TULAGI MASSACRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 7

TULAGI MASSACRE

BLAME FOR TWO CHIEFS

ADMINISTRATOR PRAISED

(United r.A —By Telegraph — Copyright) l Australian end .V.Z. Press Associitior i

United Service)

Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON*. Friday. The report, of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Moorhouse upon the Solomon Islands, published in a White Paper, says Tuatakombo and Hilly Yiti were the chief instigators of the Tula.si murders.

The former has a bad record. He is comparatively rich, and had an a nab tion to become the head of the clan. Billy' Yiti supported the Government until he was lined J£3 under the adul tery regulation, whereupon he joined Tuatakombo’s party.

The murders were not due to gen eral hatred of the Government measures, but to the personal element. The report pays tribute to Mr. Bell’s administration. He dealt with th~ people with great patience and forbearance.

In regard to the 19S detainees at Tulagi, Colonel Moorhouse is of the opinion that the Administration completely exonerated of any suggestion of callousness or neglect implied by the expression “Black Hole of Tulagi.*’ which appeared in one paper abroad.

Apart from 1G deaths from bacillary dysentery, the general health of the detainees has greatly improved since their arrival. Mr. Bell, his cadet, and a number of native policemen were massacred at Tulagi in 1927.