spee's good, very good, but five ships against these people who have been doing it for hundreds of years."


"You're saying it's hopeless?" she asked.


"The German Navy was created, what twenty, thirty years ago? The Royal Navy's been around since King Alfred's cakes. Germany is a land power, England a sea power. Hell, the Russian Navy's older than the German, since Tsar Peter the Great, and our entire fleet couldn't match one battle squadron of the English. Yes, Spee's fishbait and Admiral Scheer and his High Seas Fleet would be better to remain in Wilhelmshaven. That's my opinion, Gretchen dear."


"You are a depressing pessimist, Jakob. I give the Navy a better chance than that."


"I don't. That's why, I think, Germany made a grave mistake in provoking the English. France, yes, even Russia, but England as well? It's crazy!"


She looked thoughtful for a while, idly stroking his chest.


"How's your English?" she asked him.


"Not good, yours?"


"Some, I took English at 'Gymnasium' and we had English Naval Officers as guests often. Their ships were always visiting Kiel, especially on Navy Day and the Kaiser's birthday. I think the English will treat us well, don't you think? They always seem very fair-minded."


"But will their army be quite so agreeable in wartime?" Jakob replied.


"As agreeable as you in the morning?" she laughed as her hand closed over Jakob's morning erection. Slowly, she licked down his body and engulfed him.


Jakob looked on in pleasure as Gretchen's great arse rose and fell while she sucked him. Her breasts spread over his torso, her rubbery nipples snagging his body hair.


"Master Colonel!" came Yu's voice through the door again. This time with more urgency.


"Not now!" he yelled.


"Stadler says much smoking now, many ships come!"


"Tell Stadler and his bloody ships to wait!" Jakob cried desperately.


"Maybe you should go?" Gretchen told him, concerned.


"No!" he replied, "nothing's *that* urgent!"


"Smoke in four column now. Stadler thinks it's von Spee."


"Jakob?" urged Gretchen.


"Oh, fuck the Kaiser, fuck the English, fuck everybody!" Jakob spat, his erection now well and truly wilted.


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Rear Admiral Sir George Patey was an irritated man. His ships, the Battlecruiser 'HMAS Australia' and light cruiser 'HMAS Melbourne' were supposed to be hunting for von Spee, not escorting this silly expedition that would be better delayed until the German Navy was driven from the Pacific. Earlier he'd played a hunch that the Germans were skulking off Bougainville, only to be disappointed. Now his advice had been disregarded and he'd received urgent orders from London to meet the New Zealanders in Noumea. The damned convoy had sailed without his knowledge escorted by a trio of tiny P class cruisers, the sort of vessels that would have made an ideal breakfast for the 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau.'


He thought there was a possibility von Spee was at Apia. It did no harm to find out in any case. After escorting the troopships in he wanted to get away as quickly as possible to more worthy pursuits. He understood from intelligence reports there was no worthwhile opposition on Samoa. One report had some fortifications prepared but no guns or soldiers. He didn't expect to have to bombard the island. In any case, he wasn't carrying special shells for that task anyway.


In command of the soldiers on the troopships 'Monowai' and 'Moeraki,' was one Colonel Robert Logan, a Scot from Berwickshire. He was a sometime sheep farmer and part-time soldier who had never seen action. He was known, though, as a skilled representative on a local County Council in New Zealand. He was selected, not for his military prowess, but as a Governor of the first German Territory to be siezed in the World War. Colonel Logan had absolutely no knowledge of Samoa, its people and culture or even precisely where it was.


Logan was what we might describe today as a White supremicist with an inordinate fear of the 'Yellow horde' of Asia. He was a good man of Empire and a despiser of things German, or indeed anything that wasn't 'English.' If there was a more inappropriate character to place over a population of 40,000 Samoans, 3000 Chinese and 180 German settlers he'd be hard to find. 


It took Jakob, Yu and Gretchen a good half hour to walk up to the Radio Station on Telegraph Hill. Once there, they had a good view out to sea and the approaching fleet.


