JAPANESE SAMPAN AT FIJI

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 12

JAPANESE SAMPAN AT FIJI

VESSEL ESCAPES FROM BRITISH SCHOONER poaching! of trochus shell SUSPECTED (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, October 1. A report of a Japanese sampan being taken in tow on the Fijian coast for examination at Suva was brought back to Auckland by officers of H.M.S. Wellington, which returned from its annual winter cruise to the islands tonight. The sampan, however, cut the tow rope and slipped off into the darkness.

This is the second time within recent months that there have been reports of Japanese vessels off Fiji, the other occasion being when the District Officer, accompanied by a small party off H.M.S. Dunedin, chased a sampan in the Government ship Pioneer. According to Commander Hall, the second sampan, which may have been that which was previously pursued, went ashore at the mouth of the Labasa river on September 23. The authorities at Suva were informed and the Pioneer left at once, but she was recalled before going very far and the chase was taken up by the trading schooner Helena, with the District Officer aboard. The sampan was discovered and was towed off. Then she was taken in tow and the schooner started back for Suva, but during the night the Japanese cut the tow ropes and escaped. Nothing more has been heard of her.

When the Wellington left Tonga last Sunday for Auckland another report of Japanese sampans was brought back by officers of H.M.S. Leith, which arrived earlier in the day after completing her winter cruise, which included Islands in the South-western Pacific. At Noumea, they said, they had seen three captured sampans. They had been told that a seaplane had been sent off in pursuit of the sampans, which were suspected of poaching trochus shell. When the seaplane came up with the Japanese vessels, engine trouble developed and it was forced to land alongside the sampans. After the Japanese had refused to Surrender, the Frenchmen asked for a tow back to Noumea on condition that the Japanese would be allowed to go. This was agreed to, and the seaplane was taken back, but on arrival at New Caledonia the sampans’ crews were arrested. ,