THIRD N.Z.E.F.

Grey River Argus, 7 January 1944, Page 5

THIRD N.Z.E.F.

DISSATISFIED IN SOLOMONS. (Official Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) SOLOMONS, Dec. 31.

The 3rd New Zealand Division waits, as its Commander (MajorGeneral E. Barrowclough) nuts it in a Christmas message to the people of New Zealand, “in a difficult and most uninteresting theatre of war,” knowing little of what the future holds. . The division reads in news from New Zealand of suggestions that it should be withdrawn from the Pacific, either to serve'in other theatres or to relieve the shortage of manpower in primary production. The question its men are asking to-day everywhere and all the time is. “What are thev going to 1 do with us?” The air of uncertainty is souldestroying, and the men want a decision one way or the other. Whatever it may lie they will accept it gladly. THE MHLPACIFIC RAIDS IN GILBERTS. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. The U.S. Pacific Fleet in a communique reports: s Army Liberators bombed Jaluit yesterday. Army medium bombers scored two hits on a cargo transport at Jaulit on Monday. Armv dive-bombers escorted by Airacobras raided Mili on Monday. One fit.liter was lost. t _. Enemy planes dropped bombs a<Tarawa, Makin, and Abemana on Monday, and Tarawa again on Tuesday. Installations were undamaged.

U.S. CASUALTIES AT TARAWA. (Rec. 12.12.) NEW YORK, Jan. 6. The total casualties of the U.b. Marines in the Tarawa landing were somewhat less than the previously announced figure of 3,583.. said the Director of Navy ’ Relations, Captain Lovette. Casualty reports are still coming in. They show that some of the men who were presumed to oe dead have turned no alive. Otners reported msising have been found manv miles distant with other units. The United States Navy announced that (there (were 1269 (survivors from the escort carrier Liscome Bay,” which was sunk on November 24.’ The total complement is not disclosed, because she was a new type of ship, regarding which the Japanese have presumably very scant knowledge.