The Editor's Mailbag

Guadalcanal Memories

Of An Old Marine

The other day I was enjoying reading a back issue of PIM (Feb, 1975) and came across an article concerning the Solomon Islands. At first glance 1 noticed that the article was mostly of a political nature and I wasn’t immediately interested. How ever, on looking closer at the pic tures printed with the article, I realised I was looking at aerial views of the ridges, beaches and jungles where the US Marines and Japanese soldiers met to begin the many battles of the Pacific War, The pictures show today’s view of Honiara and Point Cruz and the Matanikau River area. About five or six miles east of there the marines landed on August 7, 1942 near the mouth of the Tenaru River.

For six months the battle raged on land and sea. The Matanikau vil lage and coconut farm were des troyed; several Japanese tanks were shot and burned on the sand bar at the river’s mouth. The Japanese commander, “Tenacious Tanaka”, threw his troops against the marines up and down Guadalcanal until over 25,000 Japanese had died and the island was left to the marines and their allies.

The beautiful waters out toward Savo island are now called “Iron Bottom Sound” because of the many warships that were sunk there during the battle. Your ships, the Australia and Canberra are there. You lost many fine men like Capt Gitting and Capt Farnsworth. The marines took into their fold Sergeant-Major Vouza, your Solomon Islander hero.

Marine A 1 Schmidt, machine gunner, was blinded fighting on the ridges above the Matanikau, but kept firing guided by his buddies nearby.

Pilot Joe Foss flew out of Henderson Field time after time, dead-tired, to shoot down almost 50 Japanese planes. Joe later became the Governor of his home state. Many other heroes were made at Guadal canal. They were given first priority to rest forever in Hawaii’s Punch Bowl cemetery.

The Japanese retired up the Solo mon chain only to have the “Devil

Dog” marines follow them relent lessly to New Georgia. Bougainville, the Gilberts, Iwo Jima and on to Japan itself where also in an August, the Atom bomb stopped the war.

During the long three years since the Guadalcanal landing, the marines fought to free many islands, but only on one were they fighting for Ameri can interests. This was on Guam.

The marine hymn has a phrase “First to fight for right and free dom . . The phrase doesn’t dis tinguish whose rights or freedom, what race, colour or creed. Marines interpret the phrase to include all mankind whether they be Chamorros, Gilbertese, Palauans, Solomon Island ers or, yes, even Japanese.

The Marine Corps celebrates its 200th birthday this (1975) year. The corps was founded November 10, 1775, by the Continental Congress which authorised the first two bat talions.

The marines have done a lot of fighting for right and freedom since then at lots of places around the world, but I like to believe Guadal canal will live in history as one of the more significant battlegrounds.

For it was there in 1942 that the free world watched and hoped and gained the inspiration and spiritual strength so desperately needed to defeat the Japanese.

T recall the day my unit left Guadalcanal to attack Okinawa back in 1945. My regiment had camped along the Bonegi River, west of Honiara. We were leaving for the last time. Our tent city was empty and as I prepared to board the boats I saw two natives appear out of the jungle and walk curiously among the vacant company streets. They were scavenging and wore nothing but a seashell at their loins and coloured baubles in their fuzzy hair. They seemed as primitive as the day Men dana discovered the Solomons hundreds of years before. I remem bered that day and those men as I read your article on the soon-to-be independence for the Solomons. I felt better for all the tough war experiences and gratified that these natives and their kind are now about to have a free nation of their own, like Papua New Guinea, Nauru,

Letters

Tonga and others. It won’t be easy for them, but it will certainly be worthwhile ... as was the battle for Guadalcanal.

Francis Hepburn

(formerly Marine Raider and 4th Regiment, residing on Kwajalein). >an Francisco. • See US Marines at Guadalcanal again, p 37

Cruise Yachts

From my experiences the time is ight for Island governments of the Pacific to take advantage of the ;conomic benefits offered by the growing numbers of yachts cruising he Pacific waters. From all over the vorld they come to the Pacific—not is the adventure seekers of old but is a new class of tourist intent on mjoying but not despoiling the slands. In a sense it is the Explora ion Era all over but the explorers ire now family groups and friends.

Vorld-wide cruising, particularly in he tropical waters, has become >ossible through improved yacht lesign, better weather reporting, and he availability of reliable local navi ;ation information.

