FIJIANS FEARED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 58, 9 March 1944, Page 6

FIJIANS FEARED

EXPLOITS IN JUNGLE

PATROL OUTWITS JAPANESE

N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent SOLOMONS, March 7

An announcement that a battalion of Fijians, whose jungle fighting had become a legend in the South Pacific area, had been in action on Bougainville assisting the United States Army forces since December 21 was made by a spokesman of LieutenantGeneral" M. F. Surman, commander of Army troops in the South Pacific.

"In slightly more than two months the Fijians have killed more than 125 Japanese — conservative figures from official records —to one Fijian killed and two wounded," he said.

! "Their jungle exploits have become i a legend with the Americans and they are greatlv feared by the Japanese. Their most sensational platoon action was commanded by Second-Lieuten-ant Bruce Bent, of Timaru. On January 31 Second-Lieutenant Bent took a 'routine patrol up the east coast of Bougainville. When they encountered sniper fire from jungle trees, the Fijians deployed, advanced, and shot three snipers,, two of whom fell immediately, leaving a third still tied up. Second-Lieutenant Bent discovered they were ideallv situated on a bluff overlooking a native village occupied bv Japanese. The shots had aroused the enemy, but they were completely disorganised, running, peering from grass huts and attempting to climb trees. "The Fijians cut loose a terrifying crossfire, mowing many down. Showing superb training, the patrol stopped firing on Second-Lieutenant Bent's orders, waited till the remaining Japanese thought they were withdrawn and were cautiously coming out of their shelters. Many more were then killed.

"Private Blame Ratu, aged 17, crept' forward to grenade a hut, which the patrol believed was the Japanese headquarters. Altogether 50 Japanese were counted dead. The Fijians count only those killed by rifle and machine-gun, however, so Ratu's grenades did not count on the casualty list. After half an hour's encounter, Second-Lieuteant Bent withdrew without a man wounded.

Ability To Use Jungle

"In another sector a Fijian patrol was returning to Kameli, an outpost named in honour of the only Fijian so far killed, when they surprised 25 Japanese preparing to ambush them in a narrow ravine. The Japanese blazed away but the Fijians proceeded steadily up the ravine in orderly fashion, emerging past the ambush with only one wounded, and Kameli killed. This was a testimonial to the Fijians' natural ability to utilise jungle covering. "Another time -friendly natives told a patrol commanded by Captain E. A. Chivers, formerly a shipping agent in Suva, that approximately 300 Japanese were waiting for them on a hill," added the spokesman. "The Fijians promptly made a new trail through uncharted jungle, and went right round the ambush. Second-Lieutenant lokoro Vula Vula, known in New Zealand as the 'smiling full-back' when the Fijian trophy team toured the Dominion, went with 30 men to inspect the 300 Japanese in ambush. He left his patrol at the hill base, and made his way through open ground to within 25ft of a Japanese machine-gun. He lay there for about 40 minutes watching the Japanese come and go. When he started to withdraw lokoro discovered that his entire platoon had sneaked away up the same route undetected. Later the intrepid lokoro was not so happy when personally leading a dive-bombing attack on the Japanese he had located. The Japanese were demoralised by the bombing. Next day a platoon crept on the same force from the other side of the hill and found 25 Japanese washing their clothes. Grenades killed every one and the Fijians withdrew without incident.

"Beautifully Trained Men"

The Fijians on Bougainville are ruthless, beautifully trained fighting men, who like nothing better than walking 15 miles off a trail to kill a handful of Japanese. Their commanding officers have no trouble over discipline as the mere threat of prohibiting a Fijian from going on patrol constitutes all the discipline necessary. The average Fijian carries a 401b pack, in addition to a share of mortars, heavy machineguns, and extra ammunition."

The Bougainville Fijian Battalion is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey T. Upton, of Auckland, the battalion's original commanding officer being Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. K. Taylor, a New Zealander living in Fiji, who helped to organise the force and was wounded by a bomb on the first day of the battalion's arrival on Bougainville. LieutenantColonel Taylor is at present in Auckland.