BOUGAINVILLE RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1943, Page 5

BOUGAINVILLE RAIDS

ON JAP TROOP CONCENTRATIONS (Rec. 9.50) SYDNEY, , Dec. 1. In the Solomons, Admiral Halsey’s aircraft continue to make heavy attacks on Japanese troop concentrations south of the Americans’ Bougainville Island beach-heau. at Empress Augusta Bay. There are, however, no reports of further land fighting there. New Landing ON BOUGAINVILLE BY U.S. TROOPS (Rec. 12.50) NEW YORK, Dec. 1. Tokio official radio announced that United States troops in six barges, made a new landing at Cape Torokina, north of Empress Augusta Bay, in Bougainville Island. The landing was made under cover of a bambardment from cruisers and destroyers. The radio claims that two companies of American troops were annihilated. : PACIFIC WAR BRITISH GENERAL. MAKES OPTIMISTIC FORECAST.

(Rec. 11.5.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1. General Lethbridge, leader of the British Military Mission of thirty service experts, which has just completed a tour of Pacific battlefronts, foresees an end to the Pacific war sooner than many people anticipate. He told war correspondents: “I feel that, after the Boche is beaten, and we can turn on the whole of the heat, the Pacific War will finish quicker than many expect." > Although declining to be more specific, General Lethbridge nodded agreement with a suggestion that the war would be over within one year of Germany’s fall. But he added a warning of heavy fighting to come, and of the dangers of complacency. General Lethbridge gave high praise to New Zealand troops whom he saw fighting on Vella Lavella Island’ in the Solomons, and to Aussies whom he watched in the Ramu Valiev and at Satelberg m New Guinea. Of the New Zealanders, he said: “They were first class troops. We were much impressed by them.’

a quaint, turreted harbour slipped astern. Passing Cape Murrodiporoco the troops could see Syracuse and the distant loom of Etna like a dim shadow against the sky . During the rest of the day land masses were constantly visable, and in the early afternoon they saw the toe of Italy replaced Sicily, with more mountains, then Taranto. In the pure morning light the harbour, with its twin guardoan islets, scattered shipping, and many coloured buildings, looked most attractive. The last anchor of the convoy dropped just after 9 a.m., and the busy bustle of disembarkation began. The New Zealanders were ashore by early afternoon, and after a march of some miles they reached a temporary camp amid the familiar olive trees. Fifth Army AMERICAN ADVANCE LONDON, Nov. 30. In the Fifth Army front, a slight advance is reported in the American sector, where a forward move in the area of Castelnunovo represents about one mile advance. Reuter says the Fifth Army front again flared up, first with a violent artillery duel, then the advance resulting in the capture of Castelnuovo. The advance further increases the threat to Cassino, which is the main German bulwark blocking the highway to Rome. ALLIED BOMBINGS. RUGBY, Nov. 30. Sarajevo, reminiscent as the start of the last war, attacked for the first time from tab air by Mitchells, whose bombs fell on an explosive factory, barracks, railway tracks and other objectives. The raiders did not have to trouble to avoid hitting the statue of the Serbian national hero, for that had already been removed by the Germans. Fortresses, unescorted, as were the Mitchells, flew to the airfield and railway at Grosseto, 80 miles northwest of Rome. Twenty-two hits were recorded on the railway yards, and forty rail-cars were destroyed. The airfield was also severely handled, bombs falling on the runways, among the parked aircraft, and on administrative buildings. Two raids were made within the hour. Fighters and fighter-bombers with little pause, maintained bombing and strafing attacks on enemy troops, transport concentrations, strongpoints, machine-gun nests and other targets. On the previous night, Bostons set fire to the railway junction at Pescara and also attacked the port installation. Three of our aircragt are missing. ESCAPED NEW ZEALANDERS. JOIN EIGHTH ARMY. LONDON, Nov. 30. ‘ Seven New Zealanders who more than a year ago were captured when the brigade was overrun by German tanks at Alamein, joined up with their countrymen fighting in Italy. These seven men came down from the mountains yesterday and crossed the Sangro River. For months they had been hiding in the hills waiting for the British to reach Sangro. When they realised the river had been crossed they were unaware their own people were just opposite them, and did not even know that New Zealand troops were nrs Italy. They left their hidin? place in' broad daylight dressed as Italian peasants, and walked on until they met a medical orderly He was a New Zealander. The men asked for “cigaretti.” The orderly was about to order them away. Then they laughed and disclosed their identity. They said they would have walked to the Allied lines sooner but had no boots and could not travel over rough country. When the Italian armistice was declared on September 3 they and some other men, including fifty South Africans and three Australians, split into parties and took to the mountains. A note was delivered to their camp, allegedly signed by British officers, saying thev should proceed to a certain place which was in British hands. They suspected it to be a German tran and went in the onnosite direction. From a mountain hide-out they saw the Germans enter their camp.

ALLIED CONTROL IN NAPLES LONDON, Nov. 30. Reuter’s Naples correspondent stated: An Italian cafe proprietor near Naples has been arrested for selling solidified fuel alcohol watered down with fruit juice as genuine liquor. A.M.G.O.T. police.made the arrest. A.M.G-O.T. is’ clearing up a widespread vice racket and imposing severe sentences on profiteers.