LONDON PAPERS CONFUSE STORY OF ISLANDS MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 5

LONDON PAPERS CONFUSE STORY OF ISLANDS MURDER.

WHOLE SHIP’S CREW WAS MASSACRED, IS IS SAID. New Zealanders will be surprised to learn that the crew of a New Zealand Government steamer was massacred in the Solomon Islands last year. This is one of a number of erroneous statements made by a London newspaper on August IS, when recalling the massacre which occurred on Malaita early last October. The garbled account of the disaster shows that it is possible to go a long way from home for news of home. Under the headings, “0.8. E. for Solomon Islanders—Sequel to Massacre of British crew,” the paper said

“A grim story of the massacre of a British official, the entire crew of a New Zealand Government steamer, and fifteen native policemen by Solomon Islands cannibals is recalled by the announcement in last night’s ‘London Gazette’ that the King has been pleased to approve the award of the Medal of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire for meritorious service to Fakani, of the village of Atta in Malaita, British Solomon Islands, Village Constable Siliver and Village Constable Brown.

“Cannibals of the Solomon Islands attacked the New Zealand Government steamer Auks at Sinarango, a port situated on the island of Malaita, last October. District Commissioner W. R. Bell, Cadet K. C. Lillies, fifteen native police, and the crew of the steamer were massacred. The Australian Government later received S.O.S. messages from Europeans on the island to the effect that the natives had put on their full war paint and were committing further outrages. “The Australian cruiser Adelaide was sent to Sinarango at full speed, and a strong naval force, with white and native policemen, advanced into the bush to arrest the ringleaders. The majority of the natives submitted. Several of the ringleaders were executed.”

The New Zealand Government does not own the steamer Auki (not the Auks). Malaita is part of the British Solomon Islands, which are a protectorate, administered by the Colonial Office.

The term “British crew” is misleading, as the Auki was manned by natives. No mention has ever been made of any white men being killed except Mr Bell and Mr Lillies. The entire crew of the steamer was not massacred. The boatswain escaped. The Australian Government did not send H-M.A.S. Adelaide in response to S.O.S. messages from Europeans in the Solomons, but in response to a request from the British Government, which feared that the native rising might extend. In regard to the statement that “the natives had put on their full war paint and were committing further outrages,” messages on October 12 said that there had not been any concerted rising against the whites, and that the position was perfectly normal. Reports of a native rising had been greatly exaggerated. Three isolated assaults which had been reported were cases of private quarrels. A “strong naval force” did not advance into the bush to arrest the ringleaders. Marines were landed to protect the base camp, but the task of capturing the murderers and restoring order was left to the civil authorities. Mr Bruce stated, in the Australian House that the Adelaide took no part in the punitive operations and that the expedition which went inland was organised by the British. Government from its own forces in the area.

Another London paper, referring to the appointment of a ' commissioner to investigate the massacre, said that the mandate for the Solomon Islands is held by New Zealand. The newspaper probably confused the British Solomons with the former German Solomon Islands, which are administered by Australia as part of the New Guinea mandate.