ATROCITIES IN NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23949, 17 May 1943, Page 4

ATROCITIES IN NEW GUINEA

RENEGADE NATIVES HANGED

WHITE MEN AND WOMEN KILLED

(Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 16,

Seven renegade New Guinea natives have been hanged, five await hanging, and many others await trial fer a series of atrocities against 16 white men and four white women. The crimes charged against these natives, who were abetted by the Japanese, include betrayal, rape,' murder, and treason.

All the victims of the atrocities, which occurred between July and September last year, were bayoneted or clubbed to deatri, or beheaded. The murdered whites were four Anglican mission nurses, four Anglican missionaries, six United States airmen, five Australian Army personnel, and' a plantation owner. Tho malefactors, who were captured near Buna, were led by Embogi, a 25-year-old native, who had already spent ?0 years in prison. Because his tribesmen have since ‘‘pointed the bone” at him, it is thought he may pine away before he can be executed. Thirteen white people fleeing from the Gona mission area in northern Papua following the Japanese landings there were betrayed to the enemy by two native boys. The party was ambushed and all but two women were killed. The natives beat some of the men to death with clubs. The women, both Anglican mission nurses, were bayoneted and stabbed to death by the Japanese after they had resisted attempts at rape. Two more mission sisters were among a party attempting to escape from the enemy at Oro Bay. They were captured by the natives as they were crossing the Ambogo river. They were stripped naked and driven across the river like cattle, being then handed over to the Japanese, who took them to Buna. It is fairly certain that all were beheaded and their bodies thrown into the sea. ' . The 25 natives concerned in this crime are still awaiting trial. Officials emphasise the fact that the renegades have been but a tiny minority among the New Guinea natives.