The German menace in the Pacific : the position now existing in German New Guinea / by Thomas J. McMahon

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McMahon, Thomas J
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PETHpam 1322
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THE GERMAN MENACE IN THE  

PACT FIC  

THE POSITION NOW EXISTING IN GERMAN  

NEW GUINEA  

ITS STRATEGICAL AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE ?THE DANGER TO  

THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA SOME HISTORICAL AND INTE-  

RESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS RICH ISLAND TERRITORY THE  

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL AND MILITARY OCCUPATION ?THE SUCCESS OF  

THE AUSTRALIAN ADMINISTRATION  

THOMAS J. McMAHON  

SOME forty years ago German  

travellers ostensibly traders?  

came into the South Pacific and,  

after various moves in doubtful  

trading, became especially busy in stirring  

up the natives on many islands in constant  

tribal and inter-tribal warfare, thereby  

creating constant annoyance and danger  

to British missionaries and British and  

Australian traders. They began by teach-  

ing the natives the effectiveness of powder  

and shot as compared with bows and  

arrows.  

After years of mischief they took  

possession of what can truly be called one  

of the richest island territories of the whole  

Pacific, and now known, with its hundreds  

of islands, large and small, as German New  

Guinea. Undoubtedly, as records show  

and events have proved, this territory  

was chosen more for its strategical sig-  

nificance, with its nearness, as regards  

the Australian prize, than for its wonderful  

resources, amazing commercial possi-  

bilities and prospects, which nowadays  

are attracting considerable attention.  

To-day, by the fortunes of war, German  

New Guinea is not governed by German  

administration, but by an Australian  

military administration, notable and  

remarkable fact that brings forward the  

eminence of Australia in Imperial affhirs,  

and the assistance that is being given the  

Empire in these days of strife.  

It is to be hoped it shows also the  

promise of direct and central control of  

the islands of the South Pacific by  

Australia in the bright future to come,  

when war has ceased and the avenues of  

prosperity are open once more to com-  

merce.  

From the nearest point of Australia to  

that of German New Guinea an airman  

might fly in time less than one hour. By  

fast cruiser rounding Papua (British  

New Guinea) it could easily be done in less  

than forty hours. It is palpable facts  

like these that are just at present dis-  

quieting the people of Australia, now fully  

realising the meaning and menace of the  

strategy of Germany in the Pacific and  

her designs upon the Commonwealth  

designs which German plans have re-  

vealed of grand Pacific German Empire  

in the southern hemisphere, with Australia  

as the crowning jewel. There is now  

documentary proof of the ambitions of  

Germany in choosing on this useful island  

territory of German New Guinea, with its  

remarkable number of deep water bays  

and harbours, safe bases, complete and  

ready for all naval uses. The most impor-  

tant, Blanche Bay, to the east of New  

Britain, and on which is situated the seat  

of administration, Rabaul, could not be  

surpassed for depth, shelter and secrecy,  

and could carry upon its extensive waters  

the navies of Britain, France,and America.  

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APA citation

McMahon, Thomas J. (). The German menace in the Pacific : the position now existing in German New Guinea Retrieved April 13, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79500576

MLA citation

McMahon, Thomas J. The German menace in the Pacific : the position now existing in German New Guinea : , . Web. 13 April 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79500576>

Harvard/Australian citation

McMahon, Thomas J. , The German menace in the Pacific : the position now existing in German New Guinea , viewed 13 April 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79500576

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{{Citation
  | author1=McMahon, Thomas J.
  | title=The German menace in the Pacific : the position now existing in German New Guinea
  | year=
  | section=p. [479]-489 : ill. ; 24 cm.
  | publisher=
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-79500576
  | id=nla.obj-79500576
  | access-date=13 April 2025
  | via=Trove
}}

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Since 1988 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]

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1918
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