They Walked Across

Three Die On The Way

They Walked Across Dutch N. Guinea

From “PlM’s” Hollandia Correspondent An expedition for the first time has crossed Netherlands New Guinea from south to north, across one of the world’s most formidable mountain ranges.

THREE native carriers died during the five months trek from sea to sea, which elided on April 2 when the combined French-Dutch expedition reached Holtekang Peninsula, across Humboldt Bay, on NNG’s north coast, not far from Hollandia.

The carriers died apparently because the expedition was insufficiently equipped to tackle the difficult Central ranges.

During the trek, pilots of the local Kroonduif Air lines supplied the expedition 13 times from the air, frequently under difficult circumstances. They did a first-class job. „ The expedition was mainly undertaken as a filming exploit. More than seven miles of 35 mm colour film were taken during the five months, and this will produce at least one 70-minute documentary within the next few months.

Expedition leader was French writer and amateur ethnologist Pierre-Dominique Gaisseau.

With him were four other Frenchmen, Jerard Delloye (second-in-command), Gilbert Sarthre (photo grapher), Tony Saulnier (photographer), and Harve de Maigret (radio man), and a Netherlands patrol officer, Jan Sneep..

PO Sneep took with him four native police as an escort, and also a native of the Sibil Valley, named Kotanon, as interpreter and guide. There were also 63 carriers from the Muju tribe of Southern New Guinea.

Already the native police and the interpreter have been decorated for their work.

Not the entire expedition made the full crossing. Delloye, Saulnier and Sarthre were taken out by air when the expedition had reached the Idenburg River. Patrol Officer Sneep became ill with jaundice about the same time and was also flown to hospital, together with two injured carriers.

The final leg was made by Mr.

Gaisseau and Mr. de Maigret with the rest of the carrier train.

Began in November The expedition began last No vember, when the members boarded five rafts waiting for them at Kepi, on the Obaa River, which is inland east of the Casuarinen coast.

It was Gaisseau’s intention to follow the various rivers north as far as possible, and for this reason the rafts had outboard motors, and could be partly towed by a motor launch.

But the raft flotilla made little progress because of logs and gravel

the end of a five months trek across [?]erlands New Guinea from south [?]it to north, bearded Pierre-Dominique [?]eseau is met in Humboldt Bay by [?]andia District Commissioner F. R. J. [?]ink Jansen, who jumps from an out [?] into the water. The Press—and [?]es—were there in force to capture the [?], for the expedition was widely pub ed in Europe before it set off last . Below, Gaisseau and Harve de Maigret their carriers down their loads on beach on the north coast on il 2.