Folio 217: Telegram from Naval Board Melbourne to Admiralty 13th August 1914. [HMAS]...

Folio 217: Telegram from Naval Board Melbourne to Admiralty 13th August 1914. [HMAS] Australia,[HMAS] Melbourne, [HMAS] Sydney could proceed to Nauru to destroy wireless telegraph station. Suggest China fleet attack Yap. Reply from Admiralty 13th August 1914. Use HMS Encounter,[HMAS] Melbourne, [HMAS] Sydney for New Guinea expedition and if possible destruction of wireless at Nauru. Yap will be dealt with by China squadron. Folio 219: Telegram from Melbourne to Admiralty 13th August 1914. Relating to secret instructions issued by Union of Hamburg Shipowners regarding special routes to be followed and neutral ports to be sought out at outbreak of war taken from German steamer Hobart. Folio 221: Telegram from Sir Edward Grey to Sir C.Greene(Tokyo) 13th August 1914. Japan must make it clear that she is not going to seize German Pacific Islands, Dutch East Indies or interfere with Pacific Coast of America. Folio 222: Telegram from Sir George Buchanan, St Petersburg to Foreign Office 13th August 1914. Japanese Ambassador informed Minister for Foreign Affairs today his Government had decided to take the offensive against Germany. Folio 228: Telegram from Amoy to Admiralty 14th August 1914. German merchant vessel Andalusia left 13th [August] noon. Destination probably North American port. Hanadwritten note on telegram: from Rentiers Manila to Admiralty 14th August 1914.German merchant vessel Princess Alice equipped wireless telegraph left 6 30am 14th August ostensibly for Shanghai. Folio 229: Telegram from Hong Kong to Admiralty 14th August 1914.Am in wireless touch now [with] Commander-in-Chief China and expect him to arrive at Hong Kong with HMS Hampshire 17th August from direction of Yap Island. Folio 230: Telephone messages received by Chief Censor R.T.from Chief Censor,War Office 14th August 1914 The following message has been intercepted by War Office Censor to Reuters Telegram Company, London from New York.Shanghai. Two warships believed to be either HMS Minotaur and HMS Hampshire or French Dupleix and Montcalm carrying many wounded arrived Hong Kong yesterday. Reported engaged battle with German Scharnhorst and Gneisnau. Folio 231: Telegram from Sir J Jordan Peking to Sir Edward Grey 14th August 1914. Relating to Chinese territories during war and when hostilities cease. Folio 232: Telegram from Sir J Jordan, Peking 14th August 1914. Chinese may dismantle French wireless at Shanghai. Propose to limit protests to use of wireless by German ships in Chinese waters. Folio 233: Telegram from Commonwealth Naval Board, Melbourne 14th August 1914. Precis of the instructions issued to Hamburg ship relating to special routes and neutral ports. Folio 234: Telegram intercepted by War Office Censor from Elliston, Shanghai to Sun, London 14th August 1914. Russian cruiser Askold German cruiser Emden engaged near Wei-hai-Wei, result unknown. American Legation Peking requested American Government reinforce American forces China protect foreign interests treaty ports. Handwritten note on telegram. Fighting had taken place between Askold and Emden; Askold after grounding surrendered to Emden, was floated and towed to Tsingtau. Folio 241: Telegram from Bethmann-Hollweg [Chancellor of Germany] to German Embassy Newport 15th August 1914. If Japan wishes we should be prepared for the neutralisation of East Asia and East Asiatic waters on condition of the same attitude on the part of our adversaries. Telegraphic report via Washington to German Embassy for the press 15th August 1914. Emperor with headquarters staff has left for the theatre of war. Hangoe, Russian torpedo vessel sunk. 90 men drowned. Wholesale desertion of Russian soldiers on Galician boundry. Severe fights by Drina (River) Servians repulsed. Folio 249: Telegram from Foreign Office to Sir C Greene Tokyo 15th August 1914. Relating to operations in China and restoration of Kiaochow to Chinese. Folios 250-251: Telegram from Sir C Greene Tokyo to Foreign Office 15th August 1914.terms of ultimatum issued by Japanese to Germany which will expire August 23rd. Also cruisers will at once be placed on trade routes (with orders not to fire on enemy before 23rd August) to shepherd merchant vessels and drive enemy into arms of British cruisers. Folio 256: Telegram from Sir C Greene Tokyo to Sir Edward Grey 15th August 1914. Ultimatum to Germany will be handed in to German Ambassador tonight. Folio 257: Telegram from Admiralty to Hong Kong 16th August 1914. German ships Tsingtau and Lockshun 2,500 tons coal ready to sail. Folio 261: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief China 16th August 1914. Yes to co-operation with Russians. Folio 262: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Hong Kong 16th August. Holland strictly neutral and it is important to keep her so. Folio 263: Telegram from French Admiralty 16th August 1914. Two German merchant ships loaded with coal to leave Manila soon. Believed to be bound for New Guinea to replenish a German cruiser. Liner Princess Alice possibly armed as auxiliary cruiser also believed to have left Manila probably for New Guinea. Folio 264: Telegram from Foreign Office to Sir J Jordan Peking 16th August 1914. Co-operation with Japan. Army Council desire to form a brigade from North China Garrison completed by one Indian battalion and one Indian Mountain Battery from Hong Kong. Do you have any objection to temporary withdrawal of Tientsin garrison for this purpose? Legation Guard would of course remain. Folio 266: Handwritten telegram from Chief of War Staff Admiralty, Vice Admiral Sir F C D Sturdee to Commodore Hong Kong 16th August 1914. Report proposed movements. You should deal promptly with Yap and Anguar. [HMAS] Australia and Montcalm [French cruiser]covering Samoa and New Guinea expeditions. Folio 268: telegram from Sir C Greene Tokyo 16th August 1914. Views of both French and Russian ambassadors when handed copies of German ultimatum.both consider delay of a week on eve of hostilities unaccountable. Folio 272: telegram from Commander-in-Chief China to Admiralty 17th August 1914. Probably Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Emden and Nurnberg [German cruisers] now together at Marshall Islands with 20,000 tons of coal. Am watching Tsingtau and protecting trade routes Japan to Singapore. Shall remain at Hong Kong possible objective of Germans Dutch East Indies but more likely Pacific coast of America; suggest cruisers from home be sent there. Will Japan declare war on Germany? Result of my cruise captured German collier 1,800 tons coal from China and destroyed Yap wireless station. HMS Newcastle leaves Yokohama 18th August for Vancouver. HMS Hampshire ready to follow from Hong Kong if Japan declares war. Folio 273: Telegram from Mr Barclay (Washington) 16th August 1914. I learn on what I believe to be good authority that Japanese government have demanded of China 99 years leases of South Manchurian and Fukien provinces.

Folio 275: Telegram from Yokohama to Admiralty 17th August 1914. HMS Newcastle arrived. Folio 277: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief China to Admiralty 17th August 1914.propose leaving Anguar for the present, as it is 3,000 miles off and unconnected by cable. Telegraph ship about to leave Shanghai to cut Shanghai-Yap cable, Can HMS Sealark andHMS Fantome be paid off to free crews for other service. Handwritten note on telegram:- HMS Fantome left for Sydney 14th August. HMS Sealark on her way to Suva where it is proposed that she should stay for the present to assist in local defence.