Germans And

Missions

Statistics Affecting Catholics

FROM time to time, there have been references to the number of Ger mans among the Roman Catholic missionaries in New Guinea, and some wrong deductions have been made.

The national origin of the Roman Catholic missionaries in the New Guinea and Gilbert Islands areas in September, 1939, was as follows: — Bishops (5) .. .. 2 German 2 French 1 Pole Priests (191) .. .. 113 German 8 Irish 9 Dutch 4 Poles 1 Luxembourg 51 French 5 Italian Lay Brothers (163) 141 German 22 French Nuns (212) ... 11l German 74 French 27 American Of all this number, only eight had been interned up to September, 1942 —one Dutchman, one Pole and six Germans.

The internments, after three years, represented less than 2 per cent, of the total number —remarkable testimony to the official claim of the Catholic Church that “these men and women working in the Missions placed their one interest— service—before nationality, and this interest is uppermost in all their works and endeavours.”

American Lutherans

FROM an old friend, the Rev. Martin Ackermann, of Le Center, Minne sota, USA, there comes a letter in which the "PIM” is mildly scolded for not making a clearer distinction between the German Lutheran Mission, which had its headquarters at Finschhaven, New Guinea, and the American Lutheran Mission, located at Madang. He points out that the Madang establishment was supported mainly by American contribu tions, although valiant aid in men and money is also given by the United Evan gelical Lutheran Church in Australia.

"The Lutheran Mission, Madang, repre sents the 570,000 members of the Ameri can Lutheran Church, and I think they have made a valuable contribution to New Guinea life through their work with the natives there,” says Mr. Ackermann.

"The 25 men and three women of that mission were still at their posts around Madang in January. Our hospital at Madang has rendered invaluable service to Europeans. The hospital itself is located at Amele—a short distance from Madang.

“Australian members of our mission and of the Lutheran Mission at Finsch haven have joined the armed forces and received citations for their work. Rifle man Dave Rohrlach performed especially meritorious service.

“Personally, I feel that these deeds should receive some recognition. As you seem to stand for the Right, I think that you might be interested in this, as some Australian papers have printed incorrect things about Lutheran missions in New Guinea.

“As for myself, I was the last civilian to leave both Salamaua and Wau, and I did so only because I was compelled by the military. I would return now as an interpreter, as I can speak the language of the natives in that entire area, but bacillary dysentery and subsequent com

plications wrought such havoc with my inside that I am still under doctor’s care.”