Missing New Guinea

Residents

RELATIONS and friends listed as missing in New Guinea since the Japanese occupation—and especially those from whom no word has been received—will find some comfort in a statement issued by the Red Cross late in March, to the effect that of about 17,000 AIF and other Australian service men known to have become prisoners of war in the Far East, only about 3,000 have been heard from.

It seems to be clear that the Japanese have established prison camps in un known locations in Java, Malaya, Bor neo and Formosa and a number at known locations in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan itself. Up to date, of all the thousands of servicemen who are in these camps, the definite addresses of only 786 are known, while the country of internment is known of 3,715.

The civilians captured in New Guinea numbered only a few hundreds. There is some evidence to suggest that, very soon after the Japanese occupation in January, they were taken away some where into the north, and it is probable that they were scattered among several prison camps. The Japanese are doing little to assist the Red Cross and similar organisations in supplying news of these missing people. It is quite likely that no word will be heard of some of them until after the war is over.