Folio 280: Telegram from Sir J Jordan (Peking) 17th August 1914.General Officer Commanding expresses opinion in which I concur, that Legation Guard may be reduced to one hundred British Infantry and fifty British gunners and that two hundred Sikhs will suffice for Tientsin garrison and to hold railway. Folio 285: Telegram from Admiralty [Vice Admiral Sir FCD Sturdee] to Commander-in-Chief China 17th August 1914.Concur about Anguar. Yap cable not to be cut. HMS Sealark and HMS Fantome not available. Folios 286-287: Telegram from Poldhu, Zimmerman to German Embassy, Newport 17th August 1914.if Japan remains neutral East-Asiatic Squadron will abstain from hostile acts against England. Cancelled a few minutes later. Folio 290: Telegram to Hong Kong 17th August 1914.general instructions for cruisers as to taking prizes. Folio 291: Telegram from Foreign Office to Sir C Greene,Tokyo 17th August 1914.German may hand Kiaochou direct to China and scatter ships in pursuit of British commerce. Is Japan ready for this? Folio 294: Telegram from Mr Barclay 17th August 1914.Japans ultimatum to Germany has caused concern. Press charges that Japan has encroached upon China seizing possibly Pacific Islands with minimum of trouble to herself. Stress is laid upon danger to United Statess strategical position should islands be occupied namely Samoa and Ladrones. Folio 295: Telegram from Sir J Jordan, Peking to Sir Edward Grey 18th August 1914.text of joint declaration which Japanese Charge dAffaires invites me[Sir John Jordan] to make to Chinese Government. Folio 300: Telegram from HMS Newcastle, Yokohama to Admiralty 18th August 1914.sail tonight for Vancouver Island. Folio 301: Sir C Greene, Tokyo to Sir Edward Grey 18th August 1914 relating to Chinese neutrality. Folio 302: Telegram from Sir C Greene 18th August 1914.officers left on 12th August by American ship Siberian as no British ships were proceeding to Canada. Folio 304: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, China 18th August 1914. Intercepted wireless signal to German Embassy Newport says,Attack by Japs at latest 23rd August. Emperor commands to defend Tsingtau to the last. Inform cruiser squadron. Folio 312: Telegram to Navy Board, Melbourne and Commander-in-Chief, China 19th August 1914.repeats directions to Australia to seize and occupy Rabaul and then send out 3 expeditions to occupy Nauru, Yap and Anguar in order to break enemy lines of intelligence in Pacific. Folio 313: Telegram from Intelligence Officer, Singapore to Admiralty 19th August 1914.no single ship has been detained by me at Singapore. Geier[German gunboat] has been in neighbourhood of Samarang, Bali Island. St Theodore not arrived. St Kilda remaing in vicinity of direct route to Singapore North Java definitely clear. Folio 316: Telegram from Consul-General Fraser, Shanghai 19th August 1914. Fleet is using a chartered launch to take out fresh meat and to bring in men. Local authorities protest that this is a breach of their neutrality and last night two German tide-waiters tried to stop her departure. Folio 317: Telegram from Hong Kong to Admiralty 19th August 1914.if British troops go to Tsingtau there ought to be British naval officers of rank there. Shall I go there myself or send a Captain? British men-of-war should escort British troops. Is HMS Hampshire to go to Esquimault? Folio 318: Telegram from Sir J Jordan, Peking to Sir Edward Grey 19th August 1914.relating to Chinese neutrality and possible attack by Japanese on Kiaochow. Folio 319: Telegram from Sir C Greene to Foreign Office 18th August 1914.naval blockade of Tsingtau entrusted to 1st and 2nd Japanese cruiser squadrons. Co-operation of British light cruisers sufficient but left to Admiralty to decide size and number of ships they will send. Japanese War Office wish to know in the event of operations against Tsingtau whether British Commander will be permitted to place himself under the orders of the Japanese Commander-in-Chief. Answer to Foreign Office sent 23rd August 1914. Sir H.B.J. [Sir Henry Jackson]. Sea command will be taken by Japanese Admiral and Commander-in-Chief China should be free for other operations. L.B. [Prince Louis of Battenberg]- Commander-in-Chief to keep out of it himself. M no number. Folio 321: Telegram from Sir C Greene, Tokyo to Sir Edward Grey 19th August 1914.Japanese reservations relating to military and naval co-operation between France, Russia and Japan during operations in China. Folio 323: Telegram from Admiralty to Marine, Paris 19th August 1914. Until [German cruisers] Gneisenau and Scharnhorst have been destroyed, Montcalm [French cruiser] will act in concert with [HMAS] Australia. Folio 326: Telegram from Honolulu to Admiralty 20th August 1914.German Pommern merchant vessel arrived 11am. Folio 327: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief, Hong