WesWorld

The Philippine Herald, Wednesday, 19 December 1945

The Ministry of Defense has announced that it has opened negotiations with the American firm of Grumman Aircraft with respect to the procurement of that company’s F8F carrier-based interceptor fighter. It is believed that these new aircraft would supplement, if not replace, the Grumman F6F fighter aircraft presently operated by the Philippine Naval Air Service. Further details are expected to be forthcoming as negotiations progress.


Papua New Guinea, 2 dgs 36 min South, 141 dgs, 50 min East, Friday, 21 December 1945

The community finished its noon-day prayers, and the Suluk returned to their work. Datu Whajid Sahidulla was satisfied with the progress his followers had made; each family now had a simple hut, and materials had been assembled in anticipation of the arrival of further refugees. They had encountered, and dealt with, two more small groups of natives who had chanced upon their settlement – and they now possessed three canoes with which they could fish the waters offshore. This was vital, as it would take time to grow the rice and other crops upon which they depended – and the food they could forage in the jungle inland barely met their needs.

Yet he was certain that Allah would provide. At least here they were not pressured by a Government that wished them gone; there were no friars to preach to them, nor teachers that would corrupt the minds of the young with ideas of ‘progress’. They had found peace… and he hoped it would last. He and his people would fight to assure that it did.

I thought PNG was Australian...?

Quoted from "The Rock Doctor"

I thought PNG was Australian...?

I wrote Foxy in regard to this story line and at the time he had no objections.

Okay, coolio then.

Scarborough Shoals Lighthouse, Sunday, 23 December 1945

As far as the Philippine Navy personnel manning the lighthouse he was but a technician representing the Chilean firm that built the dradis units installed on the lighthouse station – and that was just how Antonio Guerrero hoped it would remain. The young officer in mufti was one of the Chilean Navy’s foremost experts in the use of dradis, and he had been sent to evaluate how the Philippine Navy had used the very expensive equipment purchased from Chile. And, thus far, he was quite impressed. By night or day the station could monitor ship movements within a radius of twenty nautical miles, and air movement within a sphere of sixty miles radius; moreover, the Philippine Navy manned a radio listening station which, when coordinated with other land-based stations, could localize radio transmissions over a wide area of the South China Sea. And, of course, the station did support a visual navigation beacon for the benefit of mariners.

Guerrero recognized that the station required a major investment, and a year to construct – a veritable marvel of engineering here in the open sea. He was, however, uncertain whether a single such station would be worth the cost. Unfortunately for the Philippines, the other nearby islands suitable for such outposts were already occupied by China, or were located in the Spratly Islands and demilitarized under the terms of the Treaty of Saigon. Still, being able to track the movements of potential enemies was a benefit, a fact he would share with his superiors when he returned to Santiago.


The Manila Times, Tuesday, 25 December 1945

The destroyer Polluela has completed her trials and is now operational following her recent refit. She will spend a short period assisting in anti-piracy patrols in the southern provinces before rejoining the Northern Fleet.

The Freeman (Cebu), Friday, 28 December 1945

The destroyers Serreta and Busardo completed their modernization today and will embark immediately on their post-refit trials. The Government’s wisdom in establishing the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization Program has been borne out by the recent increase in belligerence show by China in provoking a confrontation with France. The nation must be prepared to repel attacks by any potential adversary, and these modernized vessels will form the backbone of that defense.

Papua New Guinea, 2 dgs 36 min South, 141 dgs, 50 min East, Monday, 31 December 1945

Datu Whajid Sahidulla rejoiced when he saw the masts of the three motor-sailers in the distance – more of his people had safely made their way across the sea to join him. As the boats brought the Suluk refugees ashore the entire village turned out to welcome them, and unload the supplies brought with the ships. Their joy turned to disappointment when it was realized that there was little food left among those supplies, and that the new arrivals would strain the food supply of the village.

Fish had proven plentiful, but the Suluk knew little of the plants that grew in this region, and had found little to forage. It would take time for their own crops to mature. But the new arrivals also brought strength to the community, and Sahidulla resolved to lead some of the younger men inland, perhaps to find a village of the natives from whence they might obtain food; peaceably if possible.