And it lasted a long time: From March 8, , when Japanese forces first landed on the island, to the end of World War II in the summer of , fighting took place across the island of New Guinea and in its nearby island chains. The worst suffering, though, was endured by the indigenous peoples of New Guinea, from what is now the independent country of Papua New Guinea in the east, to West Papua, now part of Indonesia.
The population during World War II was about 1. These people possessed rich cultures, and under the pressures of war they would display remarkable courage as well as kindness and compassion. To the invaders from Japan, and the occupiers from Australia and the United States, however, New Guineans appeared as colonial subjects at best, and as slaves at worst. The Japanese frequently treated New Guineans with extreme brutality, just as they did other indigenous peoples across Asia.
Food was always scarce, and Japanese forces arriving in native villages often simply requisitioned all the food they wanted, murdering some villagers and leaving the rest to starve. In other villages, Japanese occupation was not much worse than it had been under the Australians. Even so, in the ensuing campaigns, more Japanese soldiers would die of starvation than from any other cause. His instructions required giving protection to Indigenous people and punishing those who harmed them.
There is no evidence of any acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples' ownership of the land. At this time, the Indigenous population of Australia is estimated to have been approximately between , and , people.
The size and distribution of populations are always an informed estimate. There were more than distinct language groups across Australia, each group with their own land, language and culture. The First Fleet left England on 13 May , comprising a flotilla of ships with convicts and marines. There were nine ships and two naval vessels with enough supplies to keep the convicts, their marine guards, some with families, and a few civil officers until the colony became self-sufficient.
Since the War of American Independence —83 , Great Britain had wanted an alternative place to 'transport' its convicts. Captain James Cook —79 had reported that the land was lush, well watered and fertile, suitable for growing all types of foods and providing grazing land for cattle. This was a time when very few Australians travelled overseas, and they got their ideas about Americans from the Hollywood movies which were extremely popular in Australia.
For young people in particular, Americans represented wealth, glamour and modernity. They were also much better paid than the Australians, and they were ready to spend their money in search of a good time. Their own guidebooks emphasised that they were to be on their best behaviour with passages like this:. Australians, especially the girls, are a bit amazed at the politeness of American soldiers.
Photo by James D. When do we invade Australia and free an oppressed people who are suffering under a totalitarian regime? When do we spend trillions of dollars to spread democracy in Australia? As of October 22, Australia has had a total of , confirmed Covid cases with 1, deaths compared to 44,, and , for the U. Yes, the U. The kind that gives birth to evil dictatorships and human atrocity.
In case you are wondering about the way things are run Down Under, Australia has actually ranked higher than the U. Ironically, Owens suggested invading Australia whether in jest or not when most states in Australia have already been easing Covid precautions as Covid vaccination rates have moved above target thresholds.
Even though Australia began rolling out vaccines significantly later than the U. So on the one hand, fewer restriction may make it easier to invade Australia.
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