Jungles

Coast Watchers In New Guinea

Keeping Tab on Japs in 1942

Another Instalment by Lutheran Missionary A. P. H. Freund

BY the early part of February it seemed certain that, in spite of our radio activity, the Japs did not know of our presence.

It might be suggested that they prob ably knew, but did not worry. The way they hunted other parties, and the brutal way they dealt with those captured, rule out that possibilty.

The disturbed and nervy attitude of the natives had also died down to a great extent by now, and it had become clear that the native were not going to betray us, but that they were on our side whole heartedly, and would do whatever they could to w*arn and help us, if the Japs ever started to look for us. The~effect of thorough Christian misson work was clearly apparent in this, their attitude.

It had also become clear that the enemy, apart from short patrols to Sattleberg, and places at a similar distance were satisfied to entrench themselves at Finsch hafen.

So a plan 1 was formulated to establish a watch station near Sattleberg. and over looking Finschhafen. But we felt that for such an undertaking we should be more suitably armed. Pursehouse and McColl each had a .40 cal. Winchester, and I had my .32, which I had brought with me when I first came to New Guinea. Besides this, we had several .303’s which had been used by police boys. Pursehouse also had a medium calibre revolver, for which he

still had about half a dozen cartridges.

We felt that in an emergency, and at close quarters, we required something better. So we requested headquarters to drop a revolver and an Owen gun for each of us, besides additional stores and benzine to replenish our fast dwindling stock.

Supplies By Parachute

THE drop was to take place on February 19. It was delayed from day to day till the 22nd, when a Liberator approached with unmistakable intentions.

To a small isolated party such an occasion was a real thrill.

First, he did a trial run, mainly to see whether everything was in order. Since we had last been in contact with base, it could easily have happened that we had been surprised by the enemy. To indicate that this was not so we had a standing arrangement that. at the approach of our “grocery plane,” four fires would be lit in a square formation in the open village place —which inciden tally, also gave him indication of the wind direction.

On this trial run, he dropped hundreds of leaflets, with a message in Pidgin for the natives, assurring them that in due time the Japanese would be driven out, urging them to do all they could for any airmen who happened to come down, and warning them to withdraw from

areas occupied by the enemy lest, while our aircraft were bombing and machine gunning enemy positions, they too might be hit.

Having done the trial run, the Liberator circled off to prepare for the dropping run.

Naturally, we were watching the big aircraft carefully. As it straightened out and was still about three or four miles off, we saw an object, looking very small at that distance, leave the plane without a parachute. Only because there was a bank of white cloud behind it did we see it. As it dropped to where only the blue sky formed the background it became invisible. That could hardly have been intended for us, we thought, yet we care fully noted the direction.

At a distance of about half a mile, a flutter of white material appeared out of the belly of the plane and zipped astern as the air stream caught the parachute, which pulled the bundle out with it. It poised in that grotesque posture for a moment. Then the bundle swung down, the 'chute opened, and billowing as though it were breathing, with the load gently swaying below, it disappeared into the nearby jungle.

Meanwhile, two others had also been released. The natives of the village, whom we had told beforehand what would happen, were yelling with excitement, and watching where the 'chutes disappeared.

The last one of this run, dropped when the plane had already passed over the village was caught in a current of air. and eventually landed in a gully about two miles away.

Next run, two more bundles were dropped. One, a light bundle, parted company from the small 'chute to which it was attached. The bundle came down with a thud, and the 'chute fluttered

after it. It turned out that this bundle contained the Owen gun and three revolvers. But so carefully was the dis mantled Owen gun packed that it was absolutely unharmed. The cover plate on one of the revolvers was smashed.

All the bundles were soon collected by the natives. They know the jungle intim ately and a white parachute hanging from

a tree or draped over undergrowth is easily seen.

Then followed a busy period of un packing, examining and checking. Not everything lapded whole and undamaged.

It is estimated that when a man lands with a parachute, he meets the earth with about the same impact as if he had jumped from a ten-foot wall. Dropped bundles strike with about the same force, for they are packed to weigh about the same as an average man. Only strong cases, such as those containing salt, were intact. Milk and meat cases simply smash and many tins got bent. When a tin opener was stuck into such a bent tin of milk, a small geyser shot out until the pressure was gone. Yet a dozen bottles of Worcester sauce landed with only one broken.

