68 Civilians Are "Missing"

Search in New Britain and N. Ireland

From Our Own Correspondent

Canberra, May 29.

rpHE Australian Department of External A Territories and the Army Depart ment are combing New Britain and other islands for information regarding 68 civilians, of whom no trace has been found.

While Army contact and inquiry units search for information in the islands, the Department of External Territories has questioned other civilians evacuated from the islands in the hope of learning some information as to the missing civi lians’ fate.

Relatives of these missing people have been told that certificates of death could not be issued for them, but at the same time the relatives were given little hope to believe the missing people were alive.

A good number of the missing were people who lived on New Ireland, some on New Britain, and at least one on Manus.

The search for information will con tinue until every avenue had been ex ploited, and all authorities are satisfied nothing can be gained by continuing the quest. rjIHE following is the list (supplied by X Canberra) of the 68 N. Guinea people who are officially described as “Missing—fate unknown,” and in respect of whom death certificates cannot yet be issued. There is no evidence that they were on the “Montevideo Maru.” Any one who has information which might indicate the fate of any of these people is requested to kindly write to The Secretary, Department of External Terri tories, Canberra:— Note: NB = New Britain. NI = New Ireland, ASH, N. E., Warrant-Officer of Police, Adminis tration.

ATTWOOD, W., owner of workshops, Kavieng, NI.

BACHMAN, E., timber worker, Rabaul.

BADGER, H. J., chainman, Administration.

BEAUMONT, J., sawmiller, Mandres, NB.

BELL, J. W., planter, Penipol Plantation, Kavieng.

BURNS, F., planter, Bougainville.

CARLSON (Skipper), planter, NI.

CHADDERTON, C., planter, Lamerika Plan tation, NI.

CHAUNCY, A. A., surveyor, Administration.

COGAN, T., plantation overseer, NB.

CONSTARDINE, F. C., plantation manager, NI.

COTTEE, G. A., mechanic, Administration.

CRAIG, —., believed to have been in NI.

DAVIES, L., plantation overseer, Ungan Plan tation, NI.

DICKSON, J. F., storeman, Administration.

EVENSEN, A. S., manager, Pondo Industries, NB.

FITZGIBBON, W. H., foreman plumber. Adminis tration.

FURLONG, R. 8., manager, Lamussong Plan tation, NI.

GARNETT, W. F. S„ planter, Karmiraba Plan tation, NI.

GORDON, L. L., planter, Lukon Plantation, NI.

GRIFFIN, J. K. V., plantation overseer, Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., Kavieng.

GRUNDY, M. C., believed to have been at Rabaul.

HARVEY, A. A., planter, Lassuls Plantation, Bainings, NB.

HARVEY, Mrs.; HARVEY, Jr., wife and son of above.

HEMING, R., manager of Kolube Estates, NI.

HERTERICH, S., believed to have been in NI.

HEYDON, W., manager, Put Plantation, Tanga Island.

HUNTLEY, W. R., clerk, Administration.

IVES, V. G., manager, Kurumut Plantation, Namatanai, KORN, W., assistant manager, Pondo Plantation, NB.

LAMPTON, R., last heard of in NI.

LEVY, P. M., manager, Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., Kavieng.

LIGHTBODY, H. L., manager, Kalili Plantation, NI.

M;ANSON, J. S., employed by A. A. Harvey, Lassuls Plantation, Bainings, NB.

MARSHALL, J. D., clerk, Administration.

MATHIS, P., manager, Noru Plantation, Manus.

MERNIN, T. P., plantation manager, NI.

MERRELL, A., plantation employee, Kalili, NI.

MILLER, E. R., planter, Tsalui Plantation, New Hanover.

MILLER-SCHOEVERS, Isa., last heard of in Rabaul.

MOSELEY, A., manager, Belik Plantation, NI.

MUNSTER, C. P., planter, Lorengau, Manus.

NAUGHTON, J. P., plantation manager, NI.

OSTROM, C. D., planter, Kavieng.

OSTROM, H., plantation overseer. Last heard of in NB, OSTROM, J. 0., timber worker, NB.

OSTROM, Max, plantation overseer. Last heard of in NI.

PARKER, W., plantation overseer, Bainings, NB.

PARKINSON, Mrs. P., plantation owner, Nama tanai, NI.

PINNOCK, L., manager, Ululnonon Plantation, NI.

PRATT, V. A., planter, Tobera Plantation, Kokopo, NB.

ROACH, F., miner. Last heard of in Bougain ville.

SHERWOOD, K. A., telephone mechanic, Ad ministration.

SLIPS, —. Not known. Last heard of in NI.

SMITH, A. A., planter, Vunarakan Plantation, Rabaul.

SMITH, F. N., storeman, Administration.

SMITH, T., planter, North Coast Road, NB.

THOMPSON, C. J., accountant, W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., Rabaul.

TOPAL, H. J., plantation manager, NI.

TOPAL, Jr., son of above.

WHITEHEAD, B. N., manager, Karu Plantation, Namatanai.

WILLIAMS, L. L., manager, Kimidau Estates, Kavieng.

WILLMET, W. P., manager, Ralabang Plantation, Kokopo, WILSON, H., plantation manager, Bainings, NB.

WOODHOUSE, E., manager, Katu Plantation, Kavieng.

WOOLCOTT, L. G., manager, Fileba Plantation, Kavieng.