US Awards for Five

Territorians

TKE US War Department has an nounced the award of the Legion of Merit (degree of Legionnaire) to five Territorians, for exceptionally meri torious conduct. They are: Captain Ernest P. Hitchcock. Papuan Infantry Battalion, formerly well known in the Morobe district, for patrol and reconnaissance work in the Salamaua area. (This award was announced in February.) Captain John S. McLeod, Australian and New Guinea Administrative Unit, for services in New Britain, organising and supervising native labor and guides and for reconnaissance patrol. He was for merly a patrol-officer with the New Guinea Administration.

Captain Allan W. Staley, AIF, formerly Road-master in Rabaul, for services in New Guinea as liaison officer of a bom bardment squadron.

Lieutenant Kenneth T. Bridge, AIF, formerly ADO, New Guinea Administra tion, for services in reconnoitring the area of the Mambare River Lieutenant Lyndon C. Noakes, AIF, for merly of the Mines Department, Wau, for. services when the enemy landed at the mouth of the Mambare River, when Noakes and his party killed several of the enemy and maintained constant watch on the remainder.