Prisoners

Mail From Rabaul

LATE in April a Japanese aeroplane from Rabaul dropped, over Port Moresby, attached to a small para chute, a bag which, when recovered, was found to contain about 400 letters —300 being from Australian soldiers, and 100 from civilians, who were taken prisoners by Japanese in the New Guinea area.

Each letter was limited to a single sheet, and all conformed to one pattern —stating that the senders were in good health and were being well cared for.

Owing to inquiries from large numbers of anxious people whose relations and friends were among the civilians who disappeared in the Rabaul area in January, we have made efforts to obtain the names of the 100 civilians who sent letters; but officialdom, although it has a list, refuses to permit publication— Heaven alone knows why.

We do know, however, that the list does not contain the names of any of the prominent officials and merchants who disappeared in January. This gives colour to a report that leading residents were sent away from the New Guinea area by the Japanese.

The Australian Army Minister, on May 22, said that the following were extracts from the letters:— “We are getting used to the diet of rice, fish, and milk.”

“I do not know how often we will be able to write —probably not for a long time after this.”

“The Japanese are going to great trouble to see that we have the privilege of writing this note.”

“We are fortunate in having a padre with us.”

“They have given us a blanket and a sleeping mat each.”

“Matupe (volcano) is going it hot and strong, and we are living in a perpetual rain of pumice.”

“All together, with 13 other nurses— all well.”

“Have said more prayers than ever be fore in my life.”

“A large number of Japanese soldiers speak English quite well, and we often converse with them.”

“We have Mass every Sunday.”

Squadron-Leader Charles Raymond Gurney, formerly of Guinea Airways Ltd., and Qantas Empire Airways, who was killed on Mav 7 in a forced landing in New Guinea, after taking part in an RAAF raid on Rabaul, has been post humously awarded the Air Force Cross.