Ambrym Disaster

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 176, 24 January 1914, Page 5

Ambrym Disaster

I .\iI*S!OXAI!IF,S' TROUBLES. , CHARGES AGAINST FRENCHMEN. OVER RESCUE OF NATIVES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Jieccived 2:i, 8.1."> p.m. Sydney, •iamuivy i'i. The liov. >lc(io\van, convenor of the Presbyterian Foreign Missions Commit lee, has issued a lengthy ollicial stale incut with reference to the rescue ol the natives during the Amhryin eruption. According to this account, Dr. Howie, ami Ihe party of missionaries who were engaged in the rescue, saw a number of natives on the French steamer La France's boat beckoning to ttii-iii. and when tliey approached the boat they were told that the natives were being taken aboard the La France. j but were refused information as to where the natives were going. Several natives left the La France's boat anil came aboard Dr. Howie's, at bis invitation. A French official and other Frenchmen then interfered and provented (lie others from leaving, and the captain of the vessel turned the hose on the missionaries. The junior officer of the La F'rance used a bottle, which did duty for a rowlock, to drive the missionaries off. Dr. Howie said be warned the natives not to go alio ud Hie La France. It ! is further alleged that the La Franco, was never inside the danger zone, and did not rescue a single native. Dr. Howie says be subsequently conI ferred with the English and French resident commissioners, who jointly agreed that the rescued natives in the j missionaries' care should be allowed to I return to their friends, and no more I recruiting allowed at Port Sandwich, I where, the, refugees remained under a j police guard. i