RESETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE 1947 continued OCTOBER Rongerik: Navy officials an| nounce the 3ikintians will be moved to Vjelang, the western-most atoll in the Marshalls. NOVEMBER 22 Vjelang: Ten Bikini men and | | -0 Navy Seabees go tc Utelang and begin construction cl a new village. DECEMBER 2 Enewetak: The “avy announces that Enewetak Atoll will te used for the second series of nuclear tests, and its inhabitants must be moved immediately. OECEMBER 2] Enewetak: The 145 people of THE BIKINIANS ARE MOVED INTO A TEMPORARY TENT CAMP ON KWAJALEIN FOR SIX MONTHS DURING 1948, AS THEY LOOK FOR A NEW HOME. Enewetak are quickly relocated to un~ zsnhabited Ujelang, and the Zikinians remain at Rongerik, despite caving built housing at Ujelang. Photo by ia Ujelang: The atoll has only one-third the land area of Enewetak's 2.26 square miles and a muci smaller lagoon: 25 miles compared to Enewetak'’s 390 square miles. FEBRUARY Rongerik: During DOr. Mason's second week on Rongerik, he is joined by a Trust Territory representative who immediately notifies the adminiscration of the critical conditions. Within 24 hours, a medical officer and food are flown to Rongerik. After examining the Bikinians, the doctor states their condition to be that of a starving people. 1948 JANUARY Rongerik: Universicy of | Leonard Mason Hawaii anthropologist Leonard Mason arrives on Rongerik to indevendently assess the situation for the Trust TerTitory High Commissioner. MARCH 14 Rongerik: The 8ikinians are evacuated from Rongerik and taken to a temporary camp at the Navy base on Kwajalein. The Rongerik resettlement at- tempt has lasted two years and one week. APRIL Kwajalein: A search begins for an alternative resettlement site for the Bikinians. JUNE 1 Kwajalein: After consideration of several atolls, the Bikini people vote in favor of moving to Kili Island, pri- marily because it is uninhabited and not controlled by a paramount chief. SEPTEMBER Kili: An advance party of 24 | Bikini men and 8 Seabees arrive on Kili to begin construction of a new village. Because of rough seas, lumber, roofing and tools for constructing the village have to be brought ashore on rafts. THE BIKINIANS, STARVING ON RONGERIK ATOLL, ARE EVACUATED A SECOND TIME 5 ors on’ IN 1948. (continued on page 11) ee 9