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Subject: {ASSM} King Jakob (Part 9) By Katzmarek (MF Hist)
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<1st attachment, "King Jakob9.txt" begin>

KING JAKOB (Part 9)

   By KATZMAREK (C)

   -----------------------------------------------------------

   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...

   ---------------------------------------------------------------

   By 1914 there were nearly 3000 Chinese on the Islands of German Samoa.
Most of them came from Shantou and Quangdong as labourers indentured for
three years.  Many chose to settle down after they'd served their time, and
despite morality laws, at least 200 of them married Samoan women.  It has
to be said, though, that generally they didn't have an easy time of it.

   The Chinese consul in Apia made at least two complaints to the Governors
about short wages, breached contracts and 'excessive' flogging.  A lot
depended on the character of the employer, naturally, as to their
treatment. It was not untypical of the time period, however, and the lot of
Chinese everywhere, and indeed workers, was not ideal.

   The Germans established a kind of 'caste' system which graded Whites as
top of the heap.  Next came 'half castes,' usually the progeny of Europeans
and Samoans, Samoans and lastly Chinese and 'others'.  The Church-inspired
'Morality Laws' attempted to keep the races apart, particularly the Chinese
and Samoans.  Under German rule they weren't all that successful and many
Samoans today have Chinese-derived surnames.  In truth, none of the German
Governors were all that fussed about enforcing those rules anyway.  Of
course the rules never applied to Whites, again as evidenced by the many
German-derived surnames today.

   When Jakob Herzberg returned to Apia with his servant Yu he was faced
with a determined group of 'Sa Malietoa' Chiefs with a thousand ill-armed
warriors and a dozen settlers with rifles.  They were set to engage any
invasion force of Allied soldiers backed by the overwhelming might of the
Royal Navy.  It was a foolhardy gesture and would probably lead to the
destruction of Apia itself.

   The Colonial Administrator Schapinski had done his best to dissuade both
the settlers and the chiefs but lacked the personal authority to stop them.
In desperation he called on Herzberg to use his influence.  Jakob's
schooner the 'Borodino' was sent off to Pago Pago in neutral American Samoa
with his three mistresses, Julia, Asmira and Qing Li, the children and the
Samoan crew.  There they were to wait under the shelter of the American
flag for Jakob to conclude his business or the war finished.

   The Sa Malietoa were the most loyal of the Samoan tribal groups.  They
had been the first to adopt Christianity, had been the most pliable in
granting land concessions to settlers, and they had supported German
interests in the civil wars.  The Germans had ensured Sa Malietoa backing
on the advisory council, the 'fono a Faipule,' by shipping the opposition
'Mau a le Pule' of northern Savai'i 'en masse' to Saipan and Tarawa in the
German Marianas.  Again, this high-handedness was not untypical during the
colonial period.  In 1914 this indulgence towards the Sa Malietoa had come
back to bite them.  The chiefs wanted to join in the fighting on behalf of
Germany.

   The German Southseas Squadron had been expected on a courtesy visit in
July the 27th.  The fleet had been delayed unexpectedly by the outbreak of
war.  There were still many on Samoa that believed the Navy would turn up
soon to protect them.  People clutch at straws, and the obvious disparity
in firepower between local German forces and the French, Japanese and
British could be waived away easily in people's fantasies.  Although the
Japanese had yet to show their hand, it was widely expected to be a matter
of time.  Germany's Chinese teritories, Wei Hei Wei and Tsing Tao were just
too ripe for the plucking.

   Jakob and Yu were met by an anxious Schapinski at Tivoli wharf where
they landed.  A couple of Samoan policemen stood behind him wearing
Mannlichers.

   "Herzberg!  Welcome back, I knew you'd..."

   "Spare it, Schapinski.  Where's Hoffmann and the tribes?"

   "The Samoans are still in the villages down the coast.  Hoffmann has
taken over the town hall as his headquarters.  Bloody cheek!"

   "Right Yu!" Jakob said, "town hall!  Schapinski, I want to borrow those
men, but tell them to keep those guns in their holsters.  I don't want a
fire fight."

   "Sure...  um, what are you going to do?" asked the Administrator.

   "I'm a man of 'special status'," he told him, "remember?"

   "Oh that's bullshit and you know it," Schapinski replied.

   "But does Hoffmann?" Jakob told him as he and Yu made their way into the
town.

   "I don't know," said Schapinski, hurrying after them, "he's crazy
and..."

