WAR EQUIPMENT IN PACIFIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 12, 25 October 1949, Page 4

WAR EQUIPMENT IN PACIFIC

SALVAGE VOYAGE OF THE RAWHITI

VISIT TO TRUK AND GUAM AUCKLAND, Oct. 24. On a unique New Zealand shipping venture beyond the Equator, the for, mer tank landing ship Rawhiti has just) completed lohdtng of cargo of surplus war assets at the United States naval base of Guam, in the Marianas. Since the Rawhiti left Auckland in July with a cargo of cattle for Russell Island, in the British Solomons protectorate, she has covered thousands of ,iniles of the Pacific, nosing into small baysi and former war-time bases to load surplus equipment. On Sunday the Rawhiti left Guam for Sydney with her latest cargo. Her owner, Mr C. Roose, of Auckland, recently returned after travelling from Suva to Truk, the former strong Japanese base in the Carolines, in his ship. He preceded the Rawhiti to Guam by air and then flew by way of Wake: and Midway Islands to Horn olulu to join the South Pacific air link with Auckland. He said to-day that he was confident of successful trading for the vessel for many years. Thousands of tons of surplus war material had yet to be lifted from northern New Guinea, and the islands of the Gilbert and Marshall groups.