No revolver or Owen gun ammunition could be found. Our thoughts turned to that object that had dropped from the plane as it swung in for the dropping run.

It was too late to send out a search party that day. At the evening “sked” we sent in a query-regarding the ammunition and checked the number of bundles dropped.

We were assured that ammunition had been included in one of the bundles and that six bundles had been dropped. So far we had collected only five.

Next morning a party of natives was sent out. Though we could give them only the direction where it had fallen, and not the distance, and though there was no white ’chute to draw their attention — rather was the search made more diffi cult by the fact that the canvas cover of the bundle was a very dark green, blending well with the jungle in which it lay—yet by mid-afternoon they were back with it. A remarkable bit of work!

It was evident that the bundle had accidentally slipped out before the crew had attached the ring of the parachute.

And though it had dropped from a height of at least 2,000 ft., and must therefore have landed with terrific force, only a few cartridges could not be used.

Some mail had also been included in the drop. Pursehouse and McColl being the fortunate recipients. Welcome read ing material had also come to hand.

Bismark Sea Battle

ALL our requirements had, however, not yet been supplied. Headquarters informed us that another consign ment would be delivered in a few days’ time. But the few days dragged out to a fortnight.

It was just at that time that the big

Japanese convoy, which tried to relieve Lae, was approaching. Huge numbers of aircraft were required for the attack, which became known as the Bismark Sea Battle. And of those planes not actually in ’the engagement every available one was held in readiness for any emergency.

Hence the delay in our delivery.

A few words about the Bismark Sea engagement. We unfortunately were a bit too far west of the route which the planes took from Port Moresby on their way to the scene of action, so we could not see them. But for days we could hear the almost unending drone, which indicated to us that there was something exceptionally big going on somewhere.

After several days of this the first announcement was made over the ABC.

All such news was delayed in those days.

The very first announcement had such a confident ring about it that we tipped that the whole convoy had by then probably already been destroyed. And the drone of the planes had ceased two days before the final announcement was made.

It was claimed that all the ships were destroyed without delivering their cargo, and that all the troops, which they were carrying, perished. According to informa tion which we gathered from the natives that is not quite correct. They reported that large numbers of troops reached the coast and walked to Lae, and that one of the ships managed to get into Finschhafen and unload its cargo, but was sunk after it left.

While we were waiting, various jobs kept us busy. We got the natives to build a hut in a dense part of jungle, some distance from the village. A con siderable part of our stores, some clothing and footwear, rifles and ammunition, fuel, radio spares and other oddments were stored here. This was to be our back cache.

I also made use of some of that excel lent American canvas in which many of the dropped bundles had been wrapped and sewed two “rucksacks,” which later proved very servicable. We also began packing for our future undertaking.

Our plan was as follows; Two men with one of the radio sets were going to penetrate into the Sattelberg area, taking with them only a bare month’s supply of food. The third man was to go to Besa bong with the other radio, a fair stock of food, and some spare clothing. It was decided that Pursehouse and McColl would go right forward, and that I should guard this back base. After a month it was intended that one of them come back, and I should go forward, and so on, each man thus getting a period of rest.

On March 6 we received the balance of our drop, and this time I was the for tunate recipient of several letters from my wife —the first that came through for three months.

It was during this period also that we received a message from headquarters telling us that a party to be led by Pat Mollison was being organised at Port Moresby to come and relieve us.

Furthermore, we had also received the injunction: “Do nothing rash. You are more value to us alive than dead.” We fully agreed with the latter sentiment.

And in view of the fact that instead of supplying each of us with an Owen gun, they had given us only one between the three, we felt less inclined to be rash than might otherwise have been the case.

Broadcast To Natives

ON March 8, Pursehouse and McColl left for Sattelberg. After preparing all I had to shift, and securing in the cache all that had to be left behind, I got going on March 11. At Kulungtufu, I was able to let the natives hear a broad

cast that was meant especially for them.

An innovation had been begun at Port Moresby. Various former Government officers, who were well known to the natives in many parts of New Guinea Territory, in turn gave broadcast talks in Pidgin to the natives. The idea was that the various parties, like ourselves, who were in enemy-occupied territory, should call the natives together for these broadcasts and let them hear the talks on the loud speaker.

These talks usually gave the natives information on the reverses that the Japs were suffering at the time, The Bismark Sea Ba-ttle was given due prominence.

