AMERICAN RAID

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 38, 15 February 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN RAID

SHORTLAND ISLANDS

Opposition From 45 Zeros And Heavy A.A. Fire

N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Rec. 1.30. WASHINGTON, Feb. 14. "United States planes," says the Navy Department's communique No. 2SO, "attacked Japanese shore positions and shipping on Shortland Islands, south of Bougainville Island, on Saturday. The attack was opposed by 45 Zeros and heavy anti-aircraft fire. We shot down eight Zeros and scored a bomb hit on an enemy cargo ship. Four of our planes were shot down bj r enemy planes and two were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire." During the final offensive on Guadalcanal-, beginning on January 15, United States troops killed 6066 Japanese and took prisoner 127. The United Press says that the communique figures make the total nearly 15;000 Japanese reported killed on Guadalcanar in communiques during the whole campaign. "The land fighting on Guadalcanar Island ended when two bearded men, their uniforms caked with mud, advanced cautiously toward each other, saluted and shook hands. It was the union of the two American forces after driving the last vestige of Japanese resistance from the north-western tip of Guadalcanar." This description of the scene at this junction of the two forces was given by the American United Press war correspondent, Robert Miller. He added: "The men from both forces rushed forward through dense underbrush, waving rifles, hugging each other and shouting, Tt's over, boys. We have chased the little yellow — back to Japan.'" In their haste to evacuate, the Japanese left behind quantities of booty, including two complete radio stations, scores of sampans, landing boats; 200 collapsible boats, dozens of outboard motors, field pieces, machine-guns* coastal guns, ammunition, food and medical supplies.