A MISTAKEN WARNING

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24187, 21 February 1944, Page 4

A MISTAKEN WARNING

MESSAGE DROPPED FROM VENTURA N.Z. PATROL ON NISSAN (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) N.Z. PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS. February 6 (delayed). It was not exactly fright; just a trace of nervousness and apprehension. Everything was very quiet on the little island of Nissan that morning, and the New Zealand raiding party had still not made contact with the Japanese forces, nor did they know the enemy strength. Naturally the men were a bit jumpy. Someone heard aeroplanes. Fear for a moment; then relief. It was "one of ours,” and a New Zealand Ventura came in low' and fast over the jungle. A paper packet floated down from the aircraft, hitting the ground 100 yards or so away. The men thought it must be a message, so a few of them tracked it down and Lieutenant Frank Rennie, of Upper Hutt, picked it up. He shook his fist at the departing Ventura and then laughed. It was not a message at all. It was just a roll ol toilet paper. Up in the fast-disappearing aircraft Flying Officers V. W. H. Trayes (Auckland) and R. H. Chaplin (Hastings) congratulated themselves on a good morning’s work. They had flown to Nissan at dawn to look things over and report how a raid was going on. A couple of miles from the island they sighted five barges heading for the shore. The barges took violent evasive action and headed for the island at top speed. There was no saying whether they were friend or foe. They dash and scatter just the same from an aircraft, ’just to be on the safe side. Flying Officer Chaplin was very busy for a few minutes, and when the aircraft roared low over the New Zealanders he threw out his little roll of paper with a grin of satisfaction. “That gave them a laugh,” he said, "and maybe a fright, too.” He watched the few men on the ground go towards the paper and the Ventura went home. The sequel came five days later, when I saw the airmen at their station. “Did you get our message?” "No, What message?” “Didn’t you pick up that roll of toilet paper?” "Yes. Of course we did. and a raw joke that was, too.” “That wasn’t a joke. It had a message rolled up in the centre, telling you to look out for Japs from five barges on the south coast. We felt a bit sorry for you chaps down there and thought we had better put yon wise.” “Well, I’ll bo darned. Perhaps it was hist as well, though, for ignorance is bliss.”