one Guilty
pp. 17-141 · Read in the full issue
For Rabaul Riot Deaths
one was guilty for the ths of two natives under
ice rifle fire during native riot
in Rabaul on July 30, the -oner, Mr. Winkle , found in %ust. )LICE action in firing was reason ably taken in proportion to the ition which arose during the riots, Winkle added. [e said that no one could help be impressed by the “courage, Dtion to duty, and civic-minded ; of those who were officially cemed with quelling the riot and ;e who voluntarily helped to quell he inquest lasted four days and rd evidence from 20 witnesses, hey told how Sepiks had started ing against the Tolais at the laul market on July 29, and how Tolais had carried on the fight next day. (P/M, August, p. 17). he evidence described a major h between police and Tolais at eap, outside Rabaul, followed by other clashes in the town during ch native police fired their rifles.
Ordered to Fire hiring the inquest it was revealed t Sub-inspector William Thompson, was the man who had ordered ive police to fire their rifles during rioting. Scottish born Thompson had anti-terrorist service in laya. He said he had given the er to fire on two occasions and I ordered the natives to “fire on ” (in the air). Police officers had ually pushed up the barrels of tie rifles before any actual firing ;an.
When the Rabaul markets opened August 12 for the first time since i riots, native police, carrying riot :ks, mingled with the crowds of )iks and Tolais. There was no üble.
Rabaul estimates that the riots )bably cost the town more than .000 directly and caused wide 'ead indirect losses. It upset the live trading economy and disrupted siness.
A big portion of the money was ent by the Administration in flying 'lice reinforcements from Port oresby to Rabaul, and back again.
(Continued on p. 139)
perty damage was about £2,000, nly for damage to Government or vehicles. . missionary priest, Father Joseph ichl, who in August was acting Catholic Bishop of New Britain, the Administrator, Sir Donald and, and the New Britain District imissioner, Mr. J. Foldi, in a ■hour conference in Rabaul, that a long time before the riots the li tribesmen had been planning attack New Guinea mainland yes in Rabaul. Father Reischl is iest who has been warning about vival of a native cult of German is called Ingiatt, or Iniid ( PIM, ch, p. 7, April, p. 129), alleged be a “secret Government of ir”.
“peace feast”, designed to heal hostile rift between the Tolais mainlanders took place in early ember in Rabaul without incident. was held in Queen Elizabeth c but attendance was surprisingly 11—organisers’ estimates ranging i 400 to 1,000. he majority were New Guineans, ough four Tolai Councils, Rabaul, ladidir, Vunamani and Reimber mn, purovided most of the gifts bod. The feast was organised by 1 Tolai and mainland leaders act in co-operation. he ceremony did not consist of ting but of an elaborate exchange pfts between the two groups.