Rev. James Benson
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
May be a Prisoner
AN officer of the Red Cross, who is stationed in New Guinea, has re ported to the Australian Board of Missions, in Sydney, that he has heard, from a usually reliable source, that the Rev. James Benson was seen at Sanan anda (then a Japanese base) in October last, and that he was taken off as a prisoner on a Japanese vessel bound for Rabaul.
Early in October, it was reported that the three Anglican missionaries, Miss Mavis Parkinson, Sister May Hayman and Mr. Benson were killed by the Japanese.
In the case of the two women this report has since been confirmed. The last official word of Mr, Benson was that he had been seen on the Sanananda track by a half caste boy, whom he told he was going to Buna to arrange safe conduct for the women.
According to this latest unofficial re port, it appears that there is still hope that he may be safe.
I. L. Vosailagi, a Fijian who recently completed his studies and qualified as a dental surgeon at Otago University, New Zealand, has returned to Fiji. He will join the Medical Department.