Australian forces on the island of New Pomerania, German New Guinea, on December 30th, 1914, three months after the German surrender there. The island, subsequently renamed New Britain, is now part of Papua New Guinea, most of which constitutes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. Papua New Guinea (capital Port Moresby) was formerly under Australian government but achieved independence in 1975, with the British monarch as Head of State. The western half of the island of New Guinea was a Dutch colony until it was annexed by Indonesia’s Islamic military junta in 1962.
Introduction
ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops were involved from the very beginning of the Great War on August 4th, 1914, not because they were summoned to Europe to protect Britain but because Germany’s growing colonial presence in the South Pacific was a direct threat to their independence.
THE German Pacific possessions had long been a source of anxiety to the Australian Commonwealth, and the first blow against them was struck by the adjacent British dominions. The initial attack was made on Samoa. On 15th August a New Zealand expeditionary force, some 1,500 strong, left Wellington in troop-ships, and sailed for Samoa under the escort of HMS Australia, HMS Melbourne, and the French cruiser Montcalm. On 28th August it reached Apia,* and took possession of the islands without resistance. The German officials came in and swore fealty, and were confirmed in their posts.
Then came the turn of New Pomerania.* On 11th September an expeditionary force arrived at Herbertshöhe,* the port at the north-eastern extremity of the island. A party of sailors landed at dawn, and proceeded through the bush towards the wireless station. The advance was not unopposed, for the Germans seem to have concentrated here most of the troops which they possessed in their New Guinea Protectorate.
Apia is the capital of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa), which was governed by New Zealand until full independence in 1962. Not to be confused with neighbouring American Samoa, which remains a US territory governed from Washington. For a map of the region, see A map of modern-day Oceania, showing the chief islands, countries and groupings.
New Pomerania is now New Britain, an island off the east coast of Papua New Guinea, immediately to the north of Australia. New Britain is divided into East and West administrative divisions.
Herbertshöhe is now Kokopo, capital of East New Britain. In Buchan’s day, the capital was Rabaul, but the town was devasted by a volcanic eruption in 1994.
Précis
Following the outbreak of the Great War on August 4th, 1914, Australia and New Zealand sent troops to several Pacific islands then under the control of the German Empire, a source of concern for several years. Their first goal was to secure Samoa, and after doing so, took control of New Pomerania to the east of New Guinea. (58 / 60 words)
Following the outbreak of the Great War on August 4th, 1914, Australia and New Zealand sent troops to several Pacific islands then under the control of the German Empire, a source of concern for several years. Their first goal was to secure Samoa, and after doing so, took control of New Pomerania to the east of New Guinea.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, if, may, not, otherwise, unless, whereas.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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