O’ERS. IN PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1943, Page 5

O’ERS. IN PACIFIC

FORWARD MOVE ANNOUNCED

MR. FRASER’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, September 28. An announcement that New Zealand troops in the Pacific had moved to a forward area was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) to-night. He said that bombing had constituted the first contact with the enemy, and so far our forces nad suffered no casualties or damage. Landing operations had been carried out without incident, and the men were in excellent health and spirits. RUSH TO FOXHOLES. [Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.] "GUADALCANAL. Japanese bomber aeroplanes gave the New Zealand troops in the Pacific their first taste of combat very soon after the Division’s arrival in the forward area. In the light of a full moon, odd emissaries from Tojo’s air force held a reception for the new arrivals several nights in the first ten days, and though the New Zealanders suffered no damage or casualties the boom of the few poor-ly-directed bombs and the roar of the ack-ack guns sent the men hot haste for their foxholes. It does not pay to be curious in an air raid—the ack-ack guns have a nasty habit of showering shrapnel over a wide area, as a few New* Zealanders craning their necks in the air learned early in the piece. The whine and “plink” of bits of shrapnel are a sobering influence on the most adventurous souls.

The cooks at one camp found a sizeable chunk of shell outside their open fireplace one morning. One man stopped a crack on a shoulder on his first night ashore; the jolt was the worst part of it. As a gentle introduction to realistic war noises, Tojo’s visits were warmly appreciated. As a temporary disturber of a night’s sleep they were of some slight value. As a demonstration ol Japanese formidability they were an unqualified failure. C.O’s. TRIBUTE. [Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.I "GUADALCANAL. “I have just noted with great pleasure the splendid performance of elements of the New Zealand Division during their recent disembarkation. This excellent effort augurs well for the success of future operations and reflects the high state of morale, discipline, and training attained by all ranks in the units concerned. ‘ Please accept this expression of my appreciation, and convey my personal congratulations to all elements of the command.” This message from an Allied Commanding General in. the South Pacific area was received by the G.O.C. Third (New > Zealand) Division, MajorGeneral H. E. Barrowclough, soon after the arrival of the New Zealand troops in a forward Pacific area. A frank testimony to the efficiency of the New Zealanders in their first landing in the combat area, this expression of a higli officer’s opinion was shared by all Allied officers and men who witnessed the landing operations. One officer who hed served with the United States Marine Corps in the original Solomons landings a year before, and who had been with the Dominion troops since their departure from New Caledonia, found his estimated unloading tune undercut by 40 per cent. The Maorifar.ders shifted themselves, their *ear, rations, vehicles, guns and ammunition from ship to shore 10 per cent faster than any troops had previously landed in that area,, ana though they sweltered their way across the sand m uncomfortable iieat their keenness for the job emptied, the landing craft as fast as they could tumble their ramps onto 4 Via Ship officers on the transports, which turned round in th® shortest time on record, signalled the Aflied Command of the New performance, and the Allied Land added its congratulations to tbe New Zealanders’ G.O.C. A topj of that message is now m the possession of the officers commanding the units concerned. WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. The Secretary of the National 1 atriotic Fund Board (Mr. _ Hayden) states the Board’s Commissioner in the Pacific Area (Major Brain) went forward wifh the New Zealand troops in the Pacific, with a number ol Y.M.C.A. personnel. Comforts have also gone forward, and further supplies ‘ have been arranged.