Affray in Central Papua.
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
Police Carriers
Attacked
A FIGHT occurred between natives of the Kunimaipa Valley and Papuan native police under Patrol Officer Cecil Cowley, who recently went through Kuni maipa to protect a mining party in Tinai Valley, which is on the Papuan-New Guinea border, close to Mt. Chapman.
Tinai was reached satisfactorily, and the carriers, returning home, were put under the charge of a native police sergeant. Four of them left the main body to take a short cut, and were attacked by natives of the Kivena tribe. Two of them were killed. The sergeant chased the attackers and killed four.
When the party reached Kagave, people there killed a pig and gave it to the police patrol. While all were standing talking, a young policeman is said to have fired a rifle in the air. The other police then fired also, allegedly in the air. The sergeant, thinking the patrol was being attacked, shot a man who came to the door of the house to see what had happened. The villagers remained calm. A full investigation is being made.