Japanese Clash With B.S.I

B.S.I. Natives Poachers Fire Shots At Vanikoro

From a Special Correspondent

Vanikoro, Mar. 20.

was an unpleasant incident * here in March when Japanese from a poaching sampan clashed with local natives. On two separate occasions they fired shots at the natives, but none was harmed.

The Government vessel, Veronica, was summoned and went after the Japanese, but they had already departed, probably for the New Hebrides. District-Officer W. H. Miller held an inquiry into the whole affair.

It appears that early in March a sam pan was seen within the lagoon, on the western side of the island, engaged in diving. A small boat was on the reef, and four Japanese were in the water gathering shell, while two remained in

the dinghy.

Natives Take Dinghy

Nearby were two native youths in a canoe, also fishing for shell, together with an elder native. These three decided to take charge of the boat on the reef and, accordingly, ordered the two Japan ese sitting in the boat to join their com rades in the water.

The natives then proceeded to take the boat ashore, giving it in the meantime several blows with an axe, and taking possession of two hats and some pipes.

Soon the sampan returned from the lagoon, picked up its divers, and opened fire at the natives ashore with the cap tured boat. Two shots were fired, and the natives, unharmed, fled into the bush.

Two other rounds were fired into a house, narrowly missing one of the inmates.

Party Lands From Sampan

The Japanese shortly afterwards sent a landing party ashore. They destroyed an outrigger canoe, and then departed without doing any further damage.

Next day, quite close to one of the villages, the Japanese were again engaged in diving, and the headman, with another companion, set out in a canoe to inter view the poachers. As soon as their canoe was close the sampan opened fire at the natives. Two shots were fired at the forward end of the canoe, one ricochet ting near the native seated in the stern of the canoe.

Nearby was another canoe with two “Marys” in, and the Japanese again opened fire, but fortunately missed the two women, who fled as fast as they were able.

On Utupua Island, north of Vanikoro, the Japanese maintain amicable relations with some of the natives, exchanging saTce spirit for garden produce; but the natives here say they are prepared to defend their reefs, gardens and coconut groves with bows and arrows from the intrusions and robberies of the poachers.