Interesting Salvage At Manus

ALTHOUGH various salvagers had already “picked the eyes out” of the enormous quantities of valuable stores and equipment at the abandoned American base in Manus (north of New Guinea Territory), the Australians (who have taken over the base and are adapting it to their own purposes) are gathering up and using a lot of valuable material.

When United States offered the Manus plant to Australia, and Australia showed no interest, the Americans sold the stores to the Chinese Government: and the Chinese removed many shiploads of priceless goods. After that, a firm cf speculators took away much material. However, the jungle around the base still contams

countless abandoned machines, which may be brought into use TOP ROW (from left). A ciane ba e and a bulldozer shovel, which have been salvaged. A Quonset hut, re-erected foi use of married staff.

BOTTOM ROW (from left): Although this Swedish ship is loading metal junk, for removal to the stores of some specu lator, Australia is bringing iron from Japan into Manus, for building opera tions. The cloak worn by this old native is really a scarlet parachu e. The Australians have salvaged and are making use of no less than 50 of these huge iron oil-tanks. . t , .

The photographs were kindly loaned by Mr. W. L. MacGowan.