NEW BRITAIN, 1914-08. RABAUL ON SIMPSON HARBOUR, THE NORTHERN EXTENSION OF BLANCHE BAY, WAS THE ...

NEW BRITAIN, 1914-08. RABAUL ON SIMPSON HARBOUR, THE NORTHERN EXTENSION OF BLANCHE BAY, WAS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE OF ALL GERMAN POSSESSIONS IN THE PACIFIC. THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS FOUR GERMAN WARSHIPS OF THE PACIFIC FLEET, THE CRUISERS SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU, NURNBERG AND LEIPZIG. AT THE OUTBREAK OF WW1 IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THESE SHIPS MAY BE LYING IN BLANCHE BAY AND THREE AUSTRALIAN DESTROYERS, HMAS PARRAMATTA, WARREGO, YARRA, ACCOMPANIED BY THE LIGHT CRUISER HMAS SYDNEY, RAIDED THE BAY ON 1914-08-11 BUT FOUND IT EMPTY. (PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY THE REVEREND W.H. COX AND DONATED BY E. DARNELL.)