"Yes, four columns of ships," Gretchen announced behind the big telescope,  "I see the tops of some masts... I'm not sure... "


"Don't keep us in suspense," Jakob said, "whose are they?"


"You identify ships 20 kilometres away Jakob Herzberg!" she told him in irritation. "If they'd come about a few degrees maybe I can tell... uh oh!"


"Uh oh?"


"Uh oh. The lead ship has a tripod foremast... and it's big, very big."


"And that means?" Jakob asked anxiously.


"That means we'd better brush up on our English. Jakob dear, it's the 'Australia!'"


"Right! Stadler, crank up the telephone!" he yelled to the station building, "I want everyone out of Apia and inland, unless they have an important function, quickly! Then call Schapinski and that English-speaking fool Shwalger. Tell them we need them to report to the town hall."


There was a desperate ten minutes while Stadler tried to reach everyone on the phone. At last he emerged, sweating.


"Schapinski's gone," he announced, "no-one at Vailima knows where he's disappeared to. He left on horseback earlier this morning. I've called the exchange and they're sending runners around the houses and the fales. Apia should be empty in about half-an-hour."


"I don't want anyone on the waterfront," he cautioned, "everything must seem peaceful, is that clear?"


"Sure Jakob... um... don't you think we should leave the station?" Stadler said nervously, "I mean... if the English should open fire, the station would be a logical target, wouldn't it?"


"I'm sorry Josef," Jakob told him, "your duty is to remain here and keep the radio going as long as you can."


"Duty Jakob?" Gretchen said in surprise, "Jakob Herzberg talks of duty?" she smiled.


"*Your* duty Gretchen is to get your arse to safety, now, if you please?"


"I don't please, Jakob. I'm staying at your side, is that clear?"


Jakob stared into the face of the determined woman, tried to protest but thought the better of it.


"Do what you like," he told her, "Yu, down the hill at a trot, c'mon!"


By the time they reached the town it was practically empty of people and dogs. The individual ships of the approaching convoy could be clearly seen now, 6 warships and 2 merchantmen, no doubt troopships. All but one of the warships flew the white ensign of the Royal Navy, the other bore the French tricolour.


The 'Australia,' 'Montcalm' and 'Melbourne' came to a stop outside the harbour entrance, their guns fore and aft, much to Jakob's relief. The two troopships and the little cruisers sailed right in and stopped, ironically in exactly the same place von Spee had anchored some time before. Then, precisely nothing happened.


"What are they doing?" Jakob asked anxiously from behind the town hall window.


"Same as us, I expect," Gretchen answered, "watching to see what we do? Assessing the opposition?"


"There is none," he said, "so let's get on with it. Vodka, Yu, please?"


"No lemon Master Colonel."


"Then straight, if you please?"


"Don't get drunk, Jakob," Gretchen cautioned.


After an hour or more a small boat was lowered down the side of one of the small cruisers. Two men got in and fixed a white flag to the stern. They then began to row enthusiastically for the shore. Jakob walked down to Tivoli wharf where they were about to land.


The two English sailors climbed the steps from the pontoon landing to the wharf, then stood before Jakob as if on parade. Clearly they were very conscious of the importance of the occasion.


"Sir," one of the seamen said in passable schoolboy-German, "my name is Petty Officer Stoddard and this is Lieutenant Church. May we have your name sir, and official position?"


"Jakob Herzberg sirs, and I am a Russian national," Jakob replied, "I have been chosen to represent the community of the German Protectorate of Samoa."


"And where is the Governor?" Stoddard asked.


"The representative of the German Government is at this moment... somewhere else," Jakob explained ruefully. The two Englishmen had a hurried conference before Stoddard replied.


"I must request the attendence of this representative. I have authority only to negotiate with the senior German, Mr Herzberg. We request a response within half an hour or we will feel compelled to assume you intend to resist. In such case a bombardment of the town is not out of the question."


"You'll fire on us?" Jakob said, aghast, "for why? There are no troops here, no guns! Can you see any weapons you silly man?" 


"Sir," said Stoddard, "I can't tell him that!"


