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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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· Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

2656

SIR,

(No. 178.)

218

SEYCHELLES.

No. 89.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 18th January, 1915.)

Government House, Seychelles, 18th December, 1914.

I HAVE the honour to report, in continuation of my narrative despatch No. 155 of the 30th October, 1914,* regarding the local occurrences and arrangements made since the outbreak of war.

"

"

Emden had 2. So soon as the news was received that the German cruiser been sunk at the Cocos Islands, and that the cruiser "Königsberg" was shut up in a river in East Africa, I communicated with the Admiral Commanding in Chief of the East Indies, and, with his concurrence, took steps to recover the Admiralty patent fuel which, in the early days of the war, had been jettisoned in shallow water. The total amount thus disposed of amounted to 2,859 tons, and the amount recovered think, unduly large, considering that a is 2,637 tons. The loss of 222 tons is not, considerable proportion was composed of slack and that the patent fuel has been The fuel recovered is in immersed in the harbour for three-and-a-half months. very good condition, and does not appear to have suffered from the immersion. The work of disposing of the coal in shallow water on the reef, and subsequent recovery, has been done by the Admiralty coaling agents, Messrs. Pare, Newaam, and Pare, as representatives of Messrs. Cory and Company. The work, I submit, has been accomplished with care and success, and considerable credit is due to Messrs. Pare, Newsam, and Pare.

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was more

3. The news of the coal having been dumped in the sea was carried away by one of the Messageries boats which happened to pass through during the operations, and was exaggerated to the extent of our having thrown into the sea all the coal in store. This report was undoubtedly believed in Paris, at Aden, in Egypt, and at certain ports on the east coast, and I am inclined to believe that the immunity from a visit from a hostile cruiser that we enjoyed may be due to this cause, as the reports of the captains of the British India steamers state that the "Königsberg than once in our vicinity, and there is the direct proof that she was at Aldabṛa on the 1st September. The report of the dumping of all coal was quite erroneous as, under the directions of the Admiral Commanding in Chief, 500 tons of Admiralty patent fuel and the full supply of Welsh coal have always been available for His Majesty's ships or the mercantile marine of the Empire and our allies.

and the "Königs- 4. The relief to all classes on learning that the "Emden berg" had been accounted for was very general. I desire to record that, considering all things, the behaviour of the people in this Colony, and the entire absence of panic Considering our open and isolated or undue excitement, has been very noticeable. position, the credulity of the people, and their entire ignorance as to what war means, this is commendable. The most exaggerated stories as to what injuries and penalties the Germans would inflict on the inhabitants, if they arrived, were in cir- culation in the early days, but a little quiet explanation, and the entire absence of concern in the Government offices, soon dispelled this state of nervousness.

5. There is now no real cause or reason why the staple export of our Colony, The price in the London market is copra, should not return to its normal level. high, and the demand appears to be maintained. The price of vanilla is fair, but the demand is not large. The two causes that militate against the return to ordinary conditions are the present shortness of money, until the payments for shipments of produce to Europe in October are received, and the excitement of the people to hear and gossip over the war news, which makes many disinclined for ordinary settled work. The reduced activity on the guano islands results in less money in circula- tion, but I am in hopes that this may be temporary. The essential oil industry, which was almost entirely with Germany, is in abeyance.

6. I am not yet in a position to report as to the revenue collected. Taxes for 1914 are due under the Ordinance by the 31st October, but, in view of the war, extra

* No. 88.

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SEYCHELLES.

time has been allowed, and the position will not be known until the end of the year; but so far the return has been very fair. There is some difficulty in obtaining pay- ment for some of the loans to planters which have fallen due, and a short extension of time has been granted.

7. Imports have, not unnaturally, fallen considerably, but the stock of food- stuffs that form the staple necessities of life is at present at the normal, and I see The large no reason why this should not continue if the agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company will grant us our monthly call from Bombay. amount of foodstuffs that has been planted by Government and proprietors will soon be on the market, when the supplies should be ample.

8. The local dealers are attempting to boycott the sale of the Government rice imported as a reserve, and have put about the story that it is of inferior quality and deteriorated. There is no truth whatever in these stories; the rice is of a higher quality than any brought by importers, and is in excellent condition. The reasons for the fables are that importers are afraid the Government may continue to import for institutions, and thus they will lose the monopoly. I am offering the rice on such advantageous terms that I think it should all be sold without loss to Government. 9. As regards subscriptions and donations to charitable institutions, the Colony has remitted home £420 to the Red Cross Society and several thousand gar- ments made in the Colony. Subscriptions to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's Fund already sent amount to £100, and by the outgoing mail a further sum of over £212 will be sent. This latter amount includes the handsome subscrip- tion of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the detachment of the French Colonial Army, fully reported on in my despatch No. 172, of the 15th instant.*

10. I beg to tender my respectful and grateful thanks for the appreciation of my efforts you have been good enough to place on record in your despatch No. 68, of the 27th October, 1914.t

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SIB,

(No. 671.)

I have, &c.,

C. R. M. O'BRIEN,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Governor.

SIERRA

LEONE.

No. 90.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 18th January, 1915.)

Government House, Sierra Leone, 31st December, 1914. WITH reference to your despatch No. 537, of the 20th ultimo, I have the honour to submit the following report on the measures taken in this Colony in consequence of the outbreak of war.

2. The warning telegram was received by me at 7.40 p.m. on the 29th July. I at once communicated with the General Officer Commanding the troops, who was at Hill Station, by telephone; and he came down to Government House shortly after 9 p.m. After conferring with me, he left for the headquarter office to issue instruc- tions for the mobilization of the garrison, and the batteries were manned the same night.

3. I also sent for the Heads of Departments residing in Freetown who have duties to perform under the defence scheme (the Comptroller of Customs, Commis- sioner of Police, and Harbour Master), and issued the necessary instructions to them. Early the following morning the necessary instructions were issued to all the other officers concerned who reside at Hill Station, and, generally speaking, the precautionary stage of the defence scheme was brought into force. Procla- mations were also issued putting the examination service into force, and bringing the forces in the Colony and Protectorate under the Army Act, 1881, as if they were on active service.

* 2652: not printed.

+ 89082: not printed.

↑ 45801: not printed.

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SIERRA LEONE.