The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-06-18
=" GERMAN JUSTICE"

The Sydney Morning Herald" pub
fishes long article eulogizing the Ger
man method OF administering Justice"
in the South Seas, and contrasts it with
British methods, to the disadvantage OF
the latter Within the last ten years, it
remarks, at least twenty expeditions
have been sent to the Pacific Islands by
the British, but the commanders of the
men-of-war took no lives, being held in
check, it is alleged, by public opinion in
England through the influence OF the
Aborigines' Protection Society. "HOuse-
burning is no punishment to South
Sea Islander" the Morning Herald"
exclaims. 1t wants blood, and describes
the German method as follaEs:
The gunboat AIbatross has been giving
the people of New Ireland and New Britain
a taste of German justice. During her re-
cent visit about dozen villages were at
tackled, some forty-tive natives were killed,
and a number were wounded. y large
quantity of property was also DESTROYED.
The apparent intention in every one Of the
attacks was to take life, but in some cases
the people fled into the bush before the
party landed, and through this wise pro-
ceeding they escaped the destruction that
was threatened against them. In other
cases, they resisted the onslaught and
paid the natural penalty. The object of
the killing expedition was to infiiCt
punishment for murders that had been
committed by the people. There is reason
to believe that the crime of murder had
been perpetrated in each of the villages that
were attacked; but it is not made clear
whether the victims were German or
English. 1t would appear, however, that
the Captain OF the ship and the German
High Commissioner were Indifferent in
regard to that point. They were satisfied
that white men had been slain, and there
fore they resolved to take vengeance upon
the criminals and their people If this
theory is correct, it shows that the German
Government has strong view of the ma
ture of its responsibilities in its Pacific pos
sessions, and is determined to make the
latter safe for all classes who may desire
to emigrate thereto.
1t appears that at some of the villages
the natives were armed with Snider
rifles, which they used with effect, and
had plenty of ammunition. The sale of
arms was prohibited from the beginning
in British New Guinea, but this precau-
ton has only been recently taken by the
Germans in their New Guinea depend
ency. Traders have much to answer for
in the matter of these conflicts with saw
ages. They barter firearms and ammu-
milton without scruple for the valuable
products of the islands, and by their
violence and dishonesty frequently
bring about their own destruction. The
British tried severe measures a quarter
of a century ago. They now inquire into
the particulars of any outrage or massa-
ere, if possible, and avoid taking life as
rule. We are surprised to find a news
paper OF the high class of the Sydney
Morning Herald" advocating the whole
sale slaughter of innocent people, which
was what took place apparently at New
Ireland and New Britain. In former
years it would have been eloquent in its
denunciation of such an atrocity.