ABSTRACT
In the end the Australian continent and the New Zealand islands were spared direct military warfare. Diplomatic misjudgments on the part of German foreign policy makers spoilt the opportunity of a military alliance with Japan. The very fact that the Cruiser Squadron was in the region had a big impact on the British Empire’s military planning. It was essential to eradicate the German bases in the Pacific so they could not be used by the Squadron for replenishment with coal. The German Navy’s preoccupation with the Atlantic seriously undermined operational plans in distant waters. Most ships designated for auxiliary services were not equipped with radio transmitters, which rendered the whole Kriegsnachrichtenwesen useless. During the first days of war, twenty-three German vessels, ranging from four to seven thousand tons, were seized in British and allied harbours.
