NEW GUINEA DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 87, 9 October 1943, Page 7

NEW GUINEA DRIVE

CAMPAIGN SIDELIGHTS

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 12.45 p.m. SYDNEY, October 8. Australian paratroops in the Lac campaign in northern New Guinea cracked jokes with one another as they descended from transport planes. About 350 soldiers, wounded in the fighting at Salamaua, Lac, and Finschhafen, have arrived at an Australian hospital. They said that some Japanese soldiers ran squealing in terror when the paratroops landed..

The task of transforming the ruins of Lac is well in hand. Most of the work has been done at the aerodrome which, although not large, can be extended. It was from Lac airfield that Amelia Earhart Putnam took off in 1937 on her ill-fated flight to America. The wrecks of more than 100 Japanese aircraft were found on Lac aerodrome.

In all the towns from which they have been driven the Japanese left a trail of indescribable filth. At keypoints the enemy burrowed tunnels like rabbits. These excavations were strong enough to resist shell fire and bombing, and the defenders appear to have made full use of them, sleeping and eating in their dark recesses. The story is told that soldiers at Finschhafen found a cache of Australian silver coins amounting to £250, while others brought back gold, inlaid swords, and gem-studded pistols. AMERICAN VICTIMISED. However, the best authenticated instance of the war being turned to profit by a fighting man comes from L>ae, where an American engineer found an Australian standing alongside a Japanese motor-cycle to which a trailer was attached. The American said he wanted it for a souvenir and offered the Australian £20. Eventually the cycle was sold for £30. When the American attempted to wheel away his purchase, he was told by a provost officer that the cycle was Army property. The Australian had only been admiring it when he received the unexpected offer. One small par_ty of Australians, cut off near Finschhafen, killed at least 50 Japanese for the loss of one man j killed and several wounded. After two days they were rescued 24 hours after Finschhafen was taken. The party j was on high ground surrounded by Japanese, whose persistent attacks they repulsed with heavy losses. Supplies of food and ammunition were dropped to them shortly before their position was relieved.