"Gretchen!" he called, "tell this fool we don't intend to resist!"


Gretchen repeated word for word what Jakob had said.


"I'm sorry sir but we need that official, Mr Herzberg. In half an hour if you please!"


There was no persuading the men so Jakob and Gretchen raced off to search once more for Schapinski. He was eventually found at the Governor's mansion at Vailima, in the house built by Robert Louis Stevenson. Jakob raised him on the phone.


"I cannot do it!" Schapinski told him, "I cannot surrender German territory. I've had a long think about this and I'm adamant. I cannot bear the shame."


"A fine time to find your spine, Schapinski, but cut the crap, they're threatening to fire on us."


"They cannot do that, Jakob," Schapinski said, "according to the Second Hague Convention they cannot fire on a defenceless town nor threaten to do so..."


"Tell them yourself, Schapinski!"


"I will compose a letter," he told him.


"Well, write it quickly, Schapinski! There's a lot of firepower out there," Jakob told him desperately.


A half-hour passed and still the English seamen stood waiting patiently on Tivoli wharf. Schapinski's letter of protest duly arrived by a policeman on horseback. The Englishmen exchanged the letter for a formal ultimatum which demanded unconditional surrender. Time ticked away slowly while they waited for Schapinski's response. An hour and a half after the British landed, the response arrived from Vailima.


Couched in diplomatic terms, it merely guaranteed that the soldiers could land unopposed and that the German Colonial Government of Samoa accepted they were in a hopeless situation. The English seem to accept that assurance. Jakob determined they were no more willing to fire on Apia than the inhabitants were to receive such fire. They returned to the ship, the 'HMS Psyche' and presently the troopships moved into position to discharge their human cargo.


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In 1914 New Zealand was a country still struggling with it's identity. Was it a nation or a British colony? The census still listed the Polynesian population as 'New Zealanders' while the whites were called,'European.' Emotionally they were still 'South British' even though a good two thirds of the 'Europeans' were born in NZ.


Popular mythology suggests a pioneering country filled with stockmen, drovers, farmers, shepherds and farm hands. But in actual fact, the majority of the contingent that set foot on Samoa in 1914 were trades-people, townsfolk, miners, railwaymen and insurance clerks. When the call to arms arose on August the 5th the recruitment centres were swamped with volunteers, far more than they could arm or train. There was, however, a long tradition of part-time soldiering and these 'Territorials' formed the basis of the army that embarked for the Middle East, against the Turks and against German Samoa.


Longboats began to be put out from the troopships, two each towed by a steam pinnace. Landing, they doubled up the beach and formed up in lines along Beach Road. Each soldier was dressed in woollen long trousers and battledress jacket. They wore high boots,  thirty pound packs and 'lemon-squeezer' wide-brimmed hats. In the 35 degree heat they were soon sweating profusely. Most of them came expecting a fight and stood in the sun dismayed by the serenity of the tropical scene.


Jakob, Gretchen and Yu waited outside the Town Hall amused by the antics of the shouting NCOs and running soldiers. To Jakob it all seemed so unnecessary. As they watched, teams were counted off from the ranks and trotted off to comb the town for 'hostiles'. With Hoffmann sitting idly down the coast at his coconut plantation and his dozen troopers dispersed around Samoa, they were bitterly disappointed.


A squad came running to the Town Hall and stood in an unmilitary knot outside. An officer and a sergeant walked up the steps, the officer pointing to the German flag waving lazily in the light breeze.


"Take that down!" the officer ordered, and two men ran forward. The rope, alas, was tied too high for them to reach and the sergeant began bellowing desperately for a ladder, a box and lastly, a strong pair of shoulders. Eventually a man climbed up onto the backs of two others and at last the offending ensign was pulled down. Triumphally, they carried the flag back to the beach and into one of the waiting boats.


Another party then arrived, including a senior officer slapping a riding crop. He mounted the steps accompanied by an aide and stood before Jakob.


"Who are you?" he asked tersely in English. This Jakob could understand.


"Jakob Herzberg, and you are, sir?"


