Naval Heroes

France Remembers Her Naval Heroes

THE French sloop Rigault de Genouilly 1 left Auckland early in May for Mauna Island, Samoa, where officers and men of the La Perouse expedition were murdered in 1787. The Mayor of Auck land presented the sloop with stone, kerbing and cement for the graves.

Acknowledging the gift, the French commander said, “We are proud to know that our friends, who can count in their past the greatest navigator in history, Captain Cook, wish to associate with us in keeping our memories.”

Mauna is now called Tutuila, and is the chief island of American Samoa.

Captain de Langle, commander of the Astrolabe, and 11 men, were murdered there on December 8, 1787. In 1883, a stone was placed over the graves with the words: “Marts pour la Science et la PatrieP Mr. J. H. L. Waterhouse, of Rabaul, New Guinea, has been in Sydney for some time receiving medical attention, and he has been granted special leave from the Education Department in Rabaul until October. During his stay in Sydney Mr.

Waterhouse is preparing a special work on the Blanche Bay native language, New Britain, and is receiving special assist ance in this connection from Dr. A. P.

Elkin, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Sydney.