“Komet”

The Capture Of The

Letter to the Editor.

HENRY DEXTER’S article on the cap ture of the “Komet,” and his com ments, inspire me to relate a few facts concerning the incident.

For approximately three weeks prior to the capture of this unit of the Kaiser’s Navy in New Guinea waters, we, as crew of the little “Nusa,” then equipped with two guns (one a three-pounder, the other a 12pounder field gun on a ship mounting) had been searching the waterways of the coasts of New Guinea.

The reason for this activity was the fact that “Komet” had a very good radio outfit, and a busy operator.

The late Steve Whiteman, then a busi ness man of Rabaul, at last approached the authorities with an offer of help in this search. And so, on October 8, as stated, this vessel, with Commander (then Lieut.- Commander) Jackson in charge, left Rabaul to continue the search.

The personnel of the party that formed the crew of this vessel included two gun crews, one for the for’ard gun and one for the weapon aft. These, together with the engineers (“Nusa” had steam those days) and the signallers and coxswain, were drawn from the Navy. The balance of the party consisted of 20 soldiers, in charge of Lieut.-Colonel Paton, who also commanded a machine-gun squad, included in the detachment.

On the morning of October 11 this vessel was in the vicinity of the Kombi group of Islands, situated in the centre of the North Coast of New Britain. Steaming slowly along the passage between the mainland and the group, the “Nusa” turned into the mouth of the Linga Linga river. Above the tall trees at the mouth of the river could be seen the twin spires of the “Komet’s” masts.

On the left bank of the river the newly cleared and planted area of the Linga Linga plantation stretched like a mown swathe of lawn and, right opposite the bungalow, the “Komet” lay at anchor.

The “Nusa” ran alongside this vessel’s gangway, and the party immediately boarded her.

Captain Mueller, of the “Komet,” was shaving in his cabin; and his look of astonishment when Commander Jackson asked for the surrender of the vessel, could be appreciated, even on a half-lathered face.

Commander Jackson, now deceased, was a very proud officer, the day he returned to Rabaul with the “Komet,” steaming about two cable-lengths in the rear of his vessel. The Rabaul garrison turned out in force to welcome the vessel as she berthed at the old wharf Jn Simpsonhaven.

The “Komet” was then taken to Aus tralia, and converted into an armed auxiliary cruiser, and returned to Rabaul at the end of 1914. Her return as the “Una” was heralded by a wassail, the like of which has never been repeated in this little town.

There is one irregularity in this story of Dexter’s, and that is that the native crew of the “Nusa” returned with the caps of the native crew of the “Komet.” There were no natives, except six firemen on board the “Nusa,” and these people were below during the proceedings.

It is interesting to learn that Tommy Powles was a member of this crew, and that he is still alive. I wonder if Dexter will tell me where Tommy enlisted—that is, if he knows. The capture of the

“Komet,” as reported in the Government Gazette dated October 15, is correct in every detail.

It may b© of interest to recall that the “Nusa” captured quite a large number of inter-island vessels, including the “Mega long,” “Siar,” the ill-fated “Sumatra,” the schooner “Samoa” (absolutely the finest schooner In these waters) and some smaller fry. Her crew were paid prize-money amounting to about £27 just after hostilities ended.

I am, etc.,

Maski Mike.

Rabaul, N.G.

Miss B. D. Meares, nursing sister on the staff of the Namanula Hospital, New Britain, arrived in Sydney on leave by the Neptuna on November 10.

Mr. I. Railey, an old and well-known resident of Apia, where for many years he had been in business, left Samoa with his family by the Hauraki in November.

He intends to settle down in the North Auckland district of New Zealand, where he has acquired business interests.