yesterday

The Pacific was feeling the

first effects of total war in this month 20 years ago, as the

Japanese, after having treacher

ously attacked Pearl Harbour

early in December, 1941, were

pushing southward. By the

time “PIM” went to press in

January, 1942, the British

battleships “Prince of Wales”

and “Repulse” had been sunk;

Guam and Wake Islands seized;

Hongkong captured; most of the

Philippines and Malaya

occupied; the Northern Gilberts

occupied and Nauru and Ocean

Island bombed; Pago Pago,

American Samoa shelled; and

Rabaul invaded.

Here are some other items

from “PIM” of that disastrous

month:

Because of the Pacific war, the Pacific copra situation was said to be in a “confused condition”— and as most of the Philippines were in Japanese hands, it was believed that it would become even more so. It was already obvious that such South Pacific copra as re mained in Allied hands would be in demand—but the difficulty still was ships to shift it. In spite of expected demand, the price had not improved—planters were re ceiving £6/10/- per ton, delivered Suva. ♦ * * The long drought in Port Moresby, that had continued from the previous April and had been one of the driest periods in the history of the town, had/ ended.

Residents agreed that it could have been worse if “it had not been for the supply of water from the new water scheme”. (Before that they had rainwater tanks). ♦ * * The Australian High Court up held the appeal of the people of Kila Kila, near Port Moresby, for almost £5,000 in compensation for 89 acres of their land that the Administration had resumed for an airstrip. The Administration had offered £269 as compensation. (Whether the Kila Kila natives ever got their £5,000 we cannot say; the war intervened and the Port Moresby airport is now at Jackson’s Airfield, much further inland). * * * The Free French Colonies in the Pacific, were, we reported, settling down under the direction of High Commissioner d’Argenlieu, and their exports—particularly the growing nickel exports from New Caledonia —were being directed towards Australia and the United States. The French colonies were also “co-operating completely with the Allies in fighting the Japanese in the Pacific”.