Caught Up In Two Wars

Gilgertese-Marshall Island Families

ACCORDING to a recent Gazette, Euro pean status has been granted to three well-known residents of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands —William Henry Reiher, William Schutz and Leslie Arthur Copeland.

Some of the half-caste families of the Gilberts have an interesting history, which has been shaped by two World Wars.

Prior to 1914, Germany held the Caro line and the Marshall Islands; and many German planters and traders married native women in these islands. After Japanese occupation had been confirmed by the League of Nations, in 1920, the Japs made conditions intolerable for the several half-European half-native fam ilies they found there —people mostly with German names and European living standards. A number of those families— especially from the Marshalls—thereupon migrated to the Gilberts.

Their condition was not very happy.

Being Germans, they did not much like the British flag; but they greatly pre ferred it to the oppressive rule of the Japs, They did not seek anything other than native status.

When World War II came, their loyalty was naturally in doubt. But there was never any question about where their sympathies lay—they were happy to assist the Europeans against the Japs.

Some of them —members of the Reiher family are notable in this respect—gave valuable service to our forces—especially to the Americans—when our counter attack developed in 1943-44. There may be some re-migration back to the Mar shalls, now under American rule; but it is hoped that the majority of these people will remain in the Gilberts, where they are regarded as desirable citizens.