QUIET IN SAMOA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 16

QUIET IN SAMOA

REASSURING REPORTS ROYAL MARINES RETURN Although the Mau still has . a fairly strong following in Apia, Western Samoa, its active operations have been restricted, and the mandated territory is much quieter than it has been for some time. Yesterday a party of 58 Royal Marines from H.M.S. Dunedin and H.M.S. Diomede returned to Auckland by the Government steamer Tutanekai. Their reports are reassuring. No show of open force was made either by the marines or the special police force which went to Samoa by the Tutanekai, but the arrival of the force had a considerable moral effect on the natives.

The effect of 80 fully-equipped men marching ashore at Apia on April 29 astonished the natives, as apparently they had no knowledge of the arrival of the force. Everything is now going along quietly. According to some of the reports, the six special police who were sent earlier to Apia did not have such a cordial reception. They were insulted in the streets, and one or two of them were threatened by truculent natives. However, a little show of force soon quelled the disturbing attitude of the delinquents.

The officers who returned with the Royal Marines yesterday were Commander J H. Godfrey, of H.M.S. Diomede, and Captain E. Bowring, of H.M.S.. Dunedin. Everyone expressed appreciation of the work of Captain J. Bollons, master of the Tutanekai, who had made everything as comfortable as possible for the voyage. The Government steamer has been behaving splendidly as a troopship. Several concerts were arranged by Mr. K. Melvin, who accompanied the special police force to Apia as a representative of the Y.M.C.A.