ELMS. Swift and BINS. Plover returned to Labuan last night.
These gunboats had been engaged on an expedition against Talléh up the Membakué River.
rebels being killed and many wounded.
The rebel stronghold was captored, eight There were no casualties on our side, Talleh, the leader of the insurgents, site ceeded in making his escape.
'A later telegram received to-day announces that his head has been brought in.
There is a general belief that Talleb is Mat Salleh's lieutenant.
Connnenting on the above the Free Press says:—Recent precedent to the contrary has been put aside and two British gunboats have been allowed to assist the North Borneo Company in dealing with one of the rebel leaders. It is unfortunately not Mat Salleh, but it is at any rate the next best man that has been brought to book. The scene was the Membakut river, end f&-naval contingent of officers and bluejackets, from the Stitt and Porer, in'tho Shape of a boat expedition, was guided uj to Talleh's stockaded fort, which was rushe and captured with loss to the natives. Although Talleh got clear away during the attack yet it appears that, possibly by some of the Company's Dyaks, he was followed up, killed, and his head brought in for identification. There is a fine orthodox Borneo twang about this bit of
from troubling, and it is to be hoped that, "head-hunting ish will now cease encouraged by the ce-operation of vessels of the Navy, the North Borneo Government may at last succeed in laying hands on that arch disturber of..the peace, Mat Salleh.—Hongkong Daily Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.