CAPTURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 7

CAPTURED.

MURDER SUSPECT.

Operations Of Solomon Island

Expedition.

SOME NATIVES SHOT. (By Cable.—Pren Association.—Copyright.) (Received 2 p.m.) SUVA, this day. The Resident Commissioner of Tulagi sent a wireless report yesterday that the ringleader, Basiana, and 44 suspects of the murder of the British officials and native police in the Solomon Islands recently, had been captured and lodged in gaol.

The High Commissioner of the Western Pacific (Sir Eyre Hutson) has received a wireless message from the Solomons, stating that operations of the punitive expedition were restricted to patrolling native villages.

The natives concerned in the outrage are scattered in small bands and are hiding in the bush. The patrol met opposition in the village of the chief, Basiana, who it is alleged, is the murderer of Mr. Bell.

In a skirmish one native was shot and another, who was wounded, escaped. One night the native party was seen by a sentry creeping towards the village of Goitarigu, in which the Government patrol was encamped.

His challenge passed unnoticed and the sentry fired. The native was killed and others who fled left a Snider rifle and native weapona. There have been no Government casualties.

A reward of £5 is offered for the apprehension of natives concerned in the Sinarango outrages, and it is believed this will lead to the early apprehension of the natives who are being fed end harboured by natives in the vicinity.

The support of naval forces is not necessary and the cruiser Adelaide sailed for Sydney via Newcastle on November 18.