THE SOLOMONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 8

THE SOLOMONS

PUNITIVE EXPEDITION S PROGRESS.

Canberra, Nov. 16. In the House of Representatives, answering a question concerning the action in the Solomon Islands, the Hon. S. M. Bruce said that two natives only had been shot. They were shot only as a defensive measure by the Expeditionary Force. So far the need had not arisen for the cruiser Adelaide’s men to be called upon for active operations. Scouting parties and the police, strengthened by European volunteers, had been in touch with the natives concerned in the massacre and some arrests had been made. The advance base was now being moved to a point in the centre of the area occupied by the disaffected natives. The situation was so well in hand that the naval force was lining withdrawn. Some volunteers had also been withdrawn.

LANDING PARTIES RE- EMBARK.

Sydney. Nov. 16. Advices from Tulagai state that most of the civil force evacuated Sinarango on Bunday and ’he navy evacuated on Tuesday. The Adelaide is sailing for Sydney on Friday. A large force of native police, under two whites is advancing from tho opposite sido of the island to Sinarango with the object of connecting with the force already there. At Gualipe Bassianoa. tho original village two out-laws were killed and one ' wounded, and twelve were ar rested. Tho naval landing force is suffering from sickness and the climatic conditions.

A late message from Tulagi states that all tho landing parties from the Adelaide hav re-embarked.