CHANGING SCENE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 3

CHANGING SCENE

MEETING WAR NEE"

United States Engineers A * Appearance Of New Guiri

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent 1 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. The changing war scene in New Guinea is emphasised by a report on the activities of an American engineering unit, which to-day celebrates its first anniversary in the Australasian combat zone. In a year of arduous work only one-third of the unit has had leave. When the Japanese threat to Australia's north was very grave, these troops volunteered to put aside their constructional equipment to fight the enemy. "In the past year men of this unit have been; tearing, down vast areas of tropical Australasian scene, making air strips, dispersal bays and roads," writes the Sydney Morning Herald war correspondent in New Guinea. "They have set records for speed in air strip construction, but speed has in no way hampered the quality of their work. Most of their landing fields have been in continuous use and, despite the torrential conditions of the wet season, the aircraft using them have never been grounded." This Arii'ericaj),...unit only one of many*" engineerihg-ijrouDS which are transforming the appearance of tropical Australia so rapidiv that men returning to after a few weeks' leave are amazed at the changes. / It is estimated that in New Guinea 1 alone there is more earth-moving 1 plant than existed in all Australia before the Avar. Equipment'is in use 24 hours daily on seven days a week, with only small breaks for maintenance.