.ae Ae Ta 6 Although the Marshall Islands were discovered by the Spanis 1529, they remained in practical isolation for over two centur Germany claimed the islands in the latter part of the nineteen century and developed copra trading activities. Enewetak, wi rest of German possessions in Micronesia, was seized in 1914 b Japanese who continued the copra trade. Between 1939 and 1941 was developed as a military base by the Japanese, and the local] were pressed into service as laborers. In February 1944 U.S. men forces assaulted Enewetak. Possession was won only after the 3,200 Japanese, 350 Americans, and 17 of the local people (Kis Morison 1961). Following the battle, the United States establ large base on the atoll, and after the Pacific war the United was granted a “rusteeship over the islands by the United Nati (UME). In 1947 Preside.:t Truman notified the UN that Enewetak was to used as a nuclear weapons proving ground and the inhabitants were ramoved to Ujelang, 125 miles to the southwest. 2.4 The Enewetak People There are two political-social subdivisions within the Enegetak people--the Dri-Enjebi, who cccupied the northern islands, andjthe DriEnewetak, who lived on the southern islands. Although these t tribes had different chiefs and social organizations, they lived together peacefully and with extensive intermarriage for many generatiogs. Both groups also now include people descended from intermarriages with the people of Ujelang. After the battle of Enewetak in February 1944 the people re housed on Aomon (Pigure 2) where they were supported by the U.%. Navy until 1946 when they were moved temporurily to Kwajalein. ThepF then were returned to Aomon for about a year and, in 1947, 142 of them were moved to Ujelang, a much smaller atoll (only 0.6 square miles Bf land area). In April 1980 approximately 500 of the people returnedito Enewetak and now are living on the southern islands of Enewetak, Medren, and Japtan where housing has beer const::::cted for themjby the U.S. government (Figure 3). The experience of the Enewetak people on U:slang has been Bocu— mented by Tobin (1967). The original Ujelang pe-ple had migraked to Jaluit in the 1880s and some later migrate. to Enewetak. Althbugh times often have been difficult on the smaller atoll, the tranBition to Ujeiang was aided by these historical ties and the fact th it was uninhabited. The dual social structure of Dri-Enewetaks and Enjebis was maintained throughout the entire 33-year period on] and exists today. At the present time, however, both groups only on the southern islands, the lands of the Dri-Enewetaks. the very powerful cultural importance attached to land in the Marshalls, as well as its economic value, the Dri-Enjebi, not surprisingly, wish to resettle their home islands. 2.5 Weapons Testing Between 1948 and 1958, 43 nuclear weapons were exploded of Dri- Ujelang side Given Enewetak Atoll. Some were sufficiently powerful to cbliterate whole iglands or blow considerable portions of islands into the lagoon or the ean. Many craters can be seen from the air as deep blue patches in Khe surrounding sea or as water-filled pools on the islands. The korali