Murder Of Claries And Naylor

Vigorous Defence of T.N.G. Officials Concerned.

[Letter to the Editor ]

THE section of the article in the August “P.I.M.”, dealing with the murder of Clarius and Naylor in the Upper Watut-Langimar area, is so full of misstatements that, but for its underhand attack on officials, who have done and are still doing splendid work there, it would have evoked little but mirth from the local miners.

The thought that some of your readers may credit the statements made in this pernicious article, and the fact that the mention of my name in it may lead some to connect me with it, lead me to take this opportunity to dis sociate myself from the sentiments expressed, and to point out their malicious nature.

Your correspondent states that “Isen bert and Bryan” took Naylor and Clarius’ carrier, who escaped, to the Otibanda Post. Bryan was not with

me. He did not come to the Post till later in the day. As to Bryan’s sup posed offer to organise a rescue party “within two hours,” it would have been impossible for him to have gathered a sufficiently strong party within twentyfour hours, so widely are the miners scattered; and the party so gathered certainly would not have been well equipped.

That this idea was “refused by the officials’’ seems quite likely, if there had been an official on the Post able to make such a refusal when Mr. Bryan arrived. But the official in charge of the matter, Mr. A. D. O. Penglase, had left by ’plane for Salamaua to collect stores and police at about 8 a.m., an hour after I reported the murder.

Your correspondent states that he left in the afternoon, but this is just to insinuate delay, and to make the rest

of his “charges” seem plausible. The only person to whom the offer could have been made was a Patrol Officer, who had no authority in the matter.

Hence the statement that the offer was refused with “are you trying to teach me my business,” is ridiculous.

As one with a knowledge of the natives concerned I was amused to find your correspondent hinting that “what appeared to be a man tied to a stake” could have been either Naylor or Clarius. This was probably a “Sing sing” in progress. Susuma, one of the carriers who escaped, and who is at present working for me, confirms this when he says that the two unfortunate men were killed in the first attack.

The idea of a party leaving by moon light for a place three or four days away, to prevent “telegraphing” of movements ahead, shows that if your correspondent lacks verity he at least possesses a high degree of imagination.

His maliciousness reaches its height when he makes the charge that the report of the party, which went in to the scene of the murder, is false; and to cloak this under the guise of ques tions to police boys certainly shows the code of the author to be on a low plane. Both Susuma and Wali, the in terpreter for the party (who also works for me) verify the fact that, when an attempt was made to ambush the party by two bands of natives (“they never saw the natives”) on the return trip, three were shot and one wounded.

The statement that the ten pris oners taken later “advised them (Nay lor and Clarius) not to proceed further into the Langemark,” is directly con tradicted by the very native, whom your correspondent quotes to substan tiate it.

Susuma says that five natives car ried for Naylor and Clarius on the day before they were murdered, and some followed behind. When they camped for the night at the head of a river, these natives and those following slept at a nearby village. In the morning, when the miners moved on, many natives followed and murdered them at the first opportunity. Susuma says that he actually saw some of the five who carried amongst the attackers.

Is it possible that these natives could have advised the white men not to proceed further? Rather did they carry them further from the Post, so that they could murder them more securely!

“Five Innocent Kanakas!” All the miners to whom I have spoken were surprised to hear that there were any “innocent kanakas” in this area. Of the five innocents in Salamaua, one is reported to be the actual man who hit one of the miners on the head with a club, and another to have been present.

To quote your correspondent—“ Much more could be said, the publication of which will serve no useful purpose.”

Suffice it to say that the general opinion of the Upper Watut miners is that the article in question have been written by one with little knowledge of the facts, and a desire to revenge himself on officials at present absent from the Territory, have evidently carried out their duty to his discomfort.

I am, etc.,

F. Isenbert.

Surprise Creek, Upper Watut, N.G., 10/10/33.