Joy of the Liberated

Gilbertese

Jl SONG, written by Lakobo, of

Kuria Island, in the Gilberts, and sung by the people of Kuria at a special ceremony, on the occasion of the first visit of the British District

Officer, Major F. J. Holland, OBE,

GM, after his landing on nearby

Abemama with counter - invading American Forces. (Translated from the Gilbertese) We are in merry mood.

The warships are now safely at anchor.

Their crews roam our shores.

Chorus: Men, women and children, Fear no more.

All enemy forces have been annihilated.

A secure life to everyone is now assured And freedom is ours.

The warships are from America.

Which is now protecting us.

Merrily, merrily they sail along. (Chorus repeated) We have heard the glad news.

The capture of Tarawa is confirmed.

Abemama and Makin have been liberated. (Chorus repeated) Our friend Major Holland was with the Americans When they landed at Tarawa.

Be happy! For our cause is victorious. (Chorus repeated) The fortifications on Betio were very strong.

Every part of the island was guarded Coastal defence guns surrounded it. (Chorus repeated) The brave Americans made their landings Under heavy gunfire from the beaches They fought until all the atoll was theirs. * (Chorus repeated) Our hearts are filled with joy Because the Allied Forces have come among us.

We thank our liberators a thousand times. (Chorus repeated) Miss Eleanor Rose Stansfield, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Allen, of Suva, Fiji, was married on June 14 in Suva, to Staff-Sergeant Reginald Graham Morten (NZEF). son of Mrs. L. E. Mor ten, of Auckland.

Mrs. Gertrude May Leask died in the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva Fiji, on July 8. She was the widow of Mr. George Leask, a civil engineer in the service of the Fiji Government, who died in the Colony 25 years ago. Mrs. Leask resided in Australia for many years, but six months ago she returned td Fiji to live with her daughter, Mrs. E. W. Har ness, of Suva.

The Chinese Vice-Consul, Mr. Y. S.

Chen, was transferred to Chungking, at the end of July, where he will work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His suc cessor in Suva is Mr. V. C. Tsang, who was formerly Vice-Consul in the Chinese Consulate-General at Calcutta.