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WESTERN PACIFIC.
of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, as noted in the margin, on the subject of the
steps taken for the protection of Ocean Island.
Confidential, 4 September, 1914. Confidential, 4th September, 1914. Confidential, 7th September, 1914. Confidential, 24th September, 1914. Confidential, 24th September, 1914.
2. I enclose copies of the letters which I have addressed to Mr. Eliot and to the Governor-General of Australia, and beg to recommend that Mr. Eliot should be allowed
to accept, if he considers it desirable to do so, the offer of the services of the Japanese to whom he has referred in the second paragraph of his Confidential letter of the 7th instant.
3. You will observe that I have informed Mr. Eliot that, whilst I should prefer that the offer of the services of the Japanese should not be accepted until your instructions have been received, he may accept their services if any sudden emergency should arise, after he has consulted the representative of the Pacific Phosphate Company.
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WESTERN PACIFIC.
WHEREAS by Section 15 of King's Regulation No. 1 of 1909 it is ordered that the Resident Commissioner may by Proclamation call out the Ocean Island Volunteer Reserve for actual service, and whereas it is expedient that the food- supplies of Ocean Island should be protected against possible surprise owing to the state of war existing between Great Britain and Germany:
Now therefore I do hereby proclaim that the said Ocean Island Volunteer Reserve is called out and deemed to be on actual service for the protection of the said supplies at such time and place as may be ordered by the Resident Commis- sioner or by any officer of the said force by him appointed on behalf of His Excel- lency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.
Given under my hand at Ocean Island this 3rd day of September, 1914.
By command,
A. GRIMBLE,
Cadet and Secretary.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
mmimmimC.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGENOT TO
(Confidential.)
SIR,
I have, &c.,
BICKHAM ESCOTT,
High Commissioner.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Enclosure 1 in No. 104.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate, Resident Commissioner's Office, Ocean Island,
4th September, 1914. In connexion with that portion of Your Excellency's telegram dated 7th ultimo referring to the protection of supplies, I have the honour to report that, under the provisions of King's Regulation No. 1 of 1909, the Ocean Island Volun- teer Reserve has been formed and that 63 members have been enrolled.
2. The Reserve has been formed for the protection of the food supplies of Ocean Island in the possible contingency of a raid being made by irregular troops from a neighbouring enemy island.
3. Under Section 17 (1) of the King's Regulation above quoted will Your Excellency be pleased to issue a commission as Lieutenant in the force to Stanley Anderson, Esquire, a senior employee of the Pacific Phosphate Company at Ocean Island?
4. I attach copy of a Proclamation issued on the 3rd instant under Section 15 (1) of the Regulation.
5. Referring to Section 19 of the Regulation, will Your Excellency advise me of the rates of pay which should be made for actual service for officers, non- commissioned officers, and men!
His Excellency the High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji.
I have, &c.,
E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner.
Postscript to letter.-Owing to the arrival at Ocean Island of the British subjects from Nauru some 40 more members will probably be enrolled in the force
to-morrow.
7th September, 1914.
PROCLAMATION,
E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner,
IN the Name of His Majesty George V., of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
By Edward Carlyon Eliot, Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate.
(L.S.)
E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner.
Enclosure 2 in No. 104.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate,
Resident Commissioner's Office, Ocean Island,
4th September, 1914.
REFERRING to my Confidential letter of even date, reporting the formation of the Ocean Island Volunteer Reserve, I have the honour to advise Your Excel- lency that only 30 rifles are available for the force over and above the 21 rifles in use by the police here, also that the total supply of 303 ammunition is limited to
400 rounds.
2. In the event of the continuance of the state of war, would Your Excel- lency be pleased to send to Ocean Island 100 rifles, or any less number available, and a few thousand rounds of 303 ammunition?
I have, &c.,
His Excellency
The High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji.
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Enclosure 3 in No. 104.
E. C. ELIOT,
Resident Commissioner.
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate, Office of the Resident Commissioner, Ocean Island,
7th September, 1914. REFERRING to my Confidential letter, dated 4th instant, asking that, in the event of the continuance of a state of war, rifles and ammunition might be sent to Ocean Island, I have the honour to report that I have received a deputation from the Japanese labourers on this island under indenture to the Pacific Phos- phate Company, who ask that they may be permitted to form a corps to assist in the protection of the food supplies.
2. Their numbers comprise 61 trained soldiers, including a military cadet and nine non-commissioned officers, all of whom have seen active service. They ask that the command may be given to the Japanese Medical Officer, who served on a Japanese war vessel.
3. I informed them that I had received no official notification that their country was in arms, but undertook to bring their request before Your Excellency. 4. I observe that Section 3 of King's Regulation No. 1 of 1909 allows for the enrolment of members of any nationality, and, should it be thought advisable to increase the strength of the Volunteer Reserve, there can be no question as to the efficiency of the Japanese volunteers. As I have already advised Your Excellency, I have no arms available for issue should their services be accepted.
I have, &c., His Excellency
E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner.
The High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific,
Suva, Fiji.
T
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WESTERN PACIFO.