And, as in the case of leaflets which were being dropped, the natives were urged to keep away from the Japanese, not to supply them with any food, and help any of our men, especially airmen who were in difficulties.

I believe that these talks did a lot of good. In due time I was able to let also the Besabong natives hear several more similar broadcasts.

Life In A Native Village

ALONE white man can have a compar atively comfortable and interesting life in a native village. The news sessions were eagerly followed on the wireless, and radio plays and good musical programmes provided the entertainment. Occasionally some of the natives would come around for a chat.

The boys and young men of that village were often playing a top-spinning game.

A certain nut, about two and a half inches long, was used as the top. String, which the natives produce out of fibres obtained from certain plants in the bush, was wound around the “top,” just as white boys manipulate their tops. One boy would spin his top, and the object of the next competitor was to spin his top in such a way that it would knock out the first one. Then the others would have a go at that one, and so on. Great excitement prevailed, and shouts, shrieks and laughter always revealed when and where such a game was in progress.

A never-to : be-forgotten experience was a case of death-wailing. It appears that there was a heathen remnant in that village.

Early one night it began. Blood-curd ling, nerve-racking wails awakened me, and continued right through the night.

A man from Besabong had died in a nearby village. Next morning the corpse, wrapped in mats, was brought home. The mourners, 'the ineahest relatives, wefit out to meet it, and as they came in, and for some time after they reached the village, the wails and hysterical sobbing reached an especially awful pitch. Three women were a particularly pitiful spectacle. Occasionally they reeled and staggered around outside,their faces dis torted, and their bodies trembling at the point of utter exhaustion.

It is such death-wailing that helps one to realise the pitiable state of the heathen.

It would be bad enough if it were all genuine. How much is actually genuine is not easy to find out. For it is a fact, established by anthropologists, the wailing is a social duty. It is believed that the spirit of the departed is hovering around and takes note of what the next-of-kin are doing. The spirit has the power to bless or to curse. And if the departed was a man of considerable importance or influence, this power is correspondingly great.

Not to show sufficient sorrow would bring down his curse upon the relatives in question. So, to ensure his favour, they weep and wail and lament hard and long.

(Continued overleaf)

Calm Before The Storm

MY actual work consisted on one hand, in supplying weather reports. On the other hand, I had to keep in touch with our forward party.

We had arranged that we would call each other every morning and evening.

If they missed out on two consecutive calls, I was to take that as sufficient evidence that something serious had happened; that they had either been chased out, captured or killed. I was then to leave a small supply of food and clothing at Besabong, move our supplies and Teleradio to a safer area, and wait for “grape-vine news.” Through the natives I would certainly soon hear what had happened.

If one or both survived they were to make for Besabong, get the food and

clothing left there, learn where I had gone and follow. If I heard that they had been captured or killed, I was to tr Y t 0 set through to Port Moresby some how. That sounded easier than it actually was, as we were to discover later, The first difficulty in carrying out our plans was the impossibility, at many, of the “skeds,” to make contact, owing to “skip distance.” In other words, being only ten to fifteen miles apart the radio signals would, under certain atmospheric conditions, go too far before they would rebound from the atmospheric “shell.”

The first time this happened I did not worry greatly, since that was during the they were still on their way towards Sattelberg. When it happened again I became worried. And, as I found later, Purse and Mac were also worried

about me, fearing that a sneaking party of Japs might have wiped me out.

On the third occasion I was nearly frantic. But, after my call from Moresby, I heard the operator call Mac. The plan had -been that they would pass all their traffic thrpugh me. But now Mac had made contact with Moresby direct. And, though I could not hear Mac’s reply, yet Moresby reported that his signals were good. So I again began to call him.

Still no reply.

Eventually Moresby chipped in and said: “I had better help you fellows. You are evidently up against a skip distance. I can hear both of you quite plainly.”

Some days we made direct contact with out difficulty. At other times we, who were at most about fifteen miles apart had to relay through Moresby which was about 300 miles from both of us. Radio still had many unsolved riddles.

Being able to keep in touch through Moresby, when necessary, we settled down to normal activities. According to the length of messages Mac was sending to headquarters they were obtaining a lot of interesting information. And after the first week or so they sounded quite carefree and happy, so they were obvi ously not worried about the fact that the Japs were not far away. The story of how this pleasant set-up was suddenly and rudely shattered by the Japs will have to wait for another day.