FIGHT IN THE DARK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 10

FIGHT IN THE DARK.

BLACK. Cllllvl'S AND WHITE KAIDKRS. WAR IN "PIIIO NIOW HKIiRIDIiS. Tlic island »l' Santo, ill the New Hebrides droop, is tlie scene of n small war. Two chiefs. Zingourou anil Neil, who control the northern part of the island, have revolted against the British und French authorities, and are threatening the lives of the .settlers. Reprisals have already commenced, and one engagement has been fought, 'flu; F.M.S. I'aeifique, which arrived at Sydney from the New Hebrides via Noumea, brought details ot the outbreak. When word was received at Port Vila about tlie middle of last month that the natives at Santo had declared war. the French anil llritish Residents, Messrs Martin and King, ordered a force of 20 police, under Messrs .lunqua and llarrowell, to proceed to the scene by the steamer France, which happened to be in Port Vila Harbor. They left on .March 14. On arrival at Santo they were met by a British settler, Mr. Thomas, who had with him a number of kanakas, who had remained faithful. Zingourou and Neil, he told them, had withdrawn to a village in the mountains, which could be approached only by halfhidden tortuous paths through the thick forest, but Mr. Thomas and several of the friendly kanakas volunteered to guide the punitive force to this camp, [t was determined to make the attack by night, for it was feared that if the natives were really as hostile as they were reported to be, they would be only too ready to ambush the expedition, and would have it at a serious disadvantage in the unknown forest. The plan of attack was to divide the force und take the village bv surprise 011 two .sides. The march through the mountains was beset with difficulty, but the punitive force was successful ill getting up to the village before they were discovered. A sharp encounter followed. The natives were well armed with Winchester and Snider rifles, and opened a hot lire on the invaders, Two of the native police were shot dead, and Mr. Thomas was shot in the chest by two bullets. The fire was returned and the rebels began to retreat, taking their wounded with them. Tt was impossible, owing to the darkness and the thick undergrowth, to pursue them any distance. Next day the invaders found many traces of blood on the bushes, showing I hat (he natives ■ must have had a considerable number wounded if not killed, i The villages, cocoanut plantations, am! pigs of the natives were destroyed, and the party returned to Ibe coast, carrying Mr. Thomas on a litter. Tie was attended by the surgeon of the French gunboat Kersaint. and there is hope of his recovery. While the two chiefs remain at large no peace is expected. To capture them will mean a long and tedious campaign in the mountain country. The Kersaint landed a force of 20 men at Santo, to protect; settlers, and then sailed for Noumea, to take in stores, ammunition, and weapons to arm a force of friendly natives. It is thought that. Zingourou and Neil have with them fiO bush natives. The Kersaint left Noumea on April 2 to return to Santo.