Missionary's Experience in Gilberts

Fifteen Months With The Japs

ON his way to Sydney to recuperate after a long illness, the Rev. Father Mehl, a Roman Catholic missionary on Abemama, Gilbert Islands, arrived in New Zealand in April. He was on Abe mama during the 15 months of the Japanese occupation.

Father Mehl is a native of Alsace- Lorraine, and went to the Gilberts in 1938 with Bishop Terrienne. Of the three Sisters of the Abemama Mission who were there during the occupation, he said one died of sickness shortly after the Japs landed, but the other two were still there.

Describing the landing of the Japanese in September, 1942, made simultaneously with those on Tarawa and Makin Islands, Father Mehl said the first party was about 200 strong. They behaved in threaten ing fashion at the mission, menacing the people there with bayonets.

The three New Zealanders, who had .been operating a wireless station on the island, took to the bush, but surrendered the next day. Bishop Terrienne, then on a visit to mission stations by launch, was also taken prisoner. He came to Abe mama from a neighbouring island, not knowing the Japanese had moved in. He was on Tarawa when the 22 New Zea landers there were murdered by the Jananese.

Then, following a raid by US aircraft, the Japanese came to the church durins Mass armed with machine-guns and searched the sacristy and altar for a wire less set. Searches were sometimes made four and sometimes five times a day, and even at night.

FOOD was the greatest problem during the occupation. In the mission they lived on native food, coconuts, fish, pandanus, a few taros, and the few eggs and fowls contributed by the natives.

Relief came in November, 1943, when the American marines landed. The fight ing lasted three days, but on the night before the end a message came to Father Mehl from some of the Japanese asking him to pray for them.

Some of the Japs cried and wanted to

surrender, but the commander told them they would all have to die on the morrow.

The Americans lost no time in turn ing Abemama into a huge base, Father Mehl said. They built an airstrip and roads and moved in a garrison which at one time numbered 5,000 men.