JUNGLE DRIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 270, 13 November 1943, Page 6

JUNGLE DRIVE

ASSAULT ON MONO

SUCCESS OF NEW ZEALANDERS

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) TREASURY ISLAND, Nov. 6,

The Japanese was beaten from the moment Xew Zealanders estab lished a firm focthold on the narrowbeaches of Treasury Island (Mono), about a week ago. Bustled out of the open spaces into the shadowy jungle tracks by a fierce closequarter assault, he lost cohesion and split into small bands of up to 50 men and made fcr the few coves on the eastern shores, where he was thrashed in a series of detached engagements. As on Vella Lavella. the Japanese abandoned rations and equipment as he fled. Within a few days his was a tired, hunted, hungry force desperately seeking a means of escape that was denied him at every turn. The New Zeaianders fought the Mono Island engagement in a manner that brought results quickly. Their main force landed on the southern coast of Mono, inside Blanche Harbcur, and subsidiary forces occupied Stirling Island and Soanotalu and Malsi bays, on the north and east shores of Mono respectively. Within a few days another force worked west to Ulapu, thus completing the occupation of the enly bays from which tne enemy might have had a chance of being evacuated. The coast of Treasury island is rugged, with cliffs of coral rising 30ft to 40ft from deep water. The absence of shallow surrounding' reefs lets in a heavy swell that precludes the use of most of the shore. Only in the confines of Blanche Harbour is there space to manoeuvre shipping and beaches to effect landings of any size. Bombers From Bougainville Within 24 hours the Allied antiaircraft guns and heavy artillery had covered every approach to the harbour and outlying bays, so that even had the Japanese attempted reinforcement from Bougainville the operation would have been costly. As it happened enemy bombers were the only interfering agency. They came over for a few nights in a series of haphazard" raids until the American landing on the Bougainville mainland, after which peace reigned in the air over Treasury Island. Our infantry lost no time in moving out from their perimeter round Falamai Beach, and several companies drove into the centre of Mono Island (Treasury), fanning from there down three main valleys towards Ulapu, Soanotalu and Malsi. There was heavy fighting at Soanotalu and Malsi when the trapped Japanese tried desperately to hit the beach and get away on Allied ,landing craft, but our positions held firm and the number of Japanese dead mounted every day. The .value of assistance from the island's natives was proved on Treasury, as it had been on Vella Lavella. Their knowledge of the jungle tracks and of likely hiding places led -the New Zealanders quickly to enemy trails, and speeded up the pursuit. There was less inactivity than on Vella Lavella. N.Z. Troops in Night Fighting Night fighting Avas a regular feature of the campaign, and in this first acquaintance with such a type, .of fighting, the New Zealanders proved themselves masters of the Japanese. In one encounter lasting from shortly after midnight until . eight a.m. 26 Japanese were killed against the loss of two New Zealanders killed and eight wounded. Once again the artillery-found a useful task in harassing the retreating enemy and dispersing his groups from concentration areas. Our mortar fire added to the enemy's discomfort, kept him moving and forced him in his haste to leave supplies strewn along his , trail. By far the greater part of the Japanese estimated strength of from 250 to 300 men had been killed in the first week's fighting, with an indeterminate number of wounded still to be • contacted. Prisoners were being brought in toward the close of the week. They were weak with hunger and exposure, and they had abandoned their weapons. They were willing to talk freely, and responding to humane treatment, they even drew-maps of enemy concentration areas. They said many more Japanese were prepared to surrender rather than to face ' certain,destruction. New Zealand patrols are now completing the search for groups of enemy wounded, and the small parties indicated by the prisoners show the end of active operations is close at i hand. I