HUNTING THE MURDERERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 202, 15 November 1927, Page 1

HUNTING THE MURDERERS

SOLOMON ISLANDS EXPEDITION DESPERATE FIGHT IS ANTICIPATED By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. Received 9.24 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. HEMMED in by hostile tribes, and with only a small area in which to operate, the Solomon Islanders who recently murdered Government officers and native policemen have not the remotest chance of escaping justice.

'T'HAT is the report brought back by the supply ship Biloela, which has returned from the Solomon Islands. .The members of the crew state that the general impression at Maiaita is that the expedition which is seeking the murderers of Mr. Bell and his party has the situation well in hand. The cruiser Adelaide will return to Sydney at an early date. The punitive parties are systematically destroying the cultivated vegetables, and the chief, Bassiana, would eventually be forced by starvation to submit. The number of natives under Bassiana is estimated at between 50 and 100. They are expected to fight desperately before capitulating. Sufilcient stores to last two or three weeks have been placed on board the cruiser Adelaide.—A. and N.Z. UNEXPLORED HILLS

MOVEMENT OF EXPEDITION ‘ CORRESPONDENT’S STORY Reed. Noon. SYDNEY. To-day. The correspondent of the Sydney “Morning Herald” with the Solomon Islands punitive expedition, writing from Maiaita on ‘October. 31 says: “The expedition has advanced, but the base is still on the headwaters of the Oulimburi River, 3,500 feet above sea level. “All the country Is unexplored. They are the first white men to visit it. A camp has been established in the village of the chief Bassiana, who is stated to have struck the blow which killed District Officer Bell. Not far from the camp they found traces where the natives had been lurking.

and discovered the skulls of a few of their enemies. “Native police were fired upon with Sniders and poisoned arrows, and replied with a volley, killing a bush native. “It is reported that Bassiana has several hundred followers, and intends to fall back upon a fortified village. “It is hoped this will be so, as the expedition will then be able to strike a decisive blow. Otherwise, it will take months to hunt the natives out of the difficult, mountainous country. “The expedition passed a deserted village in which only a leprous old man was left behind. On returning to camp they gave a machine-gun demonstration to impress the friendly natives, and succeeded in making a deep impression.”

Mr. Mason, a missionary from the Solomons, has arrived at Sydney. He says the disaffection is confined to the Sinerango tribe of bushmen, who have always been noted for their truculence. When the massacre became known, 3,500 natives from all parts of the island poured down tP the Government station to offer assistance and pledge their loyalty. Mr. Mason declared that the massacre was a premeditated affair of which Mr. Bell had been warned, but he never let anything interfere with his duty. Mr. Mason considered that the expedition against the murderers was more than adequate. Another passenger from the Solomons expresses the opinion that it would take a long time before the muraerers are captured, as they are natural fighting men, and would infinitely prefer death in battle to hanging.—A. and N.Z. MEN OF ADELAIDE

ACTING AS GUARD Reed. 9.31 a.m. CANBERRA, To-day. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, states that the men of the cruiser Adelaide are still acting as a guard to the base camp. They were not engaged chasing the natives among the hills.—A. and N.Z.