The New Hebrides Murders

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1084, 3 September 1904, Page 3

The New Hebrides Murders

Not Enough Police Tin; French cruiser Meurtlio left Noumoii on August 11 for tlio New Hsbridcs, It was understood tlmt the commander lid received instructions in connection with itho recent massnero of Captain Pentecost and liis crow nt Aurora Island, and would endeavour to discover tlio murderers ami inllict punishment upon them. A Noumea nowspaper. comiiioiitiii|> on the tragedy, attributes it In fho fact that I ho ishuds are not ollktively policed, and this, it Hays, is because of tho system of dual control. It asserts tlmt nt the present timo n condition of anarchy prevails ig the Archipelago, under whin the unlives em willi impunity rob, murder, and devour while (rulers. What happens, it asks, when a crime like lliut referred to is coumiitted ? A French or llrtish warship is sent to the place, A dctaelmeiU of uriued sailors is luided, but in nine oasis out of ten they find the spot doscrted; the natives having noticed the vessel in ibe distance lleo to the dense bush, where it is impossible to follow them, Then nil tlio sailors can do is to bum ut few empty him, to lay waste iho cultivated patches, 'ind to carry oil somo choice pigs, At oilier limes the ship drops a few shells union" iherocksand trees near the shore, but without result, ns tho natives have gono 10 phices of salety out of reach of the pn j>c tic--. If, as rarely happens, ill,; ntivcl i,nicer is ablo to seize the child'oi the guilty tribe, ho is condemned to it meioly nominal punishment—pay a lino consisting of ut few wild pigs, Tho belief is expressed that such crimes will bo ropoated whilst the present want of iffectiyo rontrol exi.ls. and, therclore, it is urged that tho con. dilion should bo at onco put an ci d to by a!lo\viu» France solo sovereignly o vei the it-1 .11 Jb.