CLOUDBURST IN NEW GUINEA
SEVERAL AUSTRALIANS DROWNED Canberra, Aug. 26. Twelve Australians were drowned and many others experienced breathtaking ordeals when a cloudburst over the gorges of the rToricelli Ranges sent a 15-feet high wall of water and masses of heavy logs hurtling down the Dunman River, 45 miles south-east of Aitape. on 27 January last. In this thrilling New Guinea visitation, Lance Bombardier Gordon McAlister won the George Medal for saving the lives of six men who had been isolated by the wild torrent. The release of the story shows that no fewer than 40 soldiers rode like surfboard experts on wildly dashing logs for distances of from 500 yards to three miles before they were rescued from the mad torrent. When the wall of water with its jumble of logs hit the river delta it cut a swathe through the jungle about 120 yards wide, spreading out to 500 yards as it neared the sea. First-aid posts did not count the number of men treated for minor injuries, but 18 casualties were carried by stretcher to an advance dressing station.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19450828.2.62
Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 August 1945, Page 4
Word Count
182CLOUDBURST IN NEW GUINEA Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 August 1945, Page 4
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Nelson Evening Mail. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in