SAVAGE HEROINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1931, Page 9

SAVAGE HEROINES.

WOMEN SUICIDE EN MASSE

THAT MEN MAY EIGHT ON.

All the women of the village of Mahebo, the only reraainihg stronghold of the revolting tribes of Formosa, have committed suicide so the men of tue tribe may go to battle unhampered, according to reports which reached Tokyo early in November. One hundred and eight "women took desperate measure, according to the tribal tradition to $ihow the determination of the aborigines to fight to the last man. The tribesmen of five out of six revolting villages burned their homes, Mahebo being the only remaining village. A battle was waged for four hours between Japanese forces and the aborigines two miles from Mahebo village. Mahebo is a natural stronghold, considered difficult to assault. To capture it the troops had to build a bridge under enemy fire. The village is inaccessible from the rear because of the mountains. The rebels were estimated at 1200. Besides the 86 Japanese massacred at Musha, where the trouble originated, isolated killings were reported daily. More than 100 aborigines were killed ft] engagements with the Japanese forces.