Japanese

Nauru Under The

NAURU’S peacetime native population

consisted of 1,800 Nauruans, and some 200 each of Gilbert Islanders and Chinese. On the entry of Japan into the war, all but seven of these Europeans were evacuated, and most oi the machinery was destroyed or im mobilised.

The Japanese occupied the island with out opposition in May, 1942. They nmde no attempt to get any phosphate out, but constructed airstrips, and mounted guns all over the island. American planes raided the island a number of tunes, and neutralised it as an air base. When the Australians occupied it in September lb wrecked Jap planes were found on the airstrips—which had not been UBed for some time. A number of torpedoes were found in store there, which could have been used either in submarines or by planes.

Of the Europeans, two Roman Catnonc priests, who were in charge of the leper

colony, were removed to another island.

The other five, who included the Resi dent Commissioner and the general manager of the works, had been killed.

The Jap story is that they were in a car which was struck by an American bomb, but reliable natives say that they were executed as a reprisal for the first Ameri can air-raid.

The lepers were taken to sea in a boat, and nothing more has been heard of them —though rumour has not been idle.

The Japanese garrison consisted of nearly 4,000 marines, who looked well-fed and contented, although they had been cut off from Japan for about a year.

They lived on vegetables, chiefly pump kins and beans, and fish, which the

natives caught. .

It is ironic that the island, so rich in phosphate, is deficient in nitrogenous fertiliser, so that the Japanese carefully saved all human excreta. As it was stored in open dumps, the island was extremely odorous, and far from sanitary.

The Nauruan natives were very polite, and would raise their hats and bow when a European passed. They looked healthy, but were very pleased to see the Australians. The Chinese were in poor shape; they looked overworked and underfed. Not much information could be gained about the treatment of the native women, but it is known that a proportion of them were taken by force to the Japanese quarters.