SOLOMON ISLANDS

Evening Star, Issue 19714, 15 November 1927, Page 5

SOLOMON ISLANDS

THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION SITUATION WELL IN HAND. Press Asiooiation—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 1-1. The supply ship Biloela has returned from the Solomons. The members of the crow state that the general impression at Malaita is that the expedition has the situation well in hand, and that the Adelaide will return to Sydney at an early date. EXPEDITION’S DIFFICULTIES. PRESS CORRESPONDENT’S STORY. SYDNEY, November 15. (Received November 15, at 9.25 a.m.) The ‘ Sydney Morning Herald’s ’ correspondent with tho Solomon Islands punitive expedition, writing from Malaita on October 31, says: “The expedition’s advanced base is still on _ tho head waters of tho Oulimburi River, 3,500 ft above sea level. All tho country is unexplored. They are the first white men to visit it. A camp has been established in the village of tho Chief Bassiana, who is .stated to have struck the blow which killed Bell. Not far from the camp they found traces where the natives had been lurking, and discovered the skulls of a few of their enemies. Native police were fired upon with Sniders and poisoned arrows. They replied with a volley, and killed a bush native. “It is reported that Bassiana has several hundred followers, and intends to fall back upon a fortified village. It is hoped that this is true, as tho expedition will then be able to strike a decisive blow; otherwise it will take months to hunt the natives out of the difficult mountainous country. “Tho expedition passed a deserted village in which only a leprous old man was left behind. On returning to camp they gave a machine gun demonstration to impress the _ friendly natives, and succeeded in making a deep impression.” Mr Mason, a missionary from tho Solomons, has arrived_ in Sydney, and says that the disaffection is confined to the Sinerango tribe of bushmen, who have always been noted for their truculence. When the massacre became known 3,500 natives from all parts of the island poured down to the Governmcn station to offer assistance and to pledge their loyalty. Mr Mason declared that the massacre had been a premeditated affair, of which Bell had been warned, but tho latter never let anything interfere with Ins duty. . Mr Mason considered the expedition against the murderers more than adequate. Another passenger from the Solomons expressed tho opinion that it wouldtake a long time before the murderers aro captured, as they arc. natural fighting men, and would infinitely prefer death in battle to hanging.