Kt this time, about LOLSM, the ship was advised by the X.0. that the
evecuation would commence about LLOO and a life raft was requested for
_use in shuttling the natives over the reef and through the surf to the
boats standing off about 50 yards. At approximately 104QM the boat arrived
with the raft and the evacuation commenced at 1050. By this time the majority of the natives were gathered on the beach and ready to go. Women,
children and old people were shuttled out to the boats first, with their
possessions, followed by the men.
Kuch cooperation and assistance were
realized from the able native men whose alertness, willingness and ability
to swim proved invaluable during the evacuation and reduce’ the number cof
ship's personnel required. At about 1200 the evacuation was about half
completed but the wind was freshening, tne tide was flooding and the surf
was kicking up. The operation became increasingly hazardous and two raft
loads of evacuees were very nearly upset in the surf. The corel was chewing up the suspension ropes and lattice work of the raft and in a radio
consultation between the X.0. and C.0., serious consideration was given
to ceasing the operation and trying again from the lagoon side. Since
this would delay the operation several hours and also was fraught with
danger as already indicated, and since we could see the end in sight, it
was decided to continue.
Most of the women, children and aged were al-
ready gone and no one had been hurt other than a few coral cuts.
Another
raft was dispatched and the pace was stepped up, though less people wers
loaded on each raft and extreme care was exercised.
Ten LNB loads of about 15 people each were required to complete the
evacuation of the 154 natives. fhe last raft load left the beach at about
12Z,5U leaving as forlomm a set of dogs as you nave ever seen.
at 125 all
the natives were on board and none too soon because the wind and surf continued to increase. The native chief named Compass, has been repeatedly
asked how many natives were on the atoll and if we had them all. He was
insistent that all were on Utirik Island, none were on other tslands of tre
atoll, and none were on Taka Atoll, & - 5 miles away. He first said there
were 161 natives present and proudly brought out a card index file to prove
it. Carwful questioning however indicated that at least two infants nad
died a day or two before and that tho old boy didn't have tnig PARI reccr<s
up to date. The next figure we got was 157 but further questioning indicated he was counting two or three imminent but as yet unborn babies. The
last figure of 154 was arrived at after a count on board and was concurred
in by the chief and Trust official. « breakdown was aa follows: xen 4”,
women §§, children under 16, boys and girls, 2% sach.
At about LIOR! when rafts were secured and boats were hoisted, course
was set for Kwajalein to arrive at dawn on the 5th. at about 1345 wa cet
the D.a. dunro {pe-u22) coming up from Kwajalein to assist us but there
was notning further for her to do but “all in aster and return to “wo /32--".
7 34
3
;
ENCLOSURE (21)