GERMAN SERGEANT

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1942, Page 5

GERMAN SERGEANT

SHOWS HEROISM.

IN FIGHTING JAPS AT BUNA

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 10.10) SYDNEY, Dec 14. Hero’sm of a German-born Ameri can Sergeant, established a salient between Buna Mission and Buna' village A small party of Americans held the area for more than a week. This has now been revealed. Sergt. Herman Bottcher, who was born ar LanSerg, near Berlin, thirty years ago. led his men through cocoanut groves and swamps to the- beac■ • , , desperate fighting he was wounded several times. The Jap Jp three attempts to smash t|m A ™en can party, but each time they were repulsed with heavy losses. Sergt. Bottcher made a number of iselo expeditions, silencing Japanese ma chineguns, and destroying Oefens ve works He- has been recommended for a decoration and commission. From 1927 to 1929 Sergt. Bottcher lived in Australia. Then he wmtt to the United States. At the, outbreak of the Spanish war he joined, the International Brigade as a P nv g? s He rose to the- rank of captain. H s enlistment in the Bnc?de entailed the loss of his Amen can citizenship rights, but Sergt. Bot tcher was able to return to San Fran* ci°co after the war. He still spean with a decided German accent.

NEW GUINEA NATIVES.

SYMPATHETIC WITH ALLIED TROOPS

SYDNEY, Dec. 11. The “Sydney Sun” correspondent suggests that as important as tne strategic land sains has been the winning by the Allied troeps complete devotion of the New Guinenatives. Never will they accept Jap anese propaganda that the war ’is a crusade to release all c oured people from white domination. Courage, fair dealing and ness of the soldiers towards thei na fives ensured'that Japans speciou creed for conquest always must oe unwelcome in New Guinea. Wounded returned men sav tnat Japanese stocks slumped with tne natives because the enemy s stubborn resistance would not stand the ultimate test of bayonet fighting. A clear indication of where native sympathies lay. was their imitation of the manners and modes of Allied soldiers. Carriers sometimes affected. fierce handlebar moustaches, and smoked pipes. The height of their ambition was to wear Allied shorts and boots. Nowhere did the natives wear Japanese clothing. Trade relations with the New Guinea natives have been stabilised by the issue of regulations price list l for goods and services. An uncompromising adherence to the bargains struck is a new experience for the natives, who earlier had been systematically cheated as well as illtreated by the Japanese. “I have seen native carriers, who although suffering from pneumonia or bush typhus, have refused to seek medical aid,” I said one wounded soldier, now back in Australia. “They continued carrying our wounded until they collapsed and had themselves to be rushed to hospital.”

PHILIPPINE DISTURBANCES. LONDON, Dec. 10. Vichy radio quoted a Japanese Niavy 'Headquarters announcement that' Japanese marines had landed in the Philippines to quell disturbances caused by Americans. Heavy fighting was going on, with the Americans resisting. A PACIFIC CHARTER. MR. NASH AGAINST ONE. WASHINGTON. Dec. 10. Replying to a reporter’s question Mr. Nash opposed the writing of a Pacific Charter to parallel the Atlantic Charter. “Speaking for myself, I think a Pacific Charter would be the worst thing possible. lhe principles of the Atlantic Charter :should apply to ever- area,” he,said.