RETURN TO SAFETY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 7

RETURN TO SAFETY

Fijian Hero’s Arduous Trek (Official War Correspondent. N.ZE.F.' New Zealand Headquarters in. Pacific, March 10. Four weeks’ heartbreaking struggle through an enemy-infested Jungle on Bougainville, the last part of which is a hazy memory, has led to the return _of Lieutenant Iqkoro Vida, of the I ijm Battalion, to the Allied lines after all hope of his rescue had been virtually abandoned. His reappearance has added an inspiring epilogue to the stoiy of exploits, wliich have been described m previous dispatches. Lieutenant Iqkoro led a bombing attack on Japanese positions on the east, coast of .Bougainville and was returning to the Fijians at the Kerneli airstrip in a cub plane piloted by Seeoiid-Lioutcnant Charles Cross, United States artil cry air observation officer, when the machine crashed on the jungle tree-tops, ibis was on January 21. I’or six days the pair trudged through the almost, impenetrable bush, but they were unable to get a sun bearing from the jungle, and on February 2 they realized that they were lost deep in enemy territory, foodless and with only a little water. But there was no thought of gmn o up. Cross was too weak to walk any further, so the Fijian carried him on ins back, making slow, heavy progress through the sodden tangled mass where enemies might be met with at any moment. Thus they struggled for two days and then Cross, realizing that be was imperilling his companions hope pl escape to safety, insisted that he should be left. Iqkoro built a small leafy hut to shelter the exhausted'American ana went off alone in the hope of finding help. Of the events after that the Fijian doesn’t, remember niuct, . but out of the dimmed recollection of his ordeal is the memory of sliding most of the way down a hill because his weak legs could not support him. A fortnight after he left Cross the Fijian was picked up by natives and carried to shelter. Quickly he revived and, guided by the natives, lie returned to the Allied lines to tell his story. At once a search party went out, but no trace of Cross has been f °lqk'oro will be recalled as the full-back of the Fijian Rugby team which visited New Zealand a few years ago.