Massacre!

Prospecting Party of 11 Killed In New Guinea.

TWO white men and nine native car riers were murdered in an “uncon trolled area” in the Morobe district of New Guinea on January 6.

The news was brought to Otibanda police post on Surprise Creek, in the Upper Watut watershed, by a native of the village of Wein, who had escaped from the massacre with two spear wounds in his back.

The victims were two prospectors, William Naylor and Emile Clarius who, with their party of carries, were at tacked at a spot two days’ journey from Otibanda.

When the news reached Salamaua, a party, under District Officer G. W. L.

Townsend and Assistant District Officer Penglase, immediately set out for the scene of the assault.

This party also was ambushed and in the subsequent fight three of the at tackers were killed and two wounded.

The Administration party escaped in jury.

The bodies of Naylor and Clarius were found, together with those of three na tives; all had been clubbed to death. No arrests had been made at latest reports, but special steps are being taken to bring the district under control.

Messrs. Naylor and Clarius were pros pecting in the country between Surprise Creek and the headwaters of the Langa mar River. Since October an Assistant District Officer and three Patrol Officers have been stationed in the area, trying to bring the natives under control; but such a task necessarily takes time. The prospectors had penetrated country well outside the sphere of the Administra tion’s influence.

D.O. Townsend’S Story.

District Officer Townsend arrived in Sydney by the “Montoro” on his way to England on furlough. Describing the country in which he found the bodies of Messrs. Naylor and Clarius and nine of their native carriers, he said it was rugged jungle which would make the ar rest of the murderers extremely difficult.

The bodies of the victims were found beside a creek and, owing to the absence of signs of conflict, it was evident that they had been the victims of a surprise attack. It is considered that three na tive carriers, who are unaccounted for, escaped into the bush.

Mr. Townsend considers that it will take about two months to search for and arrest the murderers. The area is prac tically unknown and a strong police party, sent out after the murderers, is endeavouring to bring it under control.

The natives of the area have never seen Europeans before and their savagery made journeying among them an ex tremely hazardous enterprise.