NEW GUINEA HORRORS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1944, Page 5

NEW GUINEA HORRORS

For Missionaries

IN JAPANESE CAPTIVITY.

(Rec. 9.50.), SYDNEY, May 19. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.? An Australian Lutheran Missionary was tied to a tree and exposed to the weather for a fortnight alter his capture by Japanese at Madang, New Gumea. He was fed only at intervals with mouldy biscuits. This is one of the stories of Japanese brutality told by ninety-two missionaries rescued by American troops at Hollandia on April 22. The missionar.es have now reached Australia, and are recovering at an American Army hospital Many lost their Ilves when a 1,000ton enemy ship, conveying them to Hollandia, was strafed by Allied ’planes of Wewak. Of 154 kept on the deck bv the Japanese, all except twenty-five were killed, or d.ed of wounds, or were wounded. Sixty died on the ship, and twelve died after reaching Hollandia. An operation performed bv a German, Doctor Theo Broun, saved the life of a Catholic priest, Father Lorenz Mai, whose leg was. smashed during an aerial attack, and turned gangrenous. The amputation was performed with an ordinary hand-saw. Unable to obtain from the Japanese more than a quarter of the cocaine required, for an anaesthetic, Di. Braun helped to dull the priest s pam by giving him whisky. All the missionaries at Holland, a, including aged Sisters, were put to work bv the Japanese in building roads, making shelters and tending gardens. While AlLed bombers came over they were forced to rem-nn m the open, while the Japanese h.d in the shelters the missionaries hau dug. They were not allowei. to keep any of the produce Sspm their gardens This went to the Japanese garrison. The food for the miss onanes was one round of rice each per week, and a small canister of meat between ■ one hundred each day. ‘ Missionaries are not supposed to steal, said one of the rescued priests, but V- e had some experts.”