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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

لتسلية

Reference :-

FICO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRESS NOT TO

4984/S

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NIGERIA.

No. 81.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Secret.)

(Received 1st February, 1915.)

SIR,

Government House, Nigeria, 9th January, 1915. In accordance with the request contained in your despatch No. 1747, of the 20th November,* I have the honour to forward a memorandum detailing the various measures taken to meet the situation in Nigeria, made in consequence of the out- break of war.

Enclosure in No. 81.

I have, &c.,

F. D. LUGARD,

Governor-General.

It was recognised in 1913 that the defence scheme of Nigeria had become obsolete and practically useless, and early in 1914 its complete recasting was under- taken by the General Staff Officer, Captain Wright, V.C. All matters of importance had been discussed with the Governor, and the completed scheme was sent home for his final approval and submission to the Secretary of State in June, 1914. At the moment when the precautionary telegram was received, on 30th July at 8 a.m., approval of the new scheme had not yet been received. Shortly afterwards the necessary approval was received by telegram.

In accordance with the preface to the defence scheme, the following measures were at once put into force by the Administrator of Lagos, in the absence of the Governor's Deputy.

2. 31st July-An Order under the Telegraph Ordinance and Regulation under the Wireless Ordinance to legalize the establishment of censorship were pre pared. It was considered that, previous to the bringing into force of the actual censorship, some steps should be taken as regards the question of local censorship. Accordingly, orders were given that a watch should be kept on all telegrams received or sent at the terminal telegraph stations, Yola, Maidugari, Calabar, Bonny, Forcados, and Lagos, and orders were given that all telegrams reporting movements of troope should be stopped and that, although there was no authority at present to stop code telegrams, in the event of grave suspicion attaching to the sender these should be delayed.

The question of censorship and its details was discussed and draft letters were prepared for the censors at Bonny and Zungeru. In the meantime, Captain Wright, in the absence of the Commandant, had taken steps to put into force the preliminary stages of the defence scheme, as far as Lagos was concerned; the other moves awaited the arrival of the war telegram from the Secretary of State.

Questions of transport, rations, carriers, etc., also received attention. On this day a telegram was received from the Secretary of State stopping all leave of military and civil officers with duties under the defence scheme, except under medical certificate.

1st August. After consultation with Captain Wright and Captain Percival, Acting Director of Marine, it was decided that the following measures should be taken for the protection of Lagos:-The two dredgers and an old branch boat of Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company were moored in such a position that at short notice they could be sunk in the channel, thus denying ingress to any hostile gun- boats. It was also arranged with Mr. Evans, agent of Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company, in the event of the shipping having to lie in harbour and being unable to proceed to sea, that at Forcados all vessels should proceed to Sapele; at Bonny to Degema; in each case the Divisional Marine Officer being prepared to mine the approach to Sapele and Degema at the most convenient spot. It was also arranged that at Calabar a fast launch should patrol as far as the Akwayafe River.

Mr. Boyle returned to Lagos this day, and the Government yacht "Ivy sent back at once to Bonny with the censorship papers in order that they should be in the hands of the District Officer appointed as Censor as soon as possible.

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Was

* 45801 not printed.

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NIGERIA.

2nd August.-At 10 p.m. a cable was received from the Secretary of State to put into force the censorship. Colonel Moorhouse was appointed Censor at Lagos During this day cables were sent to the Governor-General in London to expedite, if possible, the despatch of gun ammunition and fuses already long over- due, and also to the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone, asking if they could also supply. 3rd August.-Arrangements were made with the Postmaster-General for extra telegraph lines to be fitted to the cable hut and to the signal station and the Tele phone Exchange was ordered to be kept. open all night.

The Inspector-General of Police was warned that a strict watch should be kept on the doings of the German residents.

An interview was held by Mr. James with the editors of the Lagos news- papers. The serious condition of affairs was explained to them, and they were warned of the possibility of England being drawn into the conflict, also that it was necessary that no information of any kind affecting military movements should be allowed to reach a possible enemy. They were also asked to refrain from comment- ing on the situation, so that as little excitement as possible should take place among the natives. They undertook to assist in every way and this promise was faithfully performed, except by one paper.

At 9.80 the following telegram was received from the Secretary of State: -

"Strained relations with Germany. Be on your guard against possible

attack."

Officers at the various ports were immediately informed, and also the military and marine authorities in Lagos.

A tele-

4th August. Stores for Europeans advanced 100 per cent. in price. gram was sent to the Secretary of State advocating the establishment of martial law, so as to give full control over exports. A reply was received that legislative and executive steps should be taken to achieve the objects in view.

Bomb-proof shelters for Europeans were erected, more particularly for the use of Government headquarters in the event of an attack from the sea making it necessary to vacate present offices.

5th August.—At 2.15 a.m. a telegram, dated 11 p.m. 4th August, was received announcing that war had broken out with Germany. Steps were immediately taken to complete the chain of instructions following on the receipt of the war telegram. At a meeting held between Mr. Boyle, Mr. James, Mr. Maxwell, the Legal Adviser, and Mr. Peet, the Director of Public Works, it was decided to bring out a Proclamation giving the Executive certain powers to provide against the export Under this Pro- of necessaries, the prices of food, and the supervision of the town. clamation & Committee of Control was appointed at each centre, Mr. Peet being the Chairman in Lagos, and the Commissioners acting in the same capacity in their respective provinces. A Proclamation" was also issued calling on the inhabitants to enrol as special constables so that the police force could be relieved, to a certain A further Proclama- degree, for military duties. The response was a ready one. tion* was issued embodying the Marine Department as a combatant force, and also raising "Nigeria Land Contingents." A Proclamation received from the Secretary of State by telegram, on the subject of trading with the enemy, was issued, as well as a further Proclamation prohibiting export of certain articles.

Prisoners of War.-Instructions were received from London (1) that all Con- sular Officers should leave forthwith-Herr Gloye, of Lagos, and Herr Fritsch, of Warri, were duly warned; (2) that all German naval and military reservists should be arrested. This was duly carried out, and the persons were interned in a special part of Lagos Gaol, as it was impossible to put them anywhere else, but instructions were immediately sent to Ibadan to prepare a prisoners' encampment at the Moor plantation. A watch was kept on the movements of Austrian subjects.

Between 5th August and 12th August considerable telegraphic correspondence took place between the Governor's Deputy and the Commandant, who had remained at Kaduna, with regard to an offensive movement which he proposed over the Eastern frontier, resulting in a wire from the Secretary of State, which necessi- tated Colonel Carter's presence in Lagos for the purpose of consultation as to reasonable chances of successful invasion of Duala (a) with naval resistance; (b) without; (c) with the co-operation of the French.

• Enclosed in this despatch, but not printed.

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