HELD BY THE JAPS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3274, 11 June 1943, Page 5

HELD BY THE JAPS

ISLANDS IN THE SOLOMONS HOME IN ENEMY HANDS PRESENT VISITOR TO PAEROA Informative details of conditions in the British Solomon Islands, which on account of the Japanese invasion at the beginning of 1942 have figured conspicuously in the war news, were supplied to p representative of the Gazette on Tuesday by the Rev. A. H. Voyce, who for 16 years has been a Methodist Missionary in Bougainville—an island at the north-western extremity of the Solomons group. It was while Mr Voyce was on furlough in New Zealand, beginning in August, 1941, that the Japanese occupation of the Solomons took place, and for that - reason he has not been able to return to his station. Bougainville and Buka —contiguous islands in the group—while geographically part of -the Solomon Islands, are politically attached to New Guinea, said Mr Voyce. Bougainville is 120 miles long by 30 miles wide and is densely populated, its native inhabitants totalling about 60,000. Located in the island at the present time are many important Japanese bases. With about 25,000 of the enemy in occupation, the island is one of the most strongly-held of Japanese strategic positions, • and many important airfields are based therfe. Japanese Bases The principal Japanese airfield and supply base is on Mr Voyce’s mission station at Kihili, which is generally referred to the in the war news as Kahili. This station is- located in Buin Bay. The Buin and Shortland Islands constitute extensive enemy defensive positions. Then, 15 miles Aiuth of Kihili.there is the island of Balalai, where the Japanese have a big fighter strip (aerodrome). Three or four miles further away is a large seaplane base known as Fuisi, while seven miles to the east of Kihili is still another strong strategic Japanese position—Tonola Harbour, which is one of' the finest harbours in New Guinea Territory. Approximately 70 miles to the north, on the east coast, is the. chief port of Kieta, which, is also an airfield. Large Plantation A further' 40 miles to the north is another important Japanese base, only recently appearing in the war news —Numanuma Harbour. Numanuma is the largest single-block plantation in the whole of the South Pacific—4ooo acres in extent, planted entirely with coconuts, and with light railway lines running through it in many parts. Then, at the northern end of Bougainville, close to the Methodist mission station of Tiop, there is Timputz Harbour, which has come into the news as recently as the last few days, and where a Japanese ship was sunk over the week-end.

Some 26 miles to the west of this is another considerable Japanese airfield, known as Buka Passage; while a further strategic point frequently featured in the news is. Queen Carola Harbour, on the north-west corner of Buka, frequently referred to in the press as Kessa: actually, Kessa is a plantation on the northern shore of Queen Carola Harbour. Very Mountainous

Questioned regarding the physical features of Bougainville, Mr Voyce said it was very mountainous, with peaks rising to 19,000 or more feet; and it also boasted several active volcanoes.

At the south end of the island, to the north-west of Kihili, is an extensive, thickly-populated and fertile plain, well roaded, with bridge-tracks 14 to 20 feet wide. The western coast has few anchorages, and for most of the year it is a stormy, weather-bound coast.

As to climatic conditions, it was stated that while these are very hot and humid, they are not impossible for Europeans, though the tropical scourges of malaria and black-water fever need to be carefully guarded against, the principal cause in at least one of these diseases being the anophelese mosquito—the “lady of the species,” Mr Voyce humorously remarked. '

In Bougainville there are 114 miles of vehicular roads, and 740 miles of bridle-tracks.

Bougainville and Buka, as politically part of the New Guinea Territory, are under the Australian mandate, so far as government is concerned, 'they are administered by BrigadierGeneral Sir Walter Ramsay McNicoll/with an executive council. Before 1914 they were part of the German colony of New Guinea. Describing the life of the native

population Mr Voyce said the people lived mainly in villages, and followed simple agricultural pursuits, growing just sufficient for their own domestic needs. There were, of course, European-owned plantations of considerable extent, on which were grown, chiefly, coconuts, but also limited quantities of cocoa, coffee, kapok and rubber. A small goldfield was located in the mountain area.. The mineral and other industrial possibilities of the group really invited fuller exploration. ’ The Japanese descent on New Guinea, Bougainville and Buka dated back to January, 23, 1942, with following assaults on other islands in the Solomons. The invaders had since been expelled by the Allied forces from Guadalcanal, the Floriua group and Russell Islands, but they were still in occupation of Bougainville, Buka and the Central Solomons, The estimated loss to the’Methodist Mission in the Solomons, through destruction of institutions and other properties, including plantations, by bomoings, is in the vicinity of *40,000.