Dramatis Personae
p. 43 · Read in the full issue
HENRI SAUTOT, Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides, who had become Governor of New Caledonia after defeating a formidable array of Vichy officials, led by Governor Pelicier and Colonel Denis, and shipping them away to Indo-China.
DR. DE CURTON, who was elected De Gaullist Governor of French Oceania, after Tahiti, by 5,564 to 18, declares against Vichyite Governor De Gery.
COMMANDANT RICHARD BRUNOT, who arrived in the Pacific in March, 1941, apparently with De Gaullist authority, as “Governor-General”; who, having failed to unseat Sautot in New Caledonia, proceeded to Tahiti, put Governor de Curton and other high officials in gaol, and himself assumed Governorship of French Oceania.
THIERRY d’ARGENILIEU, who is the central figure in this drama. He fought gallantly in World War I. Then he entered a monastery, revived in Paris the Order of the Carmelites, and as it leader, adopted the name of Louis de la Trinite. He became an authority on the mystic St. John of the Cross. In 1940, he was recalled to the colours, and rejoined the French Navy. When Franco collapsed, he was one of the naval staff defending Cherbourg and was captured by the Germans, with 500 other naval officers.
After three days he escaped, and reached England, and joined de Gaulle, and he be came a chaplain in the Free French Navy, with rank of Lieutenant. He arrived in the Pacific in August, 1941, with rank of Cap tain; proceeded immediately to Tahiti, where he deposed Brunot (see above), and sent him packing, and reinstated the de Gaullist re gime under Governor Orselli. Then he went on to New Caledonia, with the rank of Rear- Admiral.
MAJOR-GENERAL PATCH, commander of the United States forces which were rushed into New Caledonia in March, 1942, to stop the southwards thrust of the Japs towards Aus tralia, New Zealand and Fiji.
CAPTAIN DUBOIS, decorated veteran of World War I, organiser of the Pacific Battalion ((which fought so heroically in North Africa), staunch friend of Henri Sautot, and trusted leader of the New Caledonian French.
MOULEDOUS, 55, vice-president of the General Council; BERGES, 68, president of the General Council: RAPADZI, manager of the Nickel Company; POGNON, 70, citizen of Noumea; SOLIER, 34, citizen of Noumea—all leaders of the De Gaullist French in New Caledonia.
BROUSSARDS, the small farmers and settlers of New Caledonia—the residents of the bush men who were instrumental in defeating the Vichy-ites in September, 1940, and establish ing Sautot as Governor.