CAPTURE OF JAPANESE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 6

CAPTURE OF JAPANESE

NATIVE CHIEF’S STRATEGY (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, July 10.

The guile of the chieftain of the Trobriand Islands resulted in the bloodless capture of 18 Japanese survivors of the Bismarck Sea battle. When the Japanese landed on Kiriwina, the largest island, from a power barge the natives took them to Mitakata, the paramount chief of the Trobriand peoples. Mitakata ordered the emaciated refugees to be fed and given shelter. Later he reminded them of their danger of capture, and suggested that they divide themselves into parties of three and be escorted by tribesmen to separate hiding places. This was done. Mitakata then reported to the magistrate the presence of the Japanese, so that the small bands were rounded up and brought in without a struggle. Mitakata said he realised that 18 Japanese might prove difficult to handle, so he had to devise strategy to persuade the enemy to split his forces. The Japanese were confined to prison under a native guard.