PAPUAN NATIVE TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25239, 31 May 1943, Page 3

PAPUAN NATIVE TROOPS

GRANDSONS OF HEADHUNTERS FIGHTING WITH THE ALLIES (KZ.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, May 28: The grandsons of New Guinea headhunters are to-day Allied soldiers fighting against the Japanese in their native jungles. They are members of the Papuan infantry who had their first encounter with the Japanese afew days after the enemy landing in the Buna-Gona area in July of last year. Since then they have seen action on several occasions. • “Do not try to glamourise these men,” said one of their Australian officers. “They are not supermen, and have definite limitations, but they are particularly good in many ways, especially in mopping-up operations.” Following the cessation of organised enemy resistance in Papua in January, native troops combed the jungle swamps for escaping Japanese. in February alone they killed 300 of the enemy. The only field decoration ever awarded to a.New Guinea native has been gained by a member of this unit. He was Sergeant (now Warrant Officer) Katue, a huge ebony-coloured man aged 38, who received the Military Meddl for moving through the Japanese lines soon after the Buna landing and bringing back valuable information enabling the Australians to hinder the enemy advance considerably.