People of all ages the world over lave taken to the water in great lumbers and, having whetted their ippetite for sailing in home waters, hey are now crossing oceans in heir small craft to see new lands and leople. The Pacific Ocean with its ;enerally fine weather and a multi ude of attractive islands and friendly •copies has become a most popular ruising ground. On July 14, 1975, *IM counted 56 visiting yachts in ‘apeete alone. They came from such formerly) far-away places as Australia, New Zealand, England, Jermany, United States, Canada, Iwitzerland, France and Belgium.

Ve are personally aware of many ►thers that were in ports stretched rom the Marquesas to the New lebrides.

A cruising yacht is combined home md transportation and depends on ts ports of call for supplies and ither necessities. While a yacht may lepart from its home port well pro isioned, the long ocean passages oon deplete the supplies requiring irovisioning along the way. This can •e an additional source of income o those Islands which have taken teps to attract the cruising yachts nan. PIM has from time to time eported income derived by Pacific

countries from tourism. The latest was Tonga (PIM, Oct, 1975, p 84) which happened to be our last coun try of call before coming to New Zealand to wait out the hurricane season. Tonga reported for 1974 that an average air tourist stayed 11 days and spent 5T17.25 per day while the average cruise ship tourist stayed one day and spent STIB.BI. I have no way of calculating comparative time and dollars spent by an average cruis ing yacht while in port but our experience may shed some light on such a comparison. Since leaving California in February, 1975, we have spent an average of $U520.50 each day while in port. Our duration

of stay has varied widely but possibly averaged between seven and 14 days putting as much as SUS2B7 into the local economy at a stop.

The sectors of the local economy which receive this income are notice ably different from those which re ceive the income from ship and air tourists.

People’s markets with their inviting home-grown, fresh foods and gro cery stores handling staple goods are first-sought places in the yachtsman’s shopping trip. Hardware, fuels and oils, and specialised maintenance services are other sectors of the local economy which benefit. It may come as somewhat of a surprise that

Island handicrafts are also eagerly sought but the yachtsman rarely buys at the tourist craft stores. More in keeping with his desire to meet the Island people he will usually seek out those persons who do the craft work and buy from them the tapa cloth, wood carvings, stone and shell jewellery, etc. He may even have the craft items made to order as we have often done combining the artisan’s skill with native materials to produce souvenirs far different from the usual kind at the tourist stores. All needs considered, the yachtsman’s dollar finds its way into different and, possibly, more basic economic channels of the host coun try than does the usual tourist dollar.

But why are some countries already attracting more cruising yachts than others? It is because the yachtsmen, through their exchanges of individual experiences, are estab lishing the relative visiting appeal of each country. Further, the ports of entry of each country materially in fluence the visiting appeal for the entire country. Today’s cruising yachtsman is not the transient ne’er do-well beachcomber/seaman of yes teryear and he is attracted by clean harbours, fair officials, and security for his yacht while in port.

Nothing turns yachtsmen off quicker than theft, harassment, or dirty harbours. We have encountered these problems to varying degrees in our United States-New Zealand crossing. Apia, as an example, is con sidered a security risk in cruising circles. Neiafu has undue harassment by local persons seeking the yachts man’s dollar even before he goes ashore. The beautiful harbour of Pago Pago has an unkempt shoreline.

Official harassment has been notice ably absent in all of our Pacific islands stops but we still carry scars from Mexican ports which are slow to heal. Since customs, immigration, agriculture, and port officials are the first and last persons a yachtsman meets in a foreign country, they make a lasting impression of his visit.

What, then, can a country’s port 3f entry do within economic reason o make its harbour attractive to the lundreds of overseas yachts now appearing in Pacific waters? First, provide some elementary shoreside acilities such as a place to shower vith fresh water (need not be warm), Jo laundry at least by hand, and Jraw water for the boat’s tanks. Toi ets would also help keep the harbour dean and a safe and secure dinghy lock is a very welcome sight.

Papeete is the unquestioned Pacific eader in taking steps to provide at ractive shore facilities for visiting yachts and no complaint is heard about the fair charge made. Secondly,

boat security and freedom from local harassment must be impressed on the local people and enforced by the harbour management; Thirdly, offic ial entry and departure procedures should be written (at least in outline form) and given to the entering yacht to avoid creating undesirable official problems. With such a variety of countries in the Pacific commun ity, it is little wonder that a foreign yacht occasionally has trouble when effecting an entry or departure clear ance in a new country.

