SHOTS FIRED

Evening Star, Issue 22633, 27 April 1937, Page 16

SHOTS FIRED

SOLOK4N NATIVES' COHPLAWT~ JAPANESE OH ISLAND Mr Fred Jones, a trader on Vanikoro Island, Southern Solomons, in a recent letter, relates how, early last month, the occupants of a Japanese sampan opened fire on a number of natives who had resented the.activities of Japanese who were diving for shell near the island.

Mr Jones, in his letter, stated:— “At Vanikoro Island, in the Southeastern Solomons, in early March, a Japanese sampan was observed by the natives inside the lagoon on the western side of the island engaged in diving. A boat was on the reef, and four Japanese were in the water diving for shell, with two men in the boat. Nearby were two native youths in a canoe, also diving for shell together with an elderly native, and these three decided to take charge of the boat on the reef. They ordered out the two Japanese who were in the boat, and made them join their comrades in the water. The three natives proceeded to take the boat ashore, giving it in the meantime several blows with an axe, and taking posssesion of two hats and some pipes. “ Very soon the sampan returned from the lagoon, picked up their divers, and opened fire at the three natives ashore with the captured boats. Two shots were fired, and the three natives, who were unharmed, fled for safety into the .bush. Two other rounds were fired into a house, - which was occupied, narrowly missing one of the inmates.

The Japanese then sent a landing party ashore shortly afterwards, destroyed an outrigger canoe, and departed without doing any further damage. “The next day, quite close to one of the villages, the Japanese were »i\,air. engaged in diving, and the village headman with another companion, set out in a canoe to interview the poachers. As soon as their canoe was close to the diving boats the sampan opened fire at the two natives. Two shots were fired at the forward end of the canoe, one of the shots ricochetting near the native seated in the stern of the canoe. “ Nearby was another canoe with two ‘Marys’ in, and the Japanese again opened fire, but fortunately missed the two women, who fled as fast as they were able, “ WOMEN FIRED AT.” “It is stated by the natives who took part in the affair that the shots passed very close to them indeed. Six shots were fired altogether, including one shot at the women. “In some of the islands the natives say that they are prepared to defend their gardens and cocoanut groves with bows and arrows from the intrusions and robberies of the Japanese poachers. In the Island of Utupua the Japanese maintained amicable relations with some natives, exchanging sake spirit for garden produce. “ The Government vessel, Veronica, went after the poachers, but, they had already departed, probably for the New Hebrides. The poachers had about' 10 live turtles on their ship.”