Atrocities

Horrors in SW Pacific in 1942

rE Webb Atrocities Report, publica tion of which early this September aroused horror throughout the world, describes inhuman and bestial Japanese crimes committed in 1942 in Papua, New Guinea and the Solomons— mostly against Australian and American Servicemen. But many crimes against missionaries and natives, in North-East Papua and in the British Solomons, are in the list.

Most atrocities were of a character unfit for publication. The following is a summary of part of Justice Sir William Webb’s report:— At the time these atrocities were com mitted, Japanese forces were still advanc ing towards Australia.

A Guadalcanal native boy had his tongue severed with a Japanese bayonet, and Catholic priests and nuns there were bayoneted and the nuns raped.

American soldiers, while still alive, had their livers removed by a Jap'anese surgeon for the entertainment of Japanese troops; and at Tarawa 22 Aus tralian, New Zealand and British civi lians and Servicemen were tied to trees and, after a day or two, Japanese troops were let loose on them.

At Salamaua (New Guinea) a nstive against whom no offence was proved was handed over to a Japanese surgeon for “medical experiments.”

At Milne Bay (Papua) Australian sol diers and natives were tied up, tor tured, used for bayonet practice and finally murdered. Bayonets were pressed into the posteriors of men and left there and driven into white female Anglica© missionaries at Popindetta.

A party of nine persons, including two white female Anglican missionaries, two Anglican priests, a young woman and a child of six were decapitated, bayoneted or shot on Buna Beach (Papua).

Native women were staked to the ground for raping, and after being raped, sometimes by scores of Japanese soldiers, had their breasts cut off and other un mentionable atrocities committed on them with swords or bayonets.

Extensive evidence was taken about atrocities at Rabaul.

The New Caledonian Administration wishes to place a big order for cement in Australia to further its imposing new public works programme. One difficulty that has to be overcome is transporta tion.

In accordance with the spirit of the French Empire Conference held last year at Brazzaville, it is confidently antici pated that universal suffrage will be in troduced in New Caledonia. Women will then, for the first time, have voting rights, and it is expected that the native adult population will also be included in the Colony’s electoral roll.

On receipt of the 700,000 francs (£4,200) subscribed for their benefit by the public of New Caledonia, the Caledonian volunteers in Paris held a meeting at which they unanimously decided to share the gift with their Tahitian com rades.