Visiting yachtsmen can be ambas sadors of goodwill for your country and, if tourism is part of the econ omy, they can materially help it along. Recognition of the yachts men’s simple needs to make a visit pleasant is all that is asked.

Countries which would like to make their visiting yacht facilities known to US yachtsmen can write to me at PO Box 1315, Torrance, California 90505, USA, and I will endeavour to disseminate the in formation to the cruising yachtsmen.

Earl R. Hinz

Yacht Horizon, Whangarei, NZ.

New Hebrides

Elections

Congrats to the National Party brothers in New Hebrides and their historical success in November’s general elections!

We watch your progress with interest.

To the pitiful efforts of the evil colonial forces that tried to stop the National Party (PIM, Jan, p 8) . . .

Tut-tut.

Tarcissius M. Bobola

Port Moresby, PNG.

Bougainville's

Triplets

I write to challenge the statement made in the September, 1975, PIM (p 25) “Increasing output on Bou gainville” referring to the first record of surviving triplets born on Bougain ville.

I have only recently seen this article as I have been travelling a lot—in Papua New Guinea for the Dr George Brown centenary cele brations; on Bougainville during Sep tember, 1975, and in Rabaul for Independence Day celebrations.

But I knew that the statement was incorrect for I remembered the trip let births of girls at Tonu, Siwai, in 1957, while we were still living at Kihili Buin, one of which was named after my wife Beryl, so I wrote to the nurse who had been in charge at the time, Nurse Mary Addison, and only now have the details I asked for. I send a picture of the three girls born February 16, 1957, all of whom are still living, and the following details may prove of interest.

The mother’s name is Tapukoi, and the father’s name is Tamahe, who were living at Tonu village with their other three children, two boys and a girl.

The triplets were full-term babies and weighed 5 lb, 4 lb 7 oz and 3 lb 14 oz respectively. They were named Tohi, Komura and Beryl Touku. The parents cared for the two bigger ones, but Beryl was cared for at the sister’s house for her first five years. The girls are now nearly 19 years of age.

The first one, Tohi, is married to Mr Philip Potoruho; the second, Komura, is with her parents and the third, Beryl, is a nurse at the United

The Touku triplets 10 years ago—from the left, Komura, Tohi and Beryl.

Church Hospital at Tonu, Siwai. We saw her and talked with her during our stay in September last.

These triplets pre-dated those you mention by nearly 19 years, and are all grown-up, useful members of the Bougainville society today.

At the time of the birth, I was Superintendent of the Methodist Mission on Bougainville.

A. Harry Voyce (Rev)

Brisbane, Q.

Island Migrants

I read George Atkins’ “Language beating island migrants” enviously. (PIM Sept, p 29).

The Islanders living in New Zea land are believed to come from dif ferent cultures and the problems of language as he stated may be true.

But what has he done to remedy this problem in the Solomons for the rest of the Pacific Islands to absorb?

He should realise that the Islanders flooded to New Zealand on their own accord, and finding the place “paradise” decided to send for the families and friends back home, so the exodus progressed rapidly.

The backward black world from which Islanders emerge which he mentioned in support of what others think, could easily mislead tourists to the Islands, but perhaps true where he’s bred. Recently, there was an article about tourism in Tonga where visitors praised the kingdom about the things they see and the people they meet. This is the attitude of visitors to all the islands they’ve gone to, and this article in the paper is an insult to all of us in the Islands who are doing our jolly best to build up our societies to the standard Atkins is thinking about. There are no drinking habits in the islands like those he wrote about but because early settlers from the west came to the islands practised exactly what he said; such pictures islanders imitate, so the process is established.

Atkins brought to light Muldoon’s deportation threat against the people who don’t obey the law. But what’s the use of the law to the language and culture spoilt by western in fluence?

A mother language is taught first to Island children back home.

Gradually, English is taught further up the classes, and the children

arriving in New Zealand perhaps haven’t got all the knowledge they should have for that new society and environment.

We really appreciated the help and patience of those involved in education in an endeavour to shape Island children to suit the new en vironment.

But the nonsense Atkins bothered to advertise I gathered, was in humane, and I wish that he would have been awarded with a preaching decoration or something.

It’s entirely up to the authorities responsible to see that law and order are respected by visitors so making everyone happy.

We owe our sincere thanks to New Zealand for allowing and accepting Pacific people into the country, so it’s up to the Islanders themselves to show appreciation for this freedom. We in the Islands on the other hand don’t want them to return home spoilt but we want them full of new ideas suitable for the development of the Pacific nations.

