NISSAN CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 25113, 1 March 1944, Page 7

NISSAN CAMPAIGN

H3OPPING-UP OPERATIONS A WELL-PLANNED EXPEDITION (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) Mice. 8 a.m.) NJSW ZEALAND HEADQUARTER^ IN THIO PACIFIC, Feb. 29. Having cleaned up Japanese resistance on Nissan, the New Zealanders have completed the mopping-up of an area around the atoll by liquidating H Japanese on San Island. Only a few New Zealanders were slightly wounded. Sau is within the reef which runs the full length of Pinipel Island, and is about two miles nortih of Nissan.

A company under Major 11. Catley landed on Pinipel and opened fire-on Hau with machine-guns and mortars Under cover of tins fire a company, commanded by Captain It. Keith, crossed the lagoon in small boats and landed on San. The Japanese retaliated with 'grenades and rifles, but the New Zealanders quickly surrounded and killed them. The operation was completed in 'a few hours. Attontion was then turned to patrolling the dense bush of Pinipel for Japanese stragglers who may have escaped from Nissan. '' The troop had to overcome considerable difficulties due to lack of landing places and the fact that there is only one narrow entrance through thereef guarding the two islands, Tho provision of fresh water on has been one of the best efforts in this remarkably well-carried-out expedition. There is no water on any of the islands except brackish water from wells in the coral, which is not fit for drinking. The. natives depended on cocoa-nut milk. The troops carried a great store of water for the first few days. Now 10 condensers, each producing 250 gallons au hour, provide fresjh water from sea water. Even working 20 hours a day the plants provided insufficient water. Fortunately the rainfall has been heavy, and the men, who are using every available container to oatch the rain water, are appreciating the rain for the first time in the tropics." MYSTERY OF A BADGE. The most, interesting possession which came into the hands of Now Zealanders after the initial sweep down to the south end of the island was a New Zealand collar badge. This badge, which had been blackened as have many badges likely to be worn in the forward areas, was attached to the strap of a Japaneso haversack which had been left behind with much other gear as the Japanese vacated their bivouacs. Actually collar badges are not worn by officers or men engaged in jungle warfare. Many have heeu issued with light drill walkingout uniforms to both officers and men, hut in the theatre of war badges and marks of rank are dispensed with, and everybody wears camouflaged jungle suits. There, therefore, is no accounting for the manner in which the Japanese soldier acquired the New Zealand badge. The most likely possibility is that when one of our platoons had tofight its way out of a very tough corner on Vella Lavella, the story of which made one of the best examples of courage and determination yet published or the Third Division, the badge was left behind. That platoon discarded most of its equip* ment except its arms and ammunition, and it is thought that the badge may have been in the bottom of an abandoned haversack. A remarkable variety of Japanese possession's was included in the booty taken on Nissan. Japanese writing paper, clothing, and all sorts of oddments wen 1 found, in addition to a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition. 01 arms, the most interesting were 20 m.m. anti-aircraft guns. These had as carrying equipment two pairs of handles shaped like bicycle handles, one attached to the barrel and the other to the rear of the gun, the ends pointing outwards. Leather grips and buckles to enable shoulder straps to be fitted made these attachments very efficient for a two-man carry of the gun. The weapon itself was exceedingly well made with a. butt which fitted comfortably into the shoulder. It was a.n automatic with a 10-round magazine of a type familiar to New Zealand anti-tank riflemen, and adjusted in a similar manner.