   "A crazy patriot and, I figure, a soldier inured into taking orders."

   "From you?  How?"

   "From a superior Officer in the Kaiser's service!" Jakob grinned.

   Outside the town hall, a couple of Hoffmann's troopers stood guard armed
with rifles and fixed bayonets.  They barred the door, eyeing Jakob
menacingly.

   "What do you want Russian?" one said, "you should be in irons.  You're
an enemy now."

   "Fuck you Lindemann!" Jakob spat, "and when are you going to settle your
debt?"

   "You're a money-grubbing cheat, Herzberg.  All of Samoa know's it."

   "A money-grubbing cheat, Herzberg, *sir*!" corrected Jakob, "or don't
you acknowledge a superior Officer?"

   "What the f..." Lindemann stared at Jakob.

   "It's official," announced Jakob, "a commission from the Kaiser in
Reichenau's command.  I'm now a Colonel."

   "What the hell are you...  What crap are you spouting you little Jewish
turd?"

   "*Attention Soldier*!" yelled Jakob, "put this man on a charge for
insubordination, Captain!" he turned to Yu.

   "What?  Me?" Lindemann went bug-eyed, "and that yellow monkey is a..."

   "*Two charges*" yelled Jakob, "you're relieved of duty, Lindemann,
pending court-marshal.  Now fuck off!"

   "Eh?" Lindemann furrowed his brow.

   "And you still owe me 300 marks, by Saturday!"

   The man stood his ground, not knowing whether to believe what he'd just
heard or not.  He looked at the other guard for support.  It wasn't
imediately forthcoming.

   "What if it's true?" the other guard said, "he may have met the army
somewhere.  Or von Spee?  He could have given him orders, made him a
Colonel?"

   "Spaete, that's the longest sentence you've ever uttered," Lindemann
told him, "since when did you start thinking?"

   "Don't dump shit on me, Lindemann.  You're the one on a charge for
insub...  for bad-mouthing Colonel Herzberg and Captain Yu..."

   "Colonel?  Captain?" Lindemann said, "it's all bullshit.  He..."

   "If you can stop arguing among yourselves, soldiers, may we be allowed
to pass," Jakob demanded.

   "Yes sir, Colonel sir!" Spaete snapped while Lindemann looked on in
astonishment.  Uncertain, he too moved aside as Jakob and Yu entered the
town hall.

   The town hall's banquet table had been requisitioned as a map table.  On
the wall behind it was the national flag and portraits of the Kaiser. 
Hoffmann stood at the table moving wooden markers around.  He looked up in
irritation at the intrusion.

   "What are you doing here?" he demanded, "I thought you'd done a bunk. 
Why aren't you in jail?"

   "Spare yourself Sergeant Hoffmann.  We need a word in private."

   "It's *Captain*, Jew.  And what the hell is that Chinaman doing in here?
It's forbidden."

   "It's *Captain* Yu, he's my aide and he'll go where he damn well
pleases, is that clear, *Sergeant*?" Jakob shouted.

   "Who the hell are you..." Hoffmann blustered.

   "*Colonel* Herzberg.  Captain, my velisse please?"

   "Yes sir Colonel Master Jakob sir!" Yu responded, handing him a brown
leather satchel.  He was grinning like a cheetah.

   "I have here," Jakob said extravagantly, "a commission from the Imperial
General Staff in Berlin.  I have been promoted Colonel and assigned as
military Governor of German Samoa.  I take my orders from General Reichenau
who has overall command in the South Seas, *not* from a jumped-up twat of a
sergeant who..."

   "Hey!" Hoffmann complained.

   "You may read it of course," Jakob told him, "and here are your orders.
You are to disperse your command to their homes forthwith," Jakob pointed
to the relevant sentence, "and wait for the order to stand to.  The
telephones are still working?"

   "Of course, well I suppose they are..." Hoffmann muttered, dumbstruck.

   "Then see that they are, Sergeant.  *Now*, if you please!"

   Hoffmann took some seconds to make up his mind.  He squinted again at
the papers that Jakob had handed him, then eventually, he sprung to
attention and saluted.

   "At once Colonel!" he bellowed.

   Jakob and Yu watched the 'troops' scuttle out the door, spurred on by
Hoffmann.

   "Now for the chiefs," Jakob told Yu, "they won't be so easy I think. 
Oh," he added as they left the town hall, "nice caligraphy!  Very
authentic-looking."

