Dodging Japs in Solomons

Jungles

ANOTHER amazing story of escape from the Japanese is told by Mrs.

E. Sprott, of the Melanesian Mis sion in the Solomons. Mrs. Sprott has just reached New Zealand after getting away from Santa Ysabel Island.

She is the widow of the nephew of the late Bishop Sprott. and has been in sole charge of the Melanesian Mission on Santa Ysabel for the past 24 years. She trained young natives to become teach ers at village schools.

The Japs did not come to Mrs. Sprott’s locality immediately they launched their Solomons attack. But in April. 1942. it was decided that it would be safer to get away from the coast and. accordingly,

she, accompanied by natives, took to the jungle of the interior, where she remained hidden for ten months, moving from one place to another, as danger approached.

Medical supplies soon ran out, but food stocks lasted until June. After that she had to live entirely on native food yams, sweet potatoes, bananas, taros and fruit. She made her stock of tea last out until the end by rationing herself to one cup per day.

It rained almost incessantly, and the existence of this courageous woman under these circumstances, is better imagined than described. But she spoke mostly of the Solomon Islanders and considers that no praise is too high for them. “Their loyalty, devotion and courage were marvellous,” she said. “If an American airman came down in the jungle or in the sea they would imme

diately rush to his rescue, and sometimes take him 50 miles in their canoes to the nearest native medical practitioner. They carried all the food and medical sup plies away from the mission station and hid them in several different places, so that if one store were discovered others would remain.”