New Guinea. Two native women sitting on a mat weaving in their rebuilt village. As troops pushed ...

New Guinea. Two native women sitting on a mat weaving in their rebuilt village. As troops pushed back the Japanese along the coast of the Huon Peninsula, natives straggled back to their villages which had been wrecked by retreating Japanese. Natives fled to the hills when the Japanese first entered the area. Some who could not escape were forced to work in Japanese carrier lines but seized every opportunity to make a break for the hills. As the Japanese retreated, native gardens were systematically wrecked and the natives were on the point of starvation when troops advanced. Brought back to their villages and fed on Army rations by Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) officers, the natives soon began to pick up in health. In return for food and medical attention and regular pay, all the able bodied natives of this village are working in carrier lines taking supplies to Australians further north.