TONG WAR AT NAURU

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 977, 21 May 1930, Page 12

TONG WAR AT NAURU

TWO BOMB FATALITIES IN QUARREL HEAVY SENTENCES ON RIOTERS Two men were killed and more than a dozen injured in a Tong war among Chinese labourers at Nauru Island on April 13. The trouble started through two boys of different tongs having to occupy the same house. Bombs were thrown at the native police, who eventually quelled the rioters, making several arrests. "The figlit was a serious affair while it lasted, and caused considerable apxiety among the white residents the island. A number of the residents offered their services as guards to patrol the Chinese settlement." said Captain Plans Hannevig of the steamer June, which arrived from Nauru Island last evening. There are about 1.100 Chinese labourers in the settlement, which is surrounded by a high fence, and is guarded on the outside by native police. According to the evidence, the trouble started when a new boy was placed in a house, the occupants of which were nearly all of a certain Tong, and who resented the presence of the new boy. Arrests were made among the Chinese following the fight, and they appeared before the court on April 27. Five who were ringleaders and had handled the bombs received sentences of 10 years’ hard labour, with a flogging of 15 lashes, three were sentenced to seven years’ hard labour, with 15 lashes, and another, one year's hard labour. The other was discharged, as the evidence against him was not conclusive.