THROUGH WILDEST NEW GUINEA

Southland Times, Issue 24986, 24 February 1943, Page 5

THROUGH WILDEST NEW GUINEA

SYDNEY, February 23

New Guinea patrol officers have performed an extraordinary feat in bringing 27 Chinese refugees from Japaneseoccupied Wewak to an Allied base across 600 miles of the wildest and least known country in the island. The men have all had many years of experience in the territory. “For six weeks we threaded our way over vague mountain trails and forded rushing torrents,” said one of the patrol officers. “Ours was a strange cavalcade with a medley of people from old men of 70 to a baby in arms. Words cannot convey the impression of the country we went through with its swamps and mosquitoes.” The officers were in the district when the Japanese landed at Wewak. The white population had been evacuated some time previously, but Chinese traders and artisans had stayed on. They asked to be taken away as the Japanese neared the place. Most of the party had malaria during the journey. Many times individuals had to be carried. The natives were friendly and beads and shells were bartered for food. “We found the natives valued white buttons highly, but only if they had four holes in them,” remarked a patrol officer. “This was intriguing, but we did not have time to find the reason.” The Chinese will be sent to Australia.