MUTUAL EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 123, 19 February 1944, Page 7

MUTUAL EFFORT

Consolidation On Nissan

N.Z. AND U.S. TROOPS (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.B.JT.) NEW ZEALAND 8.H.Q., Feb. 17.

The blast of construction work instead of the blast of guns is now the noisy part of Allied, operations at Nissan. Getting right down to the crux of their task, American construction battalions are blowing up tough, jagged coral as they rapidly link the defence positions by broad roads. Though torrential rain is turning the low land areas into quagmire, and under conditions work varying between the extremes of wetness and hot, sweaty sunshine, these men, bathed in perspiration, and almost on the Equator line, are doing a magnificent job. Already large areas of the island have been completely transformed from their peaceful pre-invasion status to a great military workshop. Extremely effective eo-operation between the New Zealand ' forces and the many diverse United States units has been a big contributing factor in the success of the invasion and constructional work at Nissan. The elaborate planning of the operations has been marked by the utmost harmony and cooperative effort by both sides. All men of the two Allied nations realize that an essential fact in the success of the operations was that the combined functions of the Navy, Army, and Air Forces contributed equally important parts. That all expectations and objectives were successfully attained with almost negligible casualties is most gratifying. A marked tactical advantage has come to us by this occupation. Nissan provides us with a valuable forward base from which the range of future offensive operations can be extended. The morale of the Allied troops is extremely high and everyone is busily engaged in developing the new positions. Intermittent night raids by enemy bombers must be expected, but the experience of the first nights suggests we are capable of putting up an amazingly strong defence. Any attempt to dislodge ns now is doomed to failure unless of such size as Japan could not possibly afford.

WEAK AIR ATTACKS

Endeavours To Interfere With Consolidation (Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) NEW ZEALAND BATTLE H.Q.. Feb. 18.

Japanese bombers have been doing their best to dislocate the initial stages of the Allied invasion of Nissan, but they have met more trouble than they bargained for in the few sorties so far. Air battles resulted in the complete dispersal of all raiders before damage was done. In some instances the Japs were unable to close through the fighter and anti-aircraft screen and were, chased home without dropping their loads. The early Allied successes close to Nissan took a toll of six dive-bombers plus two probpbles which were collected by Marine Corsairs and Army Airacobras. Observer?, on the ships attacked early on the morning of February 15 saw a great display which caught the Japs in a devastating arc of fire. One bomber dived by a ship’s balloon prctection and was compelled to swerve into heavy ack-ack fire. It was badly hit and was sent flaming into the sea only 200 yards off without getting in a single attack on any of our craft. Enemy Loss in Air Fighting. In Allied strikes on New Britain and New Ireland airstrips concurrent with the Nissan landing, the Berpop strip in east New Ireland was rendered unserviceable. Nine Zeros plus two probables were collected from a force of from 40 to 50 enemy which met Lightnings and Corsairs during these raids. Instances of fast aerobatics included steep diving from 20,000 to 2000."eet to break the enemy formation. The .laps paid punitive attention to other Allied strongholds, including Treasury Island, early on Wednesday morning, but the four bombs dropped caused no damage. With the completion of the initial task of securing Nissan Island for the intake of Allied units and consolidation, the New Zealanders are actively engaged in sending out fighting patrols to contact and eliminate Japanese cut off in various areas. For the remaining enemy Nissan is “an island of no retreat” —their outlet is blocked thoroughly by sea. The enemy outlook is hopeless, but the New Zealanders are not hastening their patrols, since, the round-up can wait in view of the consolidation programme now under way. An ’interesting sidelight on the first day’s activity was provided by an observer, Lieutenant Holt, U.S.M.C., after a trip in a torpedo-ibomber. Holt ■wrote: “Late in the afternoon a marine fighter-pilot reported a group of New Zealanders£hjoying a swim in the rolling surf.”

MESSAGE TO MR. FRASER

The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, has received the following message from Major-General Berrowclough, officer commanding the Third New Zealand Division, in response to his message of congratulations to the officers and men engaged in the Green Islands operations: “All New Zealand troops greatly appreciate .your kind message. : A large force of the Third New Zealand Division, with considerable combat, administration, and construction unite of the United States Forces, under command, made a successful landing on Green Island atoll at daybreak on February 15, Opposition was practically negligible. 1 “The huge convoy of shipping was ineffectively attacked by aircraft 8s it approached the atoll. Small landings of combat troops were effected precisely in accord with prearranged plans, and were followed by ships carrying cargo- and heavy equipment, all of which -were Unloaded with dispatch, notwithstanding boggy and difficult terrain at two of the beaches. “The whole atoll is now in our hands, with the exception of a small area, which we are now in the process of reducing. Tn a survey of operations to date Brigadier Potter briefly expressed his complete satisfaction: ‘Everything goes according to plan. The troops are in great condition and morale is exceedingly high.’ ”