Surprise Attack.

N.G. Patrol Ambushed.

SAVAGE resistance was met by a pa trol led by Patrol Officer McCarthy, which was tracking down the mur derers of William Naylor and Emil Clarius in the Morobe District, late last month.

Mr. McCarthy, who is now in hospital at Salamaua, was visited by Major Marr when the official party arrived by the “Macdhui” on May 11. He told the Min ister that the patrol was near the Pa puan border, at a point two days’ march

from Otibanda police post, on Surprise Creek, when it arrested 12 prisoners from the tribe responsible for the recent murder of the prospectors, Naylor and Clarius. He was marching off with the prisoners when the party walked into an ambush, from which a shower of ar rows were fired at a range of five yards.

Six police boys were hit and also two prisoners, who died. One police boy is also in hospital still at Salamaua, and is likely to die. Mr. McCarthy, although wounded, was able ro rally the boys, who fired back, killing several of the attackers.

“The first thing I knew,” said Mr. Mc- Carthy, “was that I got an arrow in the stomach. Then another arrow struck me in the thigh. There was a regular volley of arrows, and six police boys fell. As the attackers rushed us we fired, driv ing them off. Of the 12 prisoners, the attackers accidentally killed two, and we were forced to shoot three when they were attempting to escape. The actual arrest took place in quite uncon trolled country.”

The prisoners will be taken back to act as interpreters during the control ling of the country.