"Colonel Logan, Herzberg. Please stand aside unless you have business here."


"Pardon?"


"Get out of my damned way," Logan told him, "and get rid of the woman and that bloody Chinaman!" Jakob looked towards Gretchen for a translation, but her face displayed shock and confusion.


"We are here to assist..." Gretchen started to say.


"Sergeant! Get these people out of the way," he ordered, "then fetch me the senior German."


"C'mon you lot," the sergeant said, "move away and take the Chink. Colonel Logan doesn't want Chinks in town, hear?"


Jakob, Gretchen and Yu hurriedly moved aside and down the steps.


"I thought the English were gentlemen!" Gretchen protested.


"They are New Zealanders," Jakob told her, "see that man's shoulder flash?"


"But still!" she insisted, "you'd think they'd talk civilly..."


They walked down the street towards Jakob's car. There was a group of soldiers around it, one was sitting in the driver's seat.


"My car!" Jakob exclaimed.


"Bugger off!" one of the soldiers said.


"Requisitioned!" a corporal told him, "all vehicals in private hands are to be put under control of the military, Hun. Now show us the ignition switch."


Jakob looked to Gretchen for a translation. The man was speaking too fast for him to understand.


"We have to walk," she told Jakob, "they are taking our car."


They walked slowly down the coast road towards Herzberg manor. Occasionally squads of soldiers doubled past them, eyeing them curiously as if they were dummies in a shop window.


"Perhaps we should have fought them," Gretchen said bitterly, "to be treated like this..."


"They're a conquering army," Jakob replied, "all armies are the same. We are 'prix de guerre' now."


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The radio station was stormed soon after and Stadler, the coast watcher and the two policemen brought down under guard. Jakob was pleased after all that they had to run up the hill rather than ride up on the railway. The telephone exchange was occupied and the plugs pulled. Meanwhile, all vessels in Apia harbour were boarded and siezed by sailors from the warships. A proclamation was issued immediately that any attempt to communicate with the 'enemy' was forbidden. The settlers weren't prepared for the harshness of martial law and regarded the new regime with a brooding acceptance.


The next day the Chinese began to leave the plantations. Stocks of rice were depleted, rumours began to circulate that their contracts were not to be recognised by the new regime. They wanted clarification, the honouring of their contracts, food and also wished to greet the new Government of Samoa. It was a family day for many of them. Wives, children and old people also came down, but mostly they were the labourers lured to Samoa with promises of a happy life in the South Seas.


They began to slowly gather on the lawn in front of the Lutheran Church, the biggest available public space. By early afternoon there were nearly 2000 of them waiting patiently for someone in authority to come to speak to them. 200 odd armed soldiers lined the roadway moving them clear of the carriageways and penning them into a compact mass.


Jakob had been called by his manager Sun Hee to come and speak to them, to reassure them. When he mounted the steps to the church, a hush descended on the crowd, some clapped. He was about to speak, with Sun Hee translating beside him, when he saw movement through the trees. Presently on a rise to the left of the church, 150 Samoan Policeman emerged armed with hardwood clubs and rattan whips. Without warning they charged at the crowd amid much shouting and screaming from the Chinese.


Jakob watched in horror as the tall, burly Samoans lashed at the Chinese, beating some senseless to the ground and furiously lashing others with their vicious rattans. New Zealand soldiers began jeering, laughing, and egging-on the violence. Some Chinese, attempting to escape, were rudely shoved back with the butts of the soldier's rifles.


Sun Hee sheltered behind Jakob as a large Samoan advanced up the steps. Jakob looked the man in the face and he eventually backed down to pursue other quarry. Police kicked at those lying prone on the ground. A man lay on top of an old man trying to shelter him as a policeman lashed his back bloody with a whip. Some ran inside the church, carrying the unconscious and the children while Jakob stood guard. The presence of a white man was enough to deter the pursuers. After 20 minutes some 300 Chinese sheltered in the church while gangs of Samoans combed the grounds outside for others.


