MANUS ISLAND TROUBLE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25449, 22 March 1948, Page 6

MANUS ISLAND TROUBLE

CHINESE UPRISING REPORTED EYTBA-TERHITORJAL RIGHTS CL4JM Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 21. Though he described a report on an armed Chinese uprising oii Manus Island as “wildly, exaggerated,” the Minister of External Territories (Mr E. J. Ward) admitted that certain Chinese had claimed extra-territorial rights. He said that complaints had been received that 300 Chinese, under 3 Chinese officer, who were engaged on Manus packing surplus United States war steres for China, were committing offences against the natives. The Chinese were evasive when the offenders were sought and claimed two white Officers, and a squad of had been sent to Manus. Mr ward added that though the Chinese were armed, they had ho grenades or machine-guns, and had not attempted to stage a revolt. In the “Sunday Telegraph” to-day appears a message from Port Moresby stating that Chinese officers have put many Chinese civilians into uniform and have given them grenades, tommyguns, and machine-guns. It states that the Chinese claim extra-terri-torial rights for four Chinese whom aduiinistrmjyp officials want <q arrest Central Field Commissioner of the United States Office of Forejgp. Liquidation, who was m Mapus last wjeek. said in Sydney V e heard nothing of the disturbance. He added that there were still sevpj-al hundred American tpopps in tpp Admiralty Islands. No settlement had yet been made between Australia and the United States’ for the transfer of fixed inStaUatipris. Movable goods, not including huts, had been sold tp China Chinese civilians, employed by a holding a enntract With the Chinese Government, were handling shipment.