Kong to Admiralty 20th August 1914.German ship Rajaburi seized by Hong Kong no cargo on board. German collier Elsbeth with 1800 tons of Government coal captured and sunk by HMS Hampshire 60 miles to the North-west of Yap Island 11th August. Folio 328: Telegram from Sir C Greene, Tokyo to Sir Edward Grey 20th August 1914.relating to Japanese objectives in continental China and desire to eliminate German influence. Folio 329: Telegram from Zimmermann to German Embassy, Neiport [?Newport] intercepted Stockton W/T 20th August 1914. Japan demands at once the withdrawal of our warships from the Far East and eventually to disarm them if Kiauchou surrenders unconditionally. Folio 333: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief China 20th August 1914. British troops will participate in reduction of Tsingtau. Your presence there not required. HMS Triumph can be detailed to escort British troops.HMS Hampshire not to go to Esquimault for present. Folio 335: Telegram from Sir Edward Grey to Sir C Greene Tokyo 20th August 1914.we consider it very difficult not to offer France who has collected all her reservists at Tien-tsin participation in the operations. Russia will no doubt be glad to limit her action to the sea as she has no troops in North China. Folios 341-342: memorandum from First Lord of the Admiralty [Winston Spencer Churchill] 20th August 1914 relating to dispositions of our ships in the Pacific. Commander-in-Chief Chian should send HMS Triumph to co-operate at Tsingtau and go himself to Rabaul with HMS Minotaur,HMS Hampshire andHMS Yarmouth. After minor expeditions combine with [HMAS] Australia and Montcalm [French cruiser] in searching for [German cruisers] Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Folio 344: Telegram from Foreign Office to Sir J Jordan Peking 21st August 1914.relating to whether British underwriters in Shanghai can trade with Germans. Folio 346: Telegram from Intelligence Office, Singapore to Admiralty 21st August 1914.German ship Roon and two unknown cruisers off Banjuwangi today. Folio 348: Telegram from Admiralty to Hong Kong 21st August 1914.[German ship]Leipzig sailed from San Francisco 18th August destination possibly Samoa. [German vessel]Nurnburg reported proceeding to Honolulu or Fanning Island. Folio 350: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief China to Admiralty 21st August 1914. Rear Admiral Commanding Australia thinks Germans are collecting supplies of coal North-east of New Britain. Main squadron will probably go east but auxiliary cruisers will be left to act on China, Pacific and Australian trade from base in Pacific. Folio 351: Telegram from Sir J Jordan, Peking to Sir Edward Grey 21ts August 1914. Relating to British troops passing through Chinese territory to attack Kiaochow and assurances from Japanese re Kiaochow.
Page 150: telegram from Governor General Australia to Secretary of State for the Colonies 10th August 1914 expeditionary force of 1500 men [for New Guinea] being organised for despatch on merchant cruiser. Departure subject to reports from [Rear Admiral] Patey. Page 153: telegram from Admiralty to Rear Admiral Australia 10th August 1914 important for your squadron to reconnoitre Rabaul and attack German cruisers coal and W/T forewith. Page 155: telegram from Admiralty to Governor, Suva,Fiji 10th August 1914 pass to Montcalm [French cruiser] French Admiralty directs you to call at Suva for orders. Page 157: telegram from Senior Naval Officer Auckland to Admiralty 10th August 1914 will provide at least two cruisers to act as escorts but suggests deferment of expedition until movements of Scharnhorst and Gneisnau [German cruisers] are known or until Australian squadron can assist. Page 159: telegram from Escott [High Commissioner] Suva to Admiralty 11th August 1914 Montcalm [French cruiser] telegraphed will arrive Suva 12th morning. Page 160: telegram from Senior Naval Officer New Zealand Division to Admiralty 11th August 1914 [HMS] Fantome on the way to Sydney. [HMS] Sealark on way to Suva. Suggest she should remain to assist in local defence of coal cables. Page 162: telegram from Governor General Australia to Secretary of State for the Colonies 11th August 1914 all vessels and crews transferred to Kings Naval Forces. Page 163: telegram from Governor General Australia to Secretary of State for the Colonies 11th August 1914 arrangements being made to despatch expeditionary force to England. Page 164: telegram to Senior Naval OfficerNew Zealand initialled F.C.D.S. [Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee] 11th August 1914 Scharnhorst and Gneisnau [German cruisers] probably coaling at Bismarck Archipelago. Expedition being covered by [HMAS] Australia and squadron in Bismarck waters and [HMS] Sealark and Montcalm [French cruiser] in Fiji waters should be secure. Page 166: telegram from Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor General Australia 11th August 1914 declaration of war by Japan on Germany seems inevitable but understand Japanese action will not extend to Pacific Ocean beyond the China seas. May be necessary for Japan to protect Japanese liners from German cruisers in Pacific. Page 168: History Section Precis, (paper M 01360/14) 11th August 1914: b.c.d.