   "Thank you Colonel Master Jakob sir," he replied.

   "Oh cut that crap out Yu!" Jakob grinned.

   --------------------------------------------------------------

   In 1914 the island of Upolu had one half-decent road, the coast road. 
There were roads into the interior built by the planters for getting their
produce out, but generally they were of poor quality.  The most practical
means of getting inland was by mule or horse.  Samoans respected men on
horseback in those days, it was a sign of wealth and stature.  Jakob
decided to visit the Sa Malietoa chiefs on a horse borrowed from
Schapinski.

   The chiefs were at their 'meeting malae' near the centre of Upolu under
the great Mt Fito that dominates the island.  It was neutral ground where
issues could be discussed without fear of violence, for in those days even
the Sa Malietoa weren't without fractious elements.

   Jakob and Yu found the journey tortuous.  Not natural horse riders, they
bounced around in their saddles amid the clatter of gear and saddlebags. 
Jakob wished he'd gone to Pago Pago with the 'Borodino.' Yu grimaced in
pain behind him, but took his discomfort well like a good German Captain.
Also accompanying them was one of Schapinski's policemen as interpreter. 
He carried the German tricolour aloft on a short staff, 'for appearances'
Jakob insisted.

   Two warriors met them about 2 kilometres from the 'malae.' Bafefoot,
they beckoned the party to accompany them then set off at a brisk run. 
Jakob swore never to sit on a horse again as long as he lived.

   The 12 chiefs sat at the top of the malae on cane chairs.  Each man held
an orator's staff in his right hand and a young warrior stood behind each
with a fan made from palm leaves.  The high chief sat in the middle chair.
An 'old' man of about 55, his name was Luakasione Vaiga Pulepule a
Malietoa.

   The party dismounted and walked slowly into the centre of the malae. 
Jakob turned slowly and looked straight into the eyes of the assembled
chiefs.  It wasn't the time to show diffidence.  To drop one's eyes was a
sign of subservience and Jakob came as a chief at least as high as
Luakasione.  For a while they studied each other, almost daring the other
to back down.  In Samoa body language counted as much as what a person
said. A chief carried himself as a chief or he might as well go home.

   "Sa Malietoa!" Jakob announced, "I come here as a high chief of the
Germans." From the corner of his eye he could see grins on the faces of
some of the chiefs.  Luakasione himself just watched him coldly.  Jakob
wasn't doing very well.

   "You're Jakob Herzberg," one of the chiefs said, in pitch-perfect
German, "you're a shopkeeper.  You're no-more a chief than a lizard that
crawls in the trees."

   "I bear a letter from the Kaiser, 'der Tupu Sili von Samoa'" Jakob told
him.  'Der Tupu Sili von Samoa' was a title Kaiser Wilhelm the Second
assumed for himself in 1907.  It meant, roughly, 'High King of Samoa.'

   "Lets see your letter," demanded the chief.  All this time Luakasione
remained inscrutably silent.

   "Yu!" called Jakob, who advanced towards the chiefs with the forged
documents.  Protocol demanded that Jakob not surrender his ground in the
orator's position in the centre of the malae.

   The speaker quickly scanned the document, then passed it down among the
other chiefs.  Luakasione himself never learnt to read, so one of the
others briefly explained what it contained.

   "I could have written this," one of the other chiefs spoke, "how can we
believe this bullshit coming from you, Herzberg?"

   This was a test, thought Jakob, he had to stick with it.

   "What right have you to insult me!" he yelled, "me, a personal friend of
von Spee.  I will command him to come with his big ships and blow your
village into the ocean." His words ellicited more smiles.  Clearly, he
wasn't making the impact he expected.

   Presently Luakasione himself got to his feet and everyone fell silent.
He spoke in Samoan to Jakob's translator.

   "He says the rumours about you are true and that you are a big liar,"
the policeman told Jakob, "he says he hasn't heard such a pile of...  um...
shit in many moons.  He wants to know what you really want and...  he tells
you he's had enough entertainment."

   Jakob thought for a moment while his companions waited nervously behind
him.

   "Sir, I understand you want to make war on the English?  I have come to
ask you, nay plead with you not to do this.  The English have many guns,
many, many big guns and they will destroy Apia if you provoke them.  I... I
have returned because I don't wish to see my friends...  killed.  Killed,
chief, in some useless gesture for which their will be no heros, only dead
fools.  After this war is over we will need the Sa Malietoa to build the
future." Jakob subsided.