Jakob was numb with horror. He had never seen the like of it in these normally placid isles. More injured continued to filter in as did some settlers with medical supplies. Soon at least 15 whites attended the victims but none them, he noted, came from the well-equipped army medical unit. He recognised some of the attackers as former policemen under the Germans, but others were total strangers. Presently an Army Captain came to the door of the church accompanied by two guards. Stiffly, he ordered the church cleared by order of the Governor. Apparently church sanctuary was now at the behest of the military.


Outside at least, some of the soldiers were helping with the injured still lying on the grass. Apparently they did this without orders for soon they were pulled away by their Officers. Already Jakob was told there had been 4 killed, including an old man and an 8 year old girl, but their bodies had been taken away before he could confirm this.


With all motor vehicals requisitioned there were only carts and horse-drawn wagons available to carry away those Chinese who couldn't walk. Overwhelmed by the situation, nevertheless Jakob did his best to find transport and enlist the aid of the civilians. He saw, too that even the they were in shock.


He tried to see Logan, but was turned away at the door. Instead he was handed a proclamation stating that no Chinese were to be permitted in town. He found a policeman he knew and was told that Logan had brought parties of tribesmen from Savai'i and enlisted them as Policemen. He said that the majority of the attackers were outsiders and the local Samoans had no particular grudge with the Chinese. The policeman personally blamed the Mau chiefs brought with the soldiers from Fiji for the violence. He told him that Logan had ordered the Chinese cleared from Apia, 'anyway that they may see fit.'


"Why?" Jakob asked, "for what reason?"


"Logan hate Chinese," he told him, "Mau chiefs want to be friendly with Kiwimen. They think Logan will make them bosses of Samoa."


Finally Jakob understood.


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After that day a gloom settled over the islands. Even the weather played its part and there was a series of unseasonal storms. Jakob's house became a refuge and improvised hospital as more and more Chinese arrived, terrified to go back to their plantations. It was no-longer safe for Asians to travel on the back roads because they were subject to abuse and casual beatings by these new 'Policemen.' Some 400 odd camped on the lawns and outbuildings or cowered inside the house.


Most of the Chinese labourers had responded to posters distributed by wiley agents employed on behalf of the German Colonial Government. A picture featured happy Chinese coolies, Samoan woman scantily clad, palm trees and vast beaches. To many Chinese young men, burdened down by oppressive poverty, it looked like a glimpse of paradise.


Arriving in Samoa, they found the work back-breaking, their employers a mixed bunch from the downright sadistic to the relatively considerate. All in all, the reality was vastly different from what they had been told. However, they had signed iron-cast contracts and were locked into them for three years.


Jakob was asked to help a family that lived on Schuster's estate in the west of the island. It was one of the more remote plantations and one of the poorest. The family consisted of a toothless coolie called Fong, his wife and daughter. A civilian, Michael Lutz, gave him an ancient revolver. Jakob fingered the cold steel for a little while before slipping it into his belt. The atmosphere on Samoa had become menacing. Who knew what dangers lurked on the back roads?


They obtained a two-wheel cart and an old nag called 'Sabre' and set off down the bumpy track. The going was rough and they bounced around on the cart's minimal springing. It was nearly nightfall by the time they arrived at the Schuster's.


The plantation house was small and the old man offered the use of his detached guest cottage to Jakob for the night. The premises were spartan but comfortable. The only furniture was a small table, two chairs and a bed. Heating was provided by a Russian stove in the corner, however in these Summer months it wasn't needed.


The plantation workers lived in a row of huts not far away. A mere 17 were all the workers old Schuster could afford, but they lived comfortably enough. The Chinese insisted they cook for him and brought him a meal of fish, rice balls and chicken soup. These generous people had little themselves, but what they had shared, there was no argument.


And the hospitality didnt end there, for after they'd eaten the old man waved his wife and daughter in the direction of Jakob. Shaking his head, Jakob tried to tell the old man that it wasn't necessary but the he just looked confused. The women too looked mystified by his refusal and after a while Jakob gave in and the old man left grinning. Never let it be said, thought Jakob, that Herzberg ever disappointed a lady, or in this case two.


