STRANGE STORY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 January 1925, Page 8

STRANGE STORY.

DOUGLAS MAWSON WOMEN

MARRIED TO BLACKS

COLOMBO, Jau. 10. Mr A. J. Stronach, formerly a surveyor in Ceylon, who is bound for .England, stated in an interview for the Sydnev Sun:—“Since leaving Brisbane it has come to my knowledge that the first expedition sent out by the Commonwealth Government to ascertain the fate of the crew of the Douglas Maws on did get into communication through intermediaries with the tribe of cannibals with whom the two white women are. and gleaned the information that the white women are still alive, and had been married to the chiefs. “The head of the tribe refused to negotiate for their release, and was prepared to. resist any. attempt at rescue. The Government were advised of this- at the time by cable from Rahul, but the news was suppressed, and flu? matter was allowed to drop owing to the large expense that would have been involved.”

Mr Stronach feels strongly that the matter should be taken up. and thinks when the truth is known in Australia there will be an outburst of public feeling.

“RIDICULOUS.” MELBOURNE, '.Tan. 11. “The story is ridiculous on the face of it” said the Minister for Home and Territories (Senator Pearce), when shown the above cablegram. “I most emphatically deny that the ''Vnim on wealth Government was ever informed that communication with the wohien had been established.” he said. “It is an outrage on public intelliTfuce to suggest that th* Government could supnress information of this nature. The whole story is preposterous!”