   The old chief nodded slowly, listening carefully to the translation.

   "He wants to know if the English will bring back the 'Mau'?" the
policeman translated, "they are the people from Savai'i who the Germans
took away into exile," he added, "if they return he thinks the English will
put them into power over the Sa Malietoa."

   It all became clear to Jakob.  Luakasione and the chiefs were protecting
their power.  They were afraid the exiles will oust them from the 'fono'
and take over.  'These Samoans could teach Machiavelli a few things,' he
thought.

   "As far as I'm aware," Jakob explained, "the 'Mau' are still on Tarawa
and Saipan."

   "He wants to know for how long?" the translator said.

   "Who knows?" conceded Jakob, "there are some things we just can't
control.  But if we die, we lose all power to control anything." The old
chief sat back down, a signal the session had ended.  "Yu," Jakob called,
"the gift?"

   Yu ran forward with a gift Jakob brought for the Sa Malietoa, as was the
custom.  It was a rifle, a Chassepot, a relic from the French war of 1870
that he'd collected as payment on a debt.  The beautiful, highly polished
thing lacked ammunition nor was there any chance of acquiring any. 
Nevertheless, Luakasione picked it up and grinned.

   "I shall treasure this," said the chief, "it reminds me of you.  Very
pretty on the outside but I think the inside is empty of fire." He grinned
broadly as the other chiefs broke out in laughter.

   Jakob got no more from the chiefs that day, except to say that they
wished to discuss things among themselves.  Leaving the village, he trotted
the horse back down the track for about 5 kilometres before dismounting.

   "What are you doing now master Jakob?" Yu asked.

   "I am walking the rest of the way."

   ------------------------------------------------------------

   Jakob returned to Apia exhausted and dispirited.  He would have liked to
have told Schapinski good news but the Samoan decision-making apparatus was
slow.  It depended very much on persuasion and concensus, a concept foreign
to much of Europe.  They had to wait for the chiefs to make up their minds.

   He limped back to his town hall 'headquarters' to be met by Schapinski.
He told him of his meeting with the Sa Malietoa chiefs and the
Administrator nodded grimly.

   "We can do no more at present," he said sadly.  "Do you have any
instructions, Governor?" he added, a smug look on his face.

   "Ha ha!" Jakob replied, "yes," he thought, "requisition all the vodka in
Apia for military purposes.  Have it brought to my headquarters for
storage. Then, Schapinski, return to Vailima and go and lay a housemaid. 
Those are my orders."

   "Really, Herzberg," Schapinski told him seriously, "you have made
yourself military Governor now.  You must assume command of Samoa or
Hoffmann will smell a rat.  'Appearances,' 'Colonel'!"

   "Shit!" Jakob spat, "you're right.  I never thought of that.  What the
hell do I do now?"

   Just then there was a knock on the door and one of his 'soldiers,'
Spaete entered briskly and snapped a salute.

   "Colonel sir," he said, "Sergeant Hoffmann reports that all telephones
are working and under military authority, sir!"

   "Good on him," Jakob replied unenthusiastically.

   "And wants to know whether he should maintain the coast watch, sir."

   "Coast watch?" Jakob asked.

   "Telegraph hill, sir!  We maintain a roster up there.  Hoffmann thinks
we should disable the railway up there also."

   "Why?  What railway?"

   "AEG built a railway up through the bush to the Cable station last
month, haven't you heard, sir?  It's run by electricity, a pulley system
sir.  Hoffmann thinks we should make the enemy walk up the hill, sir."

   "I believe Berlin required us to disable the Railway," Schapinski
intervened, "and to fence the perimeter.  There are two policemen up there
as well as Hoffmann's coast watcher."

   "Yeah, fine," Jakob said, "give him something to do.  Pull the plugs
and...  twist the tracks or something."

   "Yes sir!" Spaete spun on his heels and left with a clatter.

   "See!" grinned Schapinski, "they are looking to you for orders.  You
can't escape now!"

   "I blame you, Schapinski!" Jakob snarled, "now go and get laid, that is
an order!" The Administrator left laughing evilly to himself.  "Can I have
him shot?" he asked Yu.

   "You give some orders.  I'll see to it," Yu replied.

   "No, Yu!  Just get some booze."

   "Yes sir, Master Jakob Colonel sir."

