Living Conditions As Fixed By

Japs In New Guinea

What People Trapped by Invasion in Rabaul and Kavieng Have to Submit to

COPIES of orders issued by the invading Japanese to residents of New Guinea have reached Aus tralia.

There were two proclamations— one by the military commandant at Kavieng, which is in fairly good English; and one by the naval com mander-in-chief, which is in English so crude that it is difficult to under stand.

As these documents are likely to have historical value, they are pub lished here in full.

All Islands residents will read, with interest, the details of what their less fortunate brethren in captivity are forced to do.

Paragraph 7 of the Kavieng pro clamation especially is interesting— especially the bit: “Now that all the Territory of New Ireland belongs to the Empire of Japan”. This is count ing the unhatched chickens, with a vengeance.

The proclamations were:—

“Bow To Soldiers”

KAVIENG, February 12, 1942. I, the undersigned, herewith proclaim:— (1) That no trade, viz., neither buying or selling of any commodity is per mitted unless a written licence is previously applied for and obtained. (2) That all or any one of the citizens of Kavieng shall be required from time to time to engage in such labours as are ordered by me for any purpose as I think necessary. In such cases appropriate reward shall be given to labourers. (3) That no traffic, either on land or sea including harbour limits is per mitted from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., and that no sea traffic is permitted unless provided with a written licence by me. (4) That no removal of any commodity is permitted unless provided with a written licence by me. (5) That no light or fire is permitted to leak out of doors from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. A strict and complete black out shall be observed during the hours ordered.

(6) That every house shall hoist a Jap anese National flag as a token of the relative citizen’s allegiance to the Empire of Japan. All and everyone shall bow their heads (making Kei rei) whenever they see Japanese soldiers. (7) That all and every citizens are required to learn the Japanese lan guage in the earliest possible time now that all the Territory of New Ireland belongs to the Empire of Japan.

Any breakage of any one of the above mentioned orders shall be punish able.

Commander of Japanese Garrison at Kavieng.

Ban On Religion

January 23, 2602.

Commander-in-Chief of Nipponese Navy proclaims undermentioned and those come into effect force on the Twenty-third day of January, 2602. (1) Navy of Great Empire of Nippon should confiscate all of the state pro perties of the enemy and freeze the private properties of citizens for some time. (2) Movement of commodities, utensils, materials, and those accessories with out articles of daily use to be indis pensable should be strictly prohibited. (3) Listening to the radio, intercepting messages, publishing printed matters, writing to each other, meeting, photographing, going out at night, and communications to or from other territories are strictly pro hibited. (4) Propagation of a religion, and meet ing by European missionary are pro hibited, too, for some time. All refugees from Kavieng, Rabaul, etc., should come back safely. (5) Inhabitants—including Europeans— who serve loyally to the “Tenno- Heika” His Majesty the Emperor of Nippon are stabilised their living by Nipponese Navy.

“Punished Together”

(6) Construct neighbouring units with houses and after deciding represen tative report the constructive mem bers, i.e., names, ages, sex, number of house. Representatives meet in the golf links at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day in order to get Naval instructions and let them know those. (7) All of the members of units will be gathered occasionally. In that case Navy will notify beforehand to repre sentatives of units. (8) Each of unit have the joint respon sibility, consequently, if unit have any violator for Naval Forces, all the members of units have to be punished altogether. All houses in the Territory ordered to hoist the Nippon flag as illustrated. (9) “Yen-note” circulated by Nipponese soldiers in the currency issued by the Central Bank in Govt, of Nippon.

Whoever refuses to receive it in every transaction and disturbs its circulation should be punished sev erely.

Exchange rate: £1: YlO (Ten yen). 1/-: Y 0.50 (Fifty sen). (10) The prices in retail or wholesale shops must be fixed in the same prices on the twentieth day of this month (January). Whoever raise the prices by manipulations and hoard the prices should bev punished severely by the concerned authori ties.

Headquarters of Imperial Nipponese Navy.