AT ELLICE ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1933, Page 11

AT ELLICE ISLAND

DODGING AUTHORITIES

DESCRIPTION OF SHIP

Tho mysterious movements of ft dilapidated craft, which, however, is capable of astonishing speed, have recently «aused considerable conjecture in. the Ellice Islands. The following account of the sudden appearances and disappearances of the vessel, which la believed to be manned by Japanese, ia given by Mr. John Harris, who visited the islands on the ketch Waterlily, and may refer to the first of the incidents mentioned in the cable. "Life on a coral atoll, especially for Europeans, is a monotonous, affair,'* Mr. Harris writes. "But at Funafuti, in the Ellice Islands, they have recently had enough excitement to last them for some months to come. It began with the mysterious behaviour of a foreign vessel discovered investigating the island. They defiedthe quarantinelaw by omitting to report to tha authorities, and when approached by;. the latter invariably made off. "She was first noticed on June 10 by; native fishermen, who reported to tha Government District Officer that a strange ship was; anchored off the reef: on the lee side of the lagoon. They said they had been, invited aboard bj the captain, who questioned them ill English concerning the island, and noted their information on a chart. ; DESCRIPTION OF VESSEL. , ''It was late at night, but the Dis« trict Officer and the medical officer inw mediately set off across the lagoon t» investigate. They went in separate boats, and were accompanied by tha island trader—the only other white man' in the group—and a,number of natives* "On the other side of the lagoon, tea miles distant, they found a small vessel anchored close to the island of Tebukaj She was of' about 100 tons, and had' three dinghies moored-astern. Her hull was dirty and unpainted; she lay low in the water with a bare three feet of freeboard;' had a clipper "bow^.with a great flare topside, junk fashion, taper< ing to a fine stern, and a square sterii with projecting overhang. She was ap« parently of considerable draught, for nothing was visible in the moonlight of her rudder or propeller. Lying along he? deck was what seemed to be a col« lapsiblo mast. A powerful winch wa^ forward of the chart-room, and just aft of it the exhaust of some form of}*' crude-oil engine. ' • SUDDEN RUSH TO SEA. "The district officer being delayer! in the lagoon, the doctor' laid his boati alongside, called . the captain, andl started inquiries, but without satisfac« tion. The man merely shrugged hiai shoulders and gesticulated, jabbering something in (presumably) Japanese* Two questions alone did he answer* When asked whether the ship was Japa« nese he nodded several times;1 when; the captain was inquired for ho laid! his hand on his breast and bowed* Otherwise he pretended not to under* stand. As he had that afternoon spokeaj English to the Hatives 'he was olx viously lying. The doctor decided t« haul off and await the district officer "However, no sooner did the lattetj appearthan the stranger suddenly hove up her anchor and disappeared out td sea at an amazing spee,d. There being; no sea-going vessels at Funafuti, non indeed*any. craft to equal the strangefl in speed, there Avas nothing more to baj done but return to bed. A SECOND ATTEMPT. "The following evening the saihe shi]s was reported to be at Funafala, in the; south-west corner of the lagoon. Under! cover of darkness the district officeij again sot out to investigate, accom* panied this time- by several cuttera( and twenty stout men. But the strangeHj was evidently on the alert this time* for all they found when they reached^ Funafala was evidence of a hastyj flight—a sheath knife, a singlet, cigar* ettes, and the remains of a meal left bit shore.. " . . . . "It was decided to make- up thai western side of the lagoon in hopes of meeting her there. They had sailed! ten miles and were almost despairing of sighting their chase again, when hen low outline was noticed outside tha' reef in her original anchorage; Ordera were hurriedly given to proceedl cautiously and attempt to > take her byj surprise. But the first grey light of dawn; discovered them. - When still some fewj hundred yards djstant the Japanese sprang to life, the engine started upj arid the anchor was hauled an. By novfj the district officer was within 100 yds, He called on the vessel to stop, and fin* ally fired two rifle shots across her bowsji but she disregarded ,them and sped seaward. . MOVEMENTS A MYSTERY. "Parties of men were placed on eaclij of the islands round the lagoon in casai she came back, but apparently she had; had enough of Funafuti, for no niora I was seen of'her.

"The incident is of interest in viewj of the fact that a similar craft was re* ported several months ago from tha Solomon Islands. She also carried ai collapsible mast, was of the same sizai and appearance, and was said to hava; a speed of 20 knots.

"The reason, for her movements to« mains a mystery. Her old and dilapi* dated appearance was belied by heij obvious power and speed, while hot) crew of at least 20 men would hardly) be warranted by her size if she werei a trader of any kind. Nor is there any« thing to attract poachers to the Ellicoj Islands. There is no pearl or trochusj shell. Copra is the only thing of commercial value in the group, and that inj but small quantities. .

"And finally, if, as seems probable* she was engaged in obtaining informa« tiou, it. is difficult to understand whs such tactics should be employed. II! would be quite a simple matter tai* learn everything required in an. opeii or legitimate manner, without arousing suspicions and provoking the penalty ofl the law by a breach of the quarantine! regulations and resistance of the auth* orities.

"Whatever her object, she lias givenj the people of Funafuti a topic of eon» versation' until the next missionary) schooner arrives with mails iioitk home."