NAURU ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 62, 11 September 1945, Page 6

NAURU ISLAND

OCCUPATION FORCE ON WAY

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official War Correspondent.)

BOUGAINVILLE, September 9. An event of considerable interest to New Zealand was the departure from Bougainville this afternoon of an Australian battalion for the occupation of the small phosphate island of Nauru. The official party, which went aboard one of the troopships, 'included Sir Albert Ellis (Auckland), chairman of the Phosphate Commission, Squadron Leader D. E. Hogan, R.N.Z.A.F., and Commander Phipps, R.N.Z.N.V.R. Squadron Leader Hogan and an officer of the R.A.A.F. are to report on the serviceability of the two airstrips on the island, which has been occupied by the Japanese since December, 1941. The battalion which is on its way to repossess Nauru is one that achieved fame in the Bougainville campaign by taking the stronghold of Taimba Ridge with the bayonet after weeks of bitter fighting.

The occupation force sailed in two merchant ships. During embarkation there was one of the most severe tropical downpours experienced by Bougainville for some time. The weather grounded E.N.Z.A.F. Corsairs, which were to provide aerial cover.

The command ship in the naval escort was the Australian-built frigate H.M.A.S. Diamantina, which only yesterday won a place in history by transporting the Japanese commander, Lieutenant-General Kanda, from southern Bougainville to sign the surrender at Torokina. The Diamantina will receive Japanese envoys from Nauru, and when the Japanese garrison has formally surrendered it will be transported to concentration areas on Bougainville.