NEW GUINEA PATROLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1939, Page 4

NEW GUINEA PATROLS

FORCED TO FIGHT

AN OFFICER KILLED

BREAKING NEW COUNTRY

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, July 6,

Patrol-officer Neil Campbell Elliott and a native constable were killed in an unexpected attack by natives last Friday while on patrol at Wanali, in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The cabled report from the Administrator at Rabaul of Elliott's death reached Canberra a few days after mailed reports that three native constables and six tribal natives had been killed in clashes near Mount Hagen. The fatalities all occurred in areas which, having been explored only in the last couple of years, are now being brought under control.

Patrol-officer Elliott, who had been stationed at the Yapunda administration post, was apparently engaged in a patrol and halted at Wanali village, 10 miles north, using as his headquarters the rest house in the village, where he and his party were attacked by natives. The motive for the attack is not known, and no advice has been received yet whether the party was able to defend itself. Patrol-officer Shand and his party, who went to Wanali to investigate the murders, were fired on by natives, who apparently used rifles and ammunition which were stolen at the time of the attack on Patrol-officer Elliott.

When the Governor-General and Lady Gowrie were on their tour of New Guinea in 1937, they expressed a desire to see some or the wild outback country which had only recently been "controlled." They flew to the Ramu "Valley, and when the plane landed Elliott was standing in the midst of a huge crowd of natives, all armed to the teeth. Living by himself in the interior, with only his native police as companions, Elliott had let his beard grow, and he was a strange figure—tanned, bearded, wearing a battered felt hat, khaki shirt, and shorts. LIFE CALLING FOR COURAGE. Patrol-officer Elliott was a son of a noted A.I.F. leader, the late Major- j General H. E. ("Pompey") Elliott, I afterwards a Senator. He was recog-j nised as one of the most intrepid man \ in the New Guinea District Service, j and was held in high esteem by the' Administrator, Sir Walter McNicoll.j who was a close friend of Elliott's! father. |

In the years he spent in New Guinea Elliott was stationed in difficult areas, some only recently controlled, often having to go into uncontrolled areas. Two of his comrades in the service were also killed by natives in recent years—Colin Macdonald and Tom Hough.

One of the other clashes occurred during investigations of tribal fighting by a patrol under Patrol-officer George Greathead, which was sent to inquire into unrest between tribal groups known as Andagalagamp and Kuli. near the head-waters of the Wagi River. The patrol surprised, a large gathering of Andagalagamp natives, who were armed.

In a general melee speau and arrows were directed towards the patrol party, which was forced to defend itself. Three natives were seen to fall before the rifle fire, and it was learnt that the casualties among the attackers numbered six dead and five wounded. The patrol remained in the locality for some time, endeavouring to make contact with the natives. As a result of negotiations through intermediaries, a party of Andagalagamp warriors visited the police post and on behalf of their people expressed a desire for peace and to co-operate with the Government.

The three native constables were killed 15 miles, inland from Akinum, but details of this skirmish have not been received in Canberra.