NEW BRITAIN.

Dozerdust, Volume 2, Issue 4, 15 January 1944, Page 6

NEW BRITAIN.

. NEV/ BRITAIN - the largest and, ost important unit in the Bismark .rchipelago which consists of New Titian, Now Irealdnd. f the Admiralty Island and.adjacent groups ich as a Lavohgo'i and Duke of York ? , }roup . . , LONG-CRESCENT shaped island.- ex* pending: /from East to West, with extension to North known as Gasollo \ Peninsular, at easterly remi ty. / - THREE hundred and seventy miles - Long - fifty miles wide. Total area estimated 13,000 square miles* . . ‘ • * - bugged Range of taino;, run free ad to end of island. Highest peak 7.500 ffiot. , * -■ VOLCANIC in origin. Evidence of volcanic action common throughout < island, especially in north whore arc found Ma tup! Sulphur Springs* Highest peek - the Rnther, 7.500 feet, is an active volcano. Close by are two other mountains • the North and the South Son on the north -west coast. Close to Rabaul' are 4 three peaks « the Mother* the South and/.North Daughter. ' ; Tho 'first, named - is extinct. / , eruptions - Vulcan Island, 193 acres in. extent, which lies on the ; 'south di de >f Blanch Bay, made its , during an eruption from the Mother* May .1937, .two Volcano?®, one at Matupl and one at Vulcan, erupted suddenly, Rabaul evacuated. Teo Jfoiroxnnns and over 200. natives killccf. V/PioXo district covered with ash and pumice.. Vulcan lola formerly a flat island was now a cone 600 "feet high. ' . j ’ RATOALLf- ( «' . RA.blul- North -eastern New = Britain ( average, 17 years, 07«351* 89. 97. : > ■ . GASMA TA - Southern .New Britain. ( average 13 years 248. 14in ) >33»99in. , • a ‘ ‘ TALASEA - North New Britain 9 ( -average 13 years 175* 17in ) 17i;i7ih. ITNtPERATURS - maximum and* minim* um tempera in recent years west - ‘ A, ' i." ‘ Maximum .••.••...100.2. Minimum .••••••«•,61. a ? Kean .......•.. ...81.27.

■ ■ ■ \ * HISTORY- discovered 16th Cehtury7>7< ANNEXED by Germany whan she ’ asserted sovereignty over what is now z called New Guinea# ( About same tine Great Britain annexed I’apua ) V. f ■.' * x ’ SEAT of Govt, ostabll nhod at Rabaul and exorcised through sow Guinea \ Company uni \ 1899» \ ' 1899-1914 Imperial'German Govt, exorcised control. - $ - Sept. 1914 * Australian « - lonary Force' took over* ’ ?. 1914-1920, Military Govt. < functioned . - ; ■■* ■•, ' ! ■ • * • , ; .192'0= ■ ' Torrltery mate ted •■ to. Austr- ■ alia* . ■ i -. ; • ' a -Jan. 1942 - Invaded by k Faps* Jan* 1944 - U,d.A. troops . attack at Cape Gloustor* E3SOVRONS * Sulphur dap© ; , ' _ . coconut growing, 1940 81*000 bares < . tinder cultivation. Other products - co cos, coffee iVte p©ig and.-rubber* /:< Desiccated coconut - - factor!©© a I ': Hondo and Undohte von. COUfUNICATIONd -No railv/aye* IgS ' miles of vehicular- roads* . 1?15 ■ miles bridle paths* Main means of

communication by mssnc cf abhooncrs, cutters -and• sailing vessels* The - , Island bean cressed by patrblsx</■ , at the northern and western --.ext remit- • tics, and a la© n©O th© (Mrt'?G, from* » Cape 800 buy ©h th© -South soot to Bangui®' Bay/on the north coast, NATIVES • variety -bf typA, t?alnly x . NATIVES - variety ©f type's, mainly Mclanssinns. Population amount© to • . - some who re round ■ 81 ,264 • ■•/ It is - estimated that, th© uncounted: natives my tresx the.‘number © ©unted* A ho . above eouht was token In 1934. .-'">• <«/.**. * ■ J . DISEASES • Dysentry, yaw, hookworm, beriberi, tralloal ulcers, tuba soul-. osis, £rambMoia , malaria, syphilis, leprosy. She latter two are rare. ;.■ • a ' ' ' ■ . \ ■'■••’■ ' > ....'.. . ; HEALTH • the Seal th Dept, in RabauX possesses (X) staff medical orderlies, including travelling doo tors*. f2) well equipped Native st Govt* Stations and sub-stations. „ (3) A laboratory at Bbaul under an expert bacteriologist* , RIVERS - no rivers of importance - short streams only* Rabaul possesses one of finest ‘harbours in Group. / ■.. till Hllttft wii mi«Ji ll» NEW WEEK j- NEW . IRELAND. '