THE GERMAN MENACE IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 196, 8 May 1918, Page 6

THE GERMAN MENACE IN THE PACIFIC

NEW GUINEA NATIVES AND THEIR

'iKMiMtlVl'

FUTURE OF SOLOMON ISLANDS

(By Thomas J. M'Mahon, F.It.G.S., in the Melbourne "Age.")

Tho world has not heard of all tho cruelties of the Germans towards tlie natives in the early days of German rule in German Now (iuinea. Those cruelties have left their marks—marks of decline and disease that seem almost irremcdinbl":. Tho Germans' cullousne* for native life is paralleled in this territoiy by what they have committed in all their other colonial possessions. Prior to the war the loss in commercial value through the decline and sickness of the natives made the Germans pause, ana with that thoroughness which lias characterised all their doings in German .New Guinea, they by force and hasty measures tried to restore what they were fast destroying, namely, the native population that had come in baneful contact with German officials, planters ana traaeia. The German raised hie flag in tho Pacific, whoa British missionaries, traders, aidw by Australian opposition, were (icmiiUiling that it should bo hauled dowii. The official blindness of .lingland's statesmen of those days practically handed over the South Pacific to Germany. If this war had not come there can be no possible doubt that in a very few years a great German colonial empire would have flourished, to tho cuiiiulete aud ignominious dismissal of all other nations. Thus it aoems that Germany did not contribute to the discovery or the development of tho Pacific islands. She came deliberately tq take. Honesty of action, or even of fiHention, never occurred to her. It is on thoso grounds alone that her right to remain in the Pacific may be questioned. Whatever may have been at the back of the diplomacy by which England handed over one-half Of New Guinea to Germany, English maps and English geography always have silently and consistently entered a protest ah substitution of German names for those originally British given these many islands. Every German in this ielaml territory is 'ocksurc, and fanatically so, that within the next ten years there will be a grand German empire in the Pacific. What strikes a traveller is the utter absence of depression as to the future. Every German is well up in the news of the war. I'or Australia they hide no thoughts. Ihey reckon it is. to bo ttio crowning jewel of that great German colonial empire ladready mapped out. They reckon that Germans will no wltii Australia and its resources iu ten years more than Australians have done in 100 .years, and they ridicule the very idea that there will ever be any need to conquer Australia. They recognise their iitlplessness ander tho strong administration' now in German New Guinea. At the same time they recognise and admit that they are prospering. But uratitude is not part of their nature. Thev ave tho supermen, the 6alt of tho earth -

These islands have been written of by travellers as "dreams of fertility." They aro rich in the soils that promise a superabundance' of all tropical productions. Between King Georgo's Channel and the first touch of the German Solomons are hundreds of miles of an unbroken stretch cf lonely sea, calm at most times, but treacherous and dangerous at intervals. The last impression of New Ireland is that cf bold mountainous outlines. A coast line exactly the saino is observable when the small island of Bitka, of the Solomons, is reached, and right throughout tho Solomons mountains dominate Ihe landscape. The small island of Buka is remarkablo for its native people, who uro of a jet l>lack colour—the blackest neople on tho earth. They are handsome- of feature, and once were a spirited people. They are note:! for the weird manner in which they paint their fanes, always a strong white, etriD:d and daubed,- and with their heads limed whilo they present a most striking instance of personal adornment. Liming llie hair is not only for adornment, but cleansing purposes, keeping down the number cf insects that as a. rule infest the native heads. Bougainville is the largest island of all the Solomons, and is the most imposing, on account of its lofty mountains, and one an active volcano. Coconvt plantations are numerous clone the coast lines of all the islands, and though mostly owned by Germans, yet there is a very fair number owned by Australian companies. Hubbcr is elso extensively cultivated, and' both in this and tho coconut there are many very fine estates on a large scale. Australian plant, ts hero havo little to say against German vule. Kietft is the seat of administration today under Australian occupation, as it was under German rule. It is ideally situated, on Bourgainville. A seri.s of lulls run up from the (shores of many coves, every one covered iMth coconut palms; a. harbour reflecting the deop clear blue of the unfkeked sky; great ; dark hills standing at the back, every I ! jKiiK sliiirpiy outlined against tho tropl- J ' cal sky. The offices and bungalows all ] smartly and brightly painted, the ml routs, BiiiUled by the shining greon of the palms, «ind ali rounu, without a bivak, a vast lield of vivid sward, the dazzling gold of tho beaches, tho blue- of the distant islands, nnd white-tipped waves ot the «ea, combine to wake a. landscape witiiout parallel Undoubtedly itit German knows the art of town planning, of picturesque home-making. There always is a garden, otten pretty walls, statues, all requisites for picturesque adornment. The homes are furnished with heavy furniture. The planter has about him his kiue, fowl, pigs, and otner domestic animals twit help his comfort and his big appetite. You will see on the wall paintings of Fatherland scenes; some ot these paintings covering the whole wall spaces. Tho present administrator of the Gorman territory in the Solomons, Captain A. J. Hunter, is a very remarkable man. He has explored the length and breadth of these islands, and has subdued the natives, and ended their constant tribal warfare, to which they were much addicted. With a handtul of men, travelling in danger zones, braving all ele- t lnente, facing death in flooded streams ■ and alligators-infested rivers, marching against time and fever, he has goj)£ unarmed into the very midst of aggressive tribes, and with great coolness seized the chiefs of tribes at war, and held them as hostages until a proper guarantee had been given that all war and strife wero at an end. The native chiefs, recognising his disapproval' of their methods of sorcery, aro every day coming towards civilisation, give less trouble in recruiting, and come from any distance to seek his advice and favour. . Management of natives in these Pacific islands—that is, the wild and untouched natives-requires ■ common souse and sympathy. Bully them, and they become treacherous. Abuse their offers of friendship and it is lutrd to regain them. Force may wipe ! tha natives out. Kindness, without firmI no.-r-j and honesty, is the surest of all means of mischief. , I The Roman Catholic Marist French ' mission is the only one in tho Solomons. They have several stations about _ tho various islands; the head station is a mile or so from Kieta. It is for all the world a transplanted portion of a little j bit of the countryside of Franco, with its cluster of red-roof buildings, tho shining white tower of the little mission church, and tho fresh greon sward, and is in charming contrast to the brown roofs and walls of the native village.