A NEW HEBRIDEAN WAR

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1630, 11 April 1928, Page 4

A NEW HEBRIDEAN WAR

OUTLAW CHIEFTAIN KILLED Thingaru, the notorious outlaw chief who for sixteen years disturbed tho peace of the island of Santo, New Hebrides, has at last paid the penalty of his misdeeds (writes Maurice Frater, in a dispatch from Paama to the 'Melbourne ' Argus '). His death is the result, not of Government action, but of intertribal warfare. In 1911 he was proclaimed an outlaw by the Condominium Government, and a price .was set on his head, but amid the fastnesses of 'his .native mountains he eluded all attempts to capture or kill him, In 1911 Thingaru was the leading spirit in a native rising which aimed at clearing Santo of its white settlers and killing native servants. The whole island was in a state of great unrest, and, owing to the influence of Thingaru among the wild bushmen, the outbreak assumed serious proportions. The Condominium Government sent Captain Harrowell with a strong police force to the reliel of the Europeans, and, making Hog, Harbor his headquarters, he turned the mission station into a fortress. Thingaru made no attempt to attack the strongly-entrenched position of he Government forces. After a prolonged period of inactivity the garrison was withdrawn without ever having come into touch with the chieftain.

But Thingaru's ■ presence in Santo tended to perpetuate a feeling of unrest. Having failed to capture him by military methods,'the Government tried to establish peace by conciliatory measures. Mr Smith-llewse, the late British Commissioner, approached the missionary of the district to ascertain what likelihood there was of arranging a friendly settlement with Thingaru. Mr Anderson volunteered to visit the chief, and after a great deal of negotiations with friendly natives he succeeded in penetrating the mountain retreat of Thingaru and haying ail interview with him. Much to his surprise Thingaru received him in a friendly way, but, fearing betrayal, he refused to negotiate with the Government. At the beginning of November there was * a renewed outbreak of hostilities among the tribes of the Hog Harbor, district, and several leading chiefs we're killed. The French Government yacht, La Victoire, was sent to Hog Harbor, but as the fighting zone was too far inland the Government force was unable to crush the rising. Intertribal fighting continued, and on November 10 the news reached the coast that Thiiigaru had been killed and two of his wives strangled. Contrary to expectation, his death has not quelled the spirit of unrest'among the native population. _ In, Santo the vendetta is still practised, and Thingaru's tribesmen are determined to kill a chief of equal rank to avengo their chieftain's death. The, wild bushmen then descended upon the station village' at Hog Harbor, and ail, unsuccessful attempt was made to kill the chief. The vendetta warfare is causing considerable apprehension among the white residents of the district.