FEAR MACHINE GUNS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 75, 25 February 1927, Page 4

FEAR MACHINE GUNS.

HOSTILE NATIVES. THE NEW GUINEA MURDERERS. SYDNEY, Feb. 10. Flight - Lieutenant C. Burlington, who took part in the expedition sent out to capture the natives responsible lor 'the spearing of the four white men at Nakanai, in New Guinea, arrived yesterday by the Montoro from llabaul.

The expedition, which was under the command of Colonel Walstab, consisted of 16 white men and 25 native police. The party landed at Tarobia, 65 miles from Rabaul, and then marched 12 miles into the hills to the village of Umu, where native warriors were found in strength. Native sentries gave the alarm, and the tocsin was sounded on the drums, which echoed among the hills. The village, perched on a ridge and defended by spear platforms, was difficult to approach. Ten police, under Mr Ellis, sallied out to try and draw the natives. Shouts and screams greeted them, and a chief called out:— “Come up here if you want us. We have already killed four of your 6kin. Die likewise.”

A short burst of machine gun fire, aimed ‘low, increased tho yells of the native warriors, but when the range was lifted, and a native was seen to fall, the rest fled. The expedition rushed the heights, and found them deserted. A clearing was mado, and a camp established for the night.

DRIVEN OFF AGAIN

Next day, during heavy rain, 120 hostile natives approached to tho edge of the clearing before being observed. Prompt rifle firo and some machine gun bursts, however, drove them off, leaving three dead behind them. After this episode only solitary outposts were encountered at distances two miles apart. The expedition established a ponce camp at lapigo, and it is expected that within three or four months the respect of the natives will be won and tho wanted chiefs handed ovsr. Lieutenant Burlington states that the murderers followed upon the action of a patrol officer, who refused to punish publicly' a native policeman who had offended native custom. This officer was one of the party attacked at Nakanai, but managed to escape.