-N.Z.Government assume all financial responsibility. Page 172: telegram from French Admiralty to Admiralty (British) 12th August 1914 Montcalm [French cruiser] sailing to Noumea to coal and then to China with Kersaint. What are your intentions re Montcalm? Have you information re probable movements of cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisnau. Page 174: telegram from Navy Office Melbourne to Admiralty 12th August 1914 [HMAS] Australia, [HMAS] Melbourne, [HMAS] Sydney, [HMS] Encounter and three destroyers near Rabaul. [HMAS] Pioneer due at Freemantle about 15th August. Submarine and [HMAS] Protector at Sydney. German code book for mercantile craft captured at Melbourne, another captured at Freemantle. Page 175: telegram from Receiver General Suva to Admiralty 12th August 1914 French ship Montcalm left. Page 176: telegram from Commonwealth Board Melbourne to Navy Office Melbourne 12th August 1914 SS Berrima is being fitted as armed transport. Page 178: telegram from Naval Attache to Marine Paris 12th August 1914: please order Montcalm [French cruiser] to wait at Suva for military expedition from New Zealand to capture Samoa. After capture of Samoa, the Montcalm will act in concert with the Commander in Chief China. Page 183: telegram from Commonwealth Naval Board of Administration Melbourne to Admiralty 13th August 1914 Rear Admiral Commanding in [HMAS] Australia with [HMAS] Melbourne, [HMAS] Sydney, [HMS] Encounter and three destroyers searched Tilili Bay, Simpsonhafen and Matupi Harbour. Party landed at Rabaul and Herbertshops. Telegraph and telephone communications destroyed. Proceeding Port Moresby to coal; could then proceed to Nauru to destroy wireless station leaving [HMS] Encounter as W/T link. Suggests China fleet deal with Yap. New Guinea expedition should leave in about a week. Page 185: telegram to Senior Naval Officer New Zealand 13th August 1914-[HMAS] Australia as well as Montcalm [French cruiser] ordered to Suva to escort expedition to Samoa. Page 186: telegram from Navy Office Melbourne to Admiralty 13th August 1914 secret instructions for German merchant ships captured from SS Hobart. Principal order is that ships with enough coal should return by South America. Page 187: telegram from the Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for the Colonies 13th August 1914 is Cape Horn route for merchant ships considered safe. Merchants prepared to take a reasonable amount of risk. Page 188: telegram from Commonwealth Office, Melbourne 13th August 1914 signal decoded Scharnhorst [German cruiser] to or from Yap You must go to Mariana Island. Signals indicate that Scharnhorst has increased her distance from Australia. Pages 192 and 193: two telegrams to Senior Naval Officer New Zealand 13th August 1914commence hostilities against Austria. British trade should be allowed to continue uninterrupted. Page 196: telegram from Naval Ottawa to Admiralty 14th August 1914-Fanning Island wired understand Leipzig [German light cruiser] coaled San Francisco. Destination believed to be Fanning Island, North Pacific. Page 197: telegram from Senior Naval Officer New Zealand to Admiralty 14th August 1914 [HMS] Torch arrived Auckland. Page 199: telegram from Adelaide to Admiralty 14th August 1914 British merchant vessel Rangatira reports position of German merchant vessel Lubeck Lat.44 S.Long.120E 11th August 1914. Page 200: telegram from Governor New Zealand to S.S. [Secretary of State] Colonies 14th August 1914 Samoa Expedition ready to sail but R.A.C.Aus and Senior Naval Officer New Zealand consider it unsafe to sail at present. Reply from Admiralty to Senior Naval Officer New Zealand the route to Suva appears to be safe. Page 204: telegram from Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for Colonies 14th August 1914 Samoan Expedition under Colonel Logan leaves here August 15 at 6a.m. Lieutenant Eastwood, Rifle Brigade, my Aide-de-Camp goes as Staff Officer. Page 205: telegram from Commonwealth Naval Board, Melbourne 14th August 1914 relating to instructions issued to German merchant vessels attempting to reach neutral ports. Page 206: telegram from [HMS] Fantome, Fremantle Western Australia to Admiralty 14th August 1914 Leaving today for Sydney. Page 207: telegram from Senior Naval Officer Auckland to Admiralty 14th August 1914 [HMS] Torch arrived.
Page 266a: History Section Precis, (paper M 15552/14). b: letter from Messrs. Cayser Irving