Natives Attack N.G.

Patrol

A SMALL party of native police, led by Patrol Officer Francis H. Moy, was suddenly attacked by natives in thick bush on the Upper Liron River, a tribu tary of the Markham, about 50 miles from Lae, New Guinea, early in August.

A shower of arrows was the first warn ing of attack and a native constable was wounded. The police rallied quickly and drove off the attackers with rifle fire, dur ing which one of the hostile natives was killed. Mr. Moy got his party into a semi protected position and kept off the hostile natives with rifle fire. He reported the attack on his portable radio set, and Dis trict Officer Taylor, with police reinforce ments, went out by aeroplane to Kaiapit, a landing ground in the vicinity of the Liron River.

It was reported on August 6 that Mr.

Taylor had returned to Salamaua with the wounded constable, and a bush native, whom Mr. Moy’s party had arrested on a charge of murder. Mr. Taylor reported that Mr. Moy’s party was now in no dan ger, and was carrying on.

The Liron River natives appear to be a treacherous lot—although officially des cribed as partially under control. It was in this district that a popular young Patrol-Officer, Mr. T. A. Hough, was fatally injured by an arrow during an attack by natives in December, 1936.