   ----------------------------------------------------

   Very soon Jakob was inundated with settlers looking for decisions,
orders, something to do.  There had been no shipments of rice for weeks and
stocks were low.  Some settlers were worried about a revolt among the
Chinese if they didn't get supplies soon.  He could give them no comfort,
however, but to just hold on.  He did, though, put all rice on Samoa under
military control, for all the good it did with few means of enforcement. 
He sent a request to American Samoa for special shipments, but received no
reply.  The Americans were maintaining a strict neutrality, however that
neutrality leaned rather more towards the Allied cause than the Central
Powers.

   By nightfall he had alleviated the situation a little by securing a
bargeload of rice on his own account from Paga Pago through his company
agent.  He found the American Naval authorities obstructive, but his money
still had influence among commercial interests.  It was late when he turned
for home down the coast road on foot.  Faithfully, Yu padded beside him. 
Jakob realised that he hadn't had a drink all day.

   "You'll explain to the Chinese?" he told Yu, idly.  "Tell them,
'sorry'."

   "I tell Sun Hee.  He big voice among damn Chinamen.  They not angry at
you, Master Jakob.  You always listen to them.  They not be mad as long as
you give orders."

   "Yes," Jakob sighed, "I'm as caught as any convict, aren't I?  If I run
away the whole island falls apart, doesn't it?"

   "You big man, here," Yu replied, "you on no-one's side yet on
everybody's."

   "You don't make sense, Yu."

   "No, Master Jakob Colonel, sir."

   They returned home tired and exhausted to Herzberg Manor.  They entered
through the servant's entrance and raided the larder on their way to the
parlour.  Taking a bottle of vodka from the cabinet, Jakob placed it on the
table and took a lemon from the fruit bowl.  Pouring each of them a shot,
he squirted in some lemon and lifted the glass towards Yu.

   "You did well, Captain," he told Yu.

   His servant smiled then tossed back the contents of his glass.

   Gretchen found them snoring peacefully on the couch an hour later.  She
made them comfortable with pillows and blankets then tripped up the stairs
to bed, well-pleased with the situation.

   --------------------------------------------------

   The telephone rang around seven.  Gretchen answered to be told of the
sighting of a steamer from Telegraph Hill.  She thanked the caller and
undertook to tell the 'Colonel' when he had woken.  After the ninth call
she left the receiver off the hook.  Apparently everyone had some minor
report to make.  Around mid-morning she found Jakob on the front lawn
having a breakfast of black bread and fresh olives washed down with a litre
of black coffee.

   "Jakob?" she said tentatively.  He looked up and smiled and effasive,
even an embarrassed smile, "You came back?"

   "Apparently," Jakob mumbled, "man of the hour, eh?"

   "Yes...  *my* man of the hour," she replied, "what's the news?"

   Jakob explained about his meeting with the chiefs.

   "Also," he told her, "Stadler reports increased radio traffic from the
direction of the English colonies.  He says he believes the 'Australia's'
at sea somewhere to the Northwest.  He is relaying everything on von Spee's
channel.  Spee won't, of course, answer."

   "So we are doing our 'bit' aren't we?" she smiled.

   "I guess," Jakob conceded, "so long as our 'bit' is not too much.  I
like von Spee, I hope he gets away.  Oh, the English have issued 'in clear'
warnings to shipping in the Indian Ocean.  Apparently one of Spee's
cruisers is causing a bit of inconvenience there."

   "Which one?"

   "The 'Emden,'" Jakob answered.

   "Von Mueller!" Gretchen clapped her hands, "he was a student of my
Father's!"

   "6 prizes in 5 days.  I believe your Father taught him very well!"

   "Jakob!" she said in a 'coquettish' voice, "wouldn't the view be better
upstairs?"

   "Undoubtedly," he replied, smiling, "perhaps you'd care to share this
view with me?"

   "If you are a gentleman," she told him, "for I would be most
vulnerable."

   "I shall be impeccably behaved," Jakob lied as he followed her back to
the house.

   Gretchen strolled to the big windows of the master bedroom and stood
staring out to sea.  Jakob came up behind her and held her lightly by the
waist.  He drew in her scent, a hint of rose and talcuum.  The familiar
aroma reminded him of long magical nights.  Nights filled with laughter,
pleasure and sex.  He held on to her a little tighter, his hands creeping
around to rest on her tummy.

