GERMANS IN VAVAU.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 11

GERMANS IN VAVAU.

AN OFFENSIVE ATTITUDE. Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 5. The '' Star's ". Vavau correspondent writes that great indignation prevails throughout the Vavau group owing to the fact that his Majesty's representative was grossly assaulted by one of the German residents in Vavau. A petition containing all the names of .the British residents on that island, has*been forwarded to the High Commissioner for the Eastern Pacific, demanding the immediate deportation of the offender, together with the other German residents of that island.

During the war the Germans have been kept under restraint, firearms having been taken from their possession, and they have been confined to their homes during the night time, but with the signing of the Peace Treaty the arrogance that has always characterised the German has ljroken out, and Vavau is at present in the throes of violent anti-British demonstrations.

On July 30, his Majesty's representative, while inside the local store, was confronted by one of the Germans, who, after hurling numerous choice epithets at his head, concluded by catching hold of him, "tearing his clothes, and, generally, roughly handling him. The Britisher rushed into the street and summoned the local native police, but they were powerless to help, and the man was finally permitted to leave the shop, not being taken into custody.