RABAUL DEATH ROLL GROWS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 120, 7 June 1937, Page 7

RABAUL DEATH ROLL GROWS

-PreSs Aishi-

Hundreds of Natives Killed TRAGlC DISC0VERY

(By Telegraph-

-CopyriRht.)

SYDNEY, June 6. • Tragic news comes from Rev. Father George Bogershausen,- who is a Cathoiic mission father, reporting that 26l . aatives perished in the volcanie eruptions in New Guinea» The victims were overwheimed by lava fumes at Tavui and Whlaur, in the vibinity of Vulcan Island. The natives belonged to the Gunan Tuhan tribe and they cousider themselves the "true people." They niiiUber abolit 25,001", live in the bUsh fthd jUngle and occupy the YeW Britaiii eoatt. A later repbft ekpresseS the fbaf th&t liferally hundrtds of the hativeS ftte deftdj chiefly WoniCfi afid pibkfiniUnieS, WhoSb debbMpoeifig bQdies ferg ctJVSted with a thirl layer bf "pumide ddit. Anothef white man is ihissing, A Wifeless operator from the freighter Golden Bear. Thefe iS iib trade oi ElsWorthy, Wfio Wflfe fgpbrted misfeiiig 6U Friday; The vdleanoes ai'd hoW qiiiet aiid ohiy a witp bf thibke is issiliiig ffbin MStupi. N"b fiirther Setails are available reghtding native dd&thd. At least 80 per cent of the refugees at Kokopo afe reluctant to return to Rabaul and deelare a new capital shoUld be established, preferably at Kbkbpb. Thd Admihistratof sb far has reached nb decisibfi bii the matter, but he is surprised at the smallness of the damage tb RabaUl, which ffibreiy f§quires cleaning Up> which is proeeeding by the natives. The relief ship, Malaita, arrived to-day with foodstuffs, bedding and medieal cbmfbrts.