   She was wearing baggy shorts that ended below her knees and a khaki
shirt buttoned to the neck.  As Jakob pressed himself to her she gave a
slight wriggle of her large bottom.  Jakob's hands strayed over the front
of her body, cupping the swell of her big breasts and drifting lower
between her legs.

   "A gentleman doesn't molest a lady so," she breathed, "nor does he take
down a lady's pants."

   Jakob eased her buckle open and undid the trail of buttons down the
front of her pants.  She exhaled as he slid them down over her legs to the
floor.  Her button-up panties soon followed until all she was wearing was a
shirt and a smile.  His hands ran over the lower part of her body,
stroking, exploring.  Gretchen sucked in her breath and shivered, although
the temperature was in the low thirties.

   "A gentleman doesen't remove his trousers in the presence of a lady,"
she continued.

   Jakob soon dropped his own garment.  He pressed his erection into the
crevice of her arse.

   "Oh!" she gasped, "you are, uh, presumptuous, oh!"

   Jakob's fingers combed through her thatch of black hair and probed her
moist slit.  Her warm folds signalled urgency.  He pushed a finger into
her, sawing over her clitoris.  Gretchen shivered again and pressed back
into him.  She leant right over, pushing out her arse at him.

   "I'm, uh, so vulnerable..." she panted, "you are, oh, no gentleman."

   "No madam," Jakob told her, bending his knees and aiming himself at her
entrance, "I am most definitely no gentleman."

   Holding her by the hips, he thrust himself hard into her from behind. 
Gretchen braced herself with the window frame, uttered a gutteral cry as
Jakob slammed himself against her.

   Risking back or thigh strain, Jakob pounded rapidly at her, making a
slap-slapping sound as their bodies beat at each other.  Gretchen jerked
back at him in rhythm, well-practiced from hours of carnal delights with
him.  She grunted and yelped with every thrust, threatening to bring the
servants rushing to see what murder was being done.  Perhaps in any other
household that might be the case, but not in Herzberg Manor.  No, they were
well-used to it.

   "My lady," Jakob gasped, "shall I, uh, pull out?  I fear, I'm, uh, going
to..."

   "No!" she cried urgently, "don't stop!"

   With a series of deep thrusts, Jakob blasted his seed within her,
holding himself hard against her.  She cried out, gripping the window frame
till her knuckles were white.  She blew out a lungful of air with a whoosh,
moaned mouth-opened, then sank to the floor on her hands and knees.  Jakob
sank down behind her, the muscles in his legs threatening to cramp.  He
flopped onto her back and put his arms around her.

   "I've missed you," she whispered, stroking his hand.

   "And I you," he said.

   "I knew you'd come back, Colonel," she added, smiling.

   "Then you clearly know me better than I know myself," he answered.

   "Maybe I do," she laughed, "I heard how you handled Hoffmann and faced
the the chiefs, took charge.  The colony called out to you and you
answered. You followed your heart."

   "Rubbish!  Schapinski wined that he didn't have the balls to take
control, that's all.  Snivelling non-entity!"

   "Oh, you have the balls, my dear.  *That* I can vouch for," she laughed.

   -----------------------------------------------

   On the 23rd of August Japan officially declared war on the Central
Powers.  It surprised no-one.  In a remarkably short time an invasion force
was assembled to capture the Gerrman China territories.  Experienced in
both land/sea warfare and siege, her army and navy would need both against
Tsingtao.  In a hopeless situation, Tsintao proved a hard nut to crack.

   On the 27th of August the allied fleet finally departed Suva, Fiji for
German Samoa.  At it's head was 'HMAS Australia,' the cruiser 'Melbourne,'
the French Cruiser 'Montcalm' and three diminuative New Zealand 3rd class
'protected' Cruisers 'Philomel,' 'Psyche' and 'Pyramus.' They escorted two
troopships carrying 'the Advanced Contingent of the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force,' some 2800 NZ regular soldiers.  The escort was heavy,
such was the fear of running into von Spee's South Seas Flotilla.  The
heavy ships had orders to engage the German warships, should they be
encountered, while the rest of the convoy scattered.

   They also carried on board 14 Samoan members of the 'Mau' opposition to
German rule, all that could be had.  It was hoped they could be used as
interpreters and liasons with the local native population.  They were, of
course, from the island of Savai'i while most of the pro-German Samoans
were from Upolu.  They believed they were on their way to gain independence
and self-rule for Western Samoa.
   KATZMAREK (C)

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