They motioned him to take off his clothes then proceeded to give in a body massage with coconut oil. Their slippery hands were cool and relaxing. They betrayed no shyness for they dipped into every crevice. His eyes closed, Jakob fely a naked body sliding over his. Looking up, he saw it was the mother, her pointy tits and hard nipples pricking his chest deliciously. The daughter too was nude and lay beside him refreshing the oil from a small bottle.


The Mother was squat and wide hipped and, like the daughter, her long black hair was braided into a single ponytail. Her skin, though covered in oil, was tired from years of hard work. Her face wore a perpetual smile showing a row of perfect teeth. Possibly the result of a rice and fish diet.


Her daughter was skinny and flat-chested. Her young, fresh face, too smiled all the time. Between her legs was a small tuft of black hair and, like her Mother's, was damp from the oil.


The older woman's tummy slithered over Jakob's cock, now hard from their treatment. He wasn't sure what treats he was in for until the Mother sat up and squatted her pussy along his length. Jakob could feel the heat and moisture of her folds as she slid herself along it, wriggling and massaging his cock. Presently she sat back to admire her handiwork. She took him by the hand and pressed his cock between her legs against her clitoris. Then they both began to giggle. 


They each took turns manipulating and admiring him. The younger girl measured him with her hand accompanied by more laughter. All of a sudden, the Mother lifted herself up and engulfed him.


Jakob sank into her right to his balls. The woman wriggled around, squeezing him with her pussy like a teat on a goat. Now and then she lifted up again then sank back down, stimulating him just enough to keep him hard and no more. After a while of this the younger woman got on, performing the same routine. She was tighter than her Mother requiring more struggling and maneuvering. At last she perched on top of him and worked him as far up her as she could. Jakob's cock was now well lubricated with the womans' fluids and the coconut oil. So much so he could barely feel them, just a sensation of exquisite pressure.


After a time that seemed like hours, Jakob had enough of being kept at boiling point. Dislodging the girl, he propped her on her hands and knees and assaulted her pussy with his dick. Taking her by the hips he thrust rapidly into the girl making her yelp and cry out. Of her own volition, the Mother lined up in the same position next to her and indicated she wished some of the same. Pulling out of the daughter, he duly obliged till she too was yelping and moaning. His crisis reached, he pulled out and showered their backs with his sperm.


Afterwards the each nestled against him, one on each side, and kept him warm through the night.


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Around the 5th of September, the South Seas Flotilla of von Spee was somewhere in the Central Pacific when he was alerted by Nauru Radio that they had not heard from Apia for 5 days. The last message was vague, something about having spotted a fleet of vessels out to sea. Von Spee was convinced that Samoa had been captured.


He spent another day deciding on the best course of action. He had orders from the German Admiralty to bring the Armoured Cruisers home but was also allowed to attack 'targets of opportunity.' Might there be targets aplenty at Apia? he reasoned, 'troopships and their escorts anchored in the open harbour, boiler fires drawn and their crews on shore?' Logically, HMAS 'Australia' would form part of any escort, perhaps all of the Australian squadron were now peacefully waiting off the port? At best the English would have maybe a patrolling cruiser at sea but even so, with a warning a Battlecruiser would still take a good two hours or more to get up steam. Surely there would be enough time to batter through any patrol and catch the 'Australia' anchored. With the balance of capital ships just slightly favouring the British in the North Sea theatre, the loss of the 'Australia' would be a savage blow. It was too good an opportunity.


Von Spee ordered his ships to stop and their Captains to attend to the flagship for a conference. The Light Cruisers were to head for a rendezvous point somewhat to the South of Samoa while the 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' were to make for Apia. 'Gneisenau' was to wait out to sea while the 'Scharnhorst' was to enter and reconnoitre the Harbour. The 'Scharnhorst' would then pulverize any Allied shipping she found with 'Gneisenau' in support.


On the night of the 6th, the Squadron turned Southwest. 'Nuernberg, 'Leipzig' and 'Dresden' detached themselves while the Armoured Cruisers made course for Samoa.


KATZMAREK(C)