FIGHT ON TIMOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 6

FIGHT ON TIMOR

GALLANT AUSTRALIANS

UNIQUE HOSPITAL

(B»y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) <Rec. 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 2. The most primitive military hospital of the war is that of the AXF. commando troops in Tiihor. It has no beds or mattresses. The patients lie on the flooring of split bamboo over which a blanket has been? thrown.:. ;■ At present hidden" in the mountains under the brow of a heavy rock, the , hospital has been moved 15 times since it was established in February. The story of this hospital is told by W- Marien, an Australian official war correspondent, in the latest of a series j of articles on the epic stand : being j made against the Japanese in Timor by a band of A.I.F. men. The hospital now receives steady supplies of drugs, bandages, and other medical essentials from Australia. Despite the enormous difficulties and the lack of equipment, the medical officer, Captain C. R. Dunkley, of Fremantle, has registered many more admittances j than there are troops on the island. MJany ". times he has sustained life in ; ; seriously wounded men who since have been returned to Australia for major surgical operations. "This is unique among military hospitals for its work with limited equipment," declares Mr. Marien. "It has probably given far more urgent service than any other hospital in this war, no matter how big or well equipped." The "Sydney Morning Herald", today describes the articles on the A.I.F. operations in Timor as telling "one of the finest stories of courage and tenacity yet to emerge from the Pacific war." _ "The stand of these A.I.F. men represents, a great deal more than a gallant action in an isolated outpost," says the paper, "for the significance of Timor in the strategy of the Pacific war,is considerable. Not only is it, important to the defence of this continent, but if can provide the pivot for the northward offensive for which the Allies are now gathering their strength."