Hermon P. Foliola

Hikutavake, Niue.

Where's Diana?

Perhaps one of your readers could help me find Diana, the daughter of the late H. L. (Harry) Downing who was a pre-war officer in New Guinea and later worked in the De partment of Territories in Australia.

I would like to ask her permission to publish some photographs taken by Mr Downing in New Guinea.

H. Nelson

(Dept of Pacific History, Australian National University) Canberra, ACT.

South Pacific

Commission

I have just received my copy of PIM November and hurry to con gratulate you on the candour and incisiveness with which you wrote “South Pacific Commission Needs a Heart Transplant”, the story of the Nauru South Pacific conference.

It should help in two ways: Act as a catalyst for people and govern ments involved in the membership of the South Pacific Commission and the South Pacific Conference, and provide accurate information to government and non-government organisations engaged in technical assistance to nations of the Pacific Islands, which help them in the policy-making decisions regarding the degree and manner of co operation and co-ordination with the

Spc.

We move to California tomorrow.

This will end a pilgrimage of 35

years in Latin America, Europe, South-east Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. But ended only in the sense of location, for I will still continue to go out on assignments as a Foreign Affairs consultant, and anticipate several visits a year to these beloved Pacific Islands.

With best wishes and again to express what I did to the Editor in person at Nauru. The Pacific Islands Monthly is the most valuable and interesting publication covering the Pacific Islands. Each month’s issue is looked forward to most eagerly.

William B. Hussey.

Pago Pago, enroute to Beverly Hills, California.

Subject: Shock

Shock, sir, is the word I find closest to my lips upon commenting on your cover for November, 1975.

I refer of course to the startling in sinuation implied in the caption “Nauru: what happened there?” You left this reader in a quandary of thoughts speculating upon all sorts of salacious possibilities. I’m sure you’ll have other readers responding to your audacious choice of matter for a cover presentation.

Joe Murphy,

Editor, Micronesia Independent.

Majuro.

Subject: Thrill

I have been a reader and an ad mirer of your magazine for many years. I have always been impressed with your photography.

On the cover of the November issue is a picture of indescribable beauty and grace. It is especially meaningful for me because the wo man is a Solomon Islander.

Peter Falion.

Honiara.

Guam Games

Please let me clear up a point that was made about yachting in the South Pacific Games.

In your September issue of PIM (p 15) it was stated that “. . . Mike Tattersall, of Auckland, had more than an official interest in the com petition. The lasers came from his factory . . .”

The only truth to this statement is that Mike Tattersall is from Auck

land. The Laser sailboats were made by Performance Sailcraft Corpora tion in California and were purchased and brought out to Guam by Para dise Safari, the authorised Laser dealer for Guam and the Trust Terri tory.

Scott Daniel.

Paradise Safari, Guam. • PlM’s comment on the source of the lasers arose from a mis understanding. Mike Tattersall makes lasers and PIM understood they came from his factory. Sorry, Scott!

Air Nauru's

Rights

How can Stuart Inder write an article on Air Nauru saying bluntly that it “still has traffic rights diffi culties” without blushing at his choice of accompanying photograph? (PIM, Nov, p 65).

Air Nauru still has no traffic rights in or out of Brisbane in any direc tion and this year has had to endure the chagrin of seeing Air Pacific get the first traffic rights on the Brisbane- Noumea route, which has proved to be very profitable for it.

In any court of natural justice I would feel that Air Nauru should be entitled to at least $2,000,000 damages against the Australian Government and Qantas, Air Pacific’s greedy godmother, for being forced to deny passengers their Noumea- Brisbane leg all the years that they have been flying it.

You sure have to be rich to be independent in the Pacific. Stuart Inder is right on that at least.

Yours in admiration of Air Nauru.

John Allan.

Spring Hill, Qld. • Stuart Inder wasn't responsible for the photograph showing Air Nauru in Brisbane in earlier days.

However, neither Inder's story nor the picture caption said that Nauru had any rights in Brisbane, so Reader Allan is tilting at the wrong wind-mill. But we agree with him about the need for rights, as Air Nauru for technical reasons is forced already to put down in Brisbane on its south bound flights between Nauru- Honiara-Ndumea-Melbourne. Nou mea to Melbourne via Brisbane is certainly a heck of a direction, and especially annoying for passengers who might want to disembark at Brisbane and can't.