New Ireland
now NEW MECKLEN- BURG, a long narrow island, belonging to the Bismarck (New Britain) Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, N. E. of New Guinea; area, about 4,900 square miles; length 300 miles; width, 15 miles. hills rise to 6,500 feet, and they and the whole of the interior are richly wooded. In 1884 a German protectorate was declared over the archipelago. An Australian force occupied the island in 1914 and the mandate over it was awarded by the Peace Conference to Australia in May, 1919. Chief town, Kalwieng. Pop. (native) about 28,000.