MISCELLANEOUS CABLES

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15770, 11 December 1916, Page 8

MISCELLANEOUS CABLES

AN ISLAND EXPEDITION: (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, December 9. A punitive expedition consisting of English and French sailors and native police landed at Malekula to punish the murderers of the Bridges family. The natives fled, and after burning the village the expedition retired, but were attacked from both sides of the track by natives, firing at point blank range from thick jungle. A running light ensued till within half a milo of the main camp, and when the camp was reached the ammunition ■was exhausted. Seven native police were killed, and a British sailor and policeman were wounded. It. J. Bridges, a New Hebrides | trader at Tautu, and his five children were murdered by bush tribes, aud the store looted. The members of the family, of whom the eldest child was twelve years of age, were at supper, when they wcro attacked. The bodies of Bridges and four of the children -were battered almost beyond recognition. The fifth child was carried into the bush, and there were judications that it was eaten. The general indications were that the natives first killed Bridges. His native wife and another child were absent at the time of the tragedy, which was stated to he the result of a lons period of weak administration in native affairs. ' ; CONSCRIPTION IN AMERICA. (Australian and X.Z. CaMo Association.) NEW YORK, December 8. j General Scott. Chief of the General j Staff, in his annual report, recommends the establishment of conscription, do- ! daring that the volunteer system has ; Nroken down. America, is now full if j the spirit of ''Let somebody else do the soldiering,'' which must change if j American democracy is to endure. i