Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-03
NAURU CAPTURE
CONFIRMEDBY
NORWEGIAN ship
Pronto, Vessel of Mystery, Will
Remain In Port Several
Days for Repairs -

GCn1FmaLlOn OF Jhe COlnplSte uS
struetion of a powerful radio telegraph
station at Nauru, one Of the most pro-
ductive islands in the Marshall group,
and it's seizure from the Germans by
large landing party of British Off
GERS and marines on September y
was brought to this port yesterday
, afternoon with the arrival Of the Nor
egian freighter Pronto, which, said
to be in distress, may remain here for
several days pending docking, repairs
and repainting.
While giving additional details con-
corning the taking OF Nauru by the
British, Captain II. T. Seeberg, mas
ter of the Pronto, states that he made
haste in leaving Nauru behind when
| it was discovered that Nauru and sey-
eral smaller islets in the vicinity were
prey to the larger force Of Britons.
In the endeavor to place as many
leagues of south Pacific between HIM
self and the victorious Britons, the
master of the Norwegian cargo steam
er departed from Nauru on the day
that the island fell into the hands of
the British. taking less than 200 tons
of phosphate rock
Island a Rich Prize.
That Nauru is a rich prize is gen.
orally admitted on board the Pronto,
which was eagerly visited by officials
and others yesterday. The phosphate
beds valued we'll into the millions of
pounds sterling, heretofore owned by
| the Germans and leased to the Pacific
Phosphate Company, have been
source of immense revenue to the
home government and to the owners
of the property.
One battle cruiser, several smaller
war vessels including a troop trans,
pert and collier, are declared to
have formed the British fleet that,
steaming from base along the coast
of New Zealand. descended upon
Nauru. In the opinion of officers in
the Pronto these vessels. may have
been the same warlike craft that
brought about the surrender of Ger
man Samoa, and the transfer Of some
Of the leading officials to Fiji -.
The Pronto was one Of several
freighters of Norwegian and German
registry that were awaiting a ship
ment Of phosphate at the island. Il
Is understood that two large British
steamers had also put in there some
days previous to the capture of the
island. .-.,
Nauru is believed to have proved
valuable base of supplies for the Ger
man steamers in the Pacific for some
time. The harbor can accommodate
vessels between 5000 to 5000 tons ind
a fine wharf, is listed with the port
improvements -.
Since August 3 the Pronto has been
cruising in the Marshall and Gilbert
islands according to extracts from the
ships leg. .-"..
Pronto Develops a Mystery.
There is much mystery connected
with the visit of the Pronto at Homo
lulu. For one thing, the vessel carries
passenger who under the name of
herman Spaehr is rated as super
cargo by the skipper, although he
passed the federal immigration under
the classification of a passenger. IT
Is freely limited that MIR. Spaehr is a
representative Of the German govern
ment, although when approached tc-
DAY concerning his mission ON board
the Pronto he maintained digntfed
SILENCE. He is understood to have ac-
companied the vessel on its extended
cruise In the south Pacific.
No Wireless, Yet Has News.
No wireless plant is visible on hoard
the Pronto today yet the officers an.
pear to be well posted concerning the
later developments of the conflict be.
tween the Germans and the Allies
captain Seeberg, reported that he
sailed from Nauru on August 3, where
ne had been lying OFF the port for some
days. proceeding to Jaluit, the i'm,
proYised base for several German
cruisers, his command reached the
German settlement on August I. The
Pronto is then said to have steamed
for Ponape, another island In the Mar.
shall group, and it was here that the
skipper admitted today that he had
first learned of the war.
The cruise Of the Pronto then took
the vessel to Ocean Island, which point
was reached on August 20. According
to the officers heavy weather prevent.
ed the vessel receiving cargo of
phosphates and the vessel was again
Despatched for Nauru Departing from
Nauru on September 2, the Pronto put
into Jaluit IN the MarshaIls, but skip
per supercargo and officers are
strangely silent concerning the pres.
I1ee q war vessels alleged as receiv.
'1I Supplies and coal there.
||. .|'I'[ the Pronto next visit
e.. e. island 81 much in1Dorfs