Narrow Escape
p. 71 · Read in the full issue
Papuan Patrol Officer's Narrow Escape
From Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, July 26.
KNOCKED down and surrounded by 60 armed natives in the Kagua Valley area. Papua, on June 16, Patrol Offi cer Ivan Champion saved his life by shooting one of the natives as he was about to fire an arrow from a distance of five yards. The native was killed, and the others ran into the jungle.
With two carriers and a native con stable. Champion, who is in charge of the Lake Kutubu police, was travelling about half a mile in the rear of the main party. '
The natives emerged from the jungle as he was crossing a creek. One of them grabbed his rifle, and he was knocked to the ground. Several arrows which were fired narrowly missed him. Champion re joined the main party, which searched unsuccessfully for the natives.
Attacks were made recently on two pre vious patrols in the district, but the natives scattered when rifles were fired.
The native who was killed came from lawi village through which Champion had passed previously.
Mr. G. H. Green, managing director of Buka Plantations, Ltd., Numa Numa, Northern Solomons, left Sydney by the "Malaita” early in August on one of his regular visits to the Western Pacific.