Hollywood

In the Tradition of

"Armed" Hold-up in Apia

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 10.

WHEN two American sailors in Apia, one evening recently, went in search of South Seas romance, they found it not quite in accordance with their eager expectations, which were based on Hollywood. .

Walking along a dark lane in Apia s suburbs, they found themselves suddenly confronted with four dark and sinister figures, one of whom was pointing a gun at them and demanding in no uncertain tones that they hand over all the cash they had on them.

The two gobs—apparently not made ot the stuff heroes are made of —meekly handed over all the dollars they had to Apia’s up-to-date hold-up men, who there upon promptly and mysteriously dis appeared in the surrounding darkness.

Two very dispirited and disillusioned American sailors later on found their way to the police station and laid a com plaint regarding the unromantic end of their adventure. , „ Apia’s police got busy, and Sergeant Aupaau Simaile set out on the trail of the evil-doers.

His only clue was that one of the gang had been wearing a raincoat, which was of no great assistance, as quite a few of these are found nowadays amongst Samoans with former Marine connec tions. But Sergeant Simaile at last tracked down the gang and secured suf ficient evidence.

FOUR young Samoans, aged between 17 and 19 years, later appeared be

fore Chief Judge J. R. Herd, accused of robbery. They pleaded guilty.

The weapon which had been used to threaten the American sailors in the approved Hollywood gangster technique was produced in Court and proved to be a 1/- toy pistol.

They received sentences ranging from six to 18 months.

The Resident Commissioner of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Colonel O. C. Noel, visited Suva in July.

Three New Caledonians, Jean Guidon, Augustin Demene, and Jules Helme, have successfully completed their course of studies and have graduated from the officers’ cadet school at Cherchell, Algeria.