TRYING TO TRACE MISSING AIRMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 3

TRYING TO TRACE MISSING AIRMEN

—Press Assoclalion

IiVIiRY ISNDEAVOUR WILL BE MADE

By Telegraph-

IJL\Ni;j)iN. Julv 0. AL tlu* tiu.L of li»>t iJitics with •lapan there wero a numbcr oi' New Zoaiaud ainiu'u in the racilii- whose t'alo reiuaiiu'il iu doulit, said thc Minist'er of J)ei'eH«-e (Mr. F. .lonesj today. Shortly ai'ter the .lapauerio surrendel', a N'ew Zealaud search uiiii proceeded to Bougain\ ilh* and worked tor some timo I n cojijnuctioii wilh the Australian uulhoriHes iu an emleavyur to traoe inaiiy missLng New Zoaland aiid Allied person uel. lAcatually tlu* seardies in the I'uriiie area wero vested eulirely in the Australian autltorilies, owing to the t'art that much of the territory was under llieir maiulate. Thi.s was in line also with the Aiiieriean dooision and the L'nited States Government stated that it was tolly prepared to aeeept the Australian reports, taking no iiidependeiil action. Xaturally the work will In* long and arduous and it w ill be soau* time before all tho avoas are seurehed tliorouglily. A elose liaison has beeu ubserved with the Australian Forees and reeently a New Zoaland olik-er proeeodod to Alelbourne for t'urther discussions. Tho report he brings baek shows that the Australian authorities are sparing no ell'orts in endeavour'uig to establish tho fate of all personnel. As an inslauee of the thorouglmess sliown, the body of a N'ew Zoaland airman, still ou tlie missing lisq was re-porled to be located

in Batavia, many tliousands of milos ironi the spot where he wenl inissing. Three Australian oflicers, who were follow ing up the. elue, were ambuslied and killed by Indonesians bcfore teaching Ihe spot. The report subsequently proved to be without foundation. The New Guinea, New Britain, and Xew Irelund areas have beeu fully Hoarehed and within the neit weelc or two, a 1'uUv-equipped cxpedition is proceeding to Yougainville. Arrangenients have beon made for a New Zealaud ollicer who knows the territopy to be attaehed to tlie cxpedition. Itelativcs and friends of those wlio have lost their lives or are stilJ inissing can rest assured tliat in the areas where the searches have already been completed, in spite of the dillicult nature of Ihe country, no cffort has bcen spared in tho attempt to procure actual evidonce of death or further facts in conneotion with fatal casualties. It is expected that some considerable tune will elapse before the investigations m the remaining areas will be iinalised.