MORE JAP SHIPS SUNK

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1944, Page 5

MORE JAP SHIPS SUNK

IN BISMARCK SEA And Barge Traffic Disorganised (Special to N.Z. Press Assn). (Rec. 10.55) SYDNEY Feb. 2 the Important, developments in the war against the Ja P a ?.pnorted by South-west Pacific are c P mm d niqu £ General JMLacAit enctAinpd an-to-aw- cl Monday other disast of their ships atwhea a m run the Allied aerial tempted t • Bismarck Archiblockade , • beleaguered garP. ela £° Mitchell and Liberator HnXrs sank a 4000-ton freightertrSort a 1500-ton freighter, and an escort ship. Another escort vesaß was left in flames. An accompanying destroyer was heavily strafed When last, seen she was still Japanese vessel of 1000 tons was sunk by Allied bombers near Hansa Bay, .New Guinea. Fighter units sweeping the blew Guinea coast from Wewak to Saran°- harbour destroyed a coastal vessel and four barges. The Japanese barge traffic along the northeast New Guinea coast has been completely disorganised. More than 1000 barges have . been destroyed during the campaign, including 242 in the past three weeks. In announcing the destruction of 1000 enemy barges, General .MacArthur s communique says: The enemy barge traffic one of the Japanese main channels of supply, is now thoroughly disorganised throughout the entire South-west Pacific area. Many of the barges destroyed were large enough to transport upwards of 100 men and were heavily powered, armed and armoured. For the second successive day Allied planes, when maintaining on Monday their relentless attack on Rabaul, in New Britain, encountered no Japanese fighter opposition. There were three raids on Monday in which Allied Solomons-based aircraft drop; ped 13o" tons of bombs on Lakunai and R.apopo aerodromes at Rabaul. There was no fighter opposition. On the New Guinea coast Allied troops continue their mopping-up operations around Saidor. They have accounted for a further 77 Japanese dead.

N.Z. Occupation COMPLETED AT NISSAN.

PACIFIC HDQRS., Feb. 23. The occupation of ,Nissan was completed when forces moving south on both sides of the lagoon converging towards the Catholic Mission met in the area where the Japanese had been, camped. The enemy had moved out, though bivouacs left, showed signs of very recent occupation. The enemy left a considerable quantity of arms and equipment, including 150 rifles, three mortars, 20 mm. automatic anti-tank guns. In addition there were found on. the island of Sirot, six machine-guns, six mortars, thousands of rounds of ammunition, several unopened rubber bags, rice, and also money, soldiers’ packs and haversacks packed and then left, indicating a hurried flight. Obviously the number of Japanese was underestimated in the native reports. The New Zealanders used tanks in support of infantry. The tanks were used very effectively earlier. Patrols had been ferried across the lagoon to suitable ground for an advance, where tanks brushed aside jungle obstacles as they barged slowly, forward over the rough surface. Before the infantry advanced artillery had .plast;ered the area. A feature of the movement was that though the forces employed moved in from opposite sides signallers maintained constant touch and troops navigating the dense bush by compass directions linked up in the exact places and times planned.’ Whether the Japanese escaped from the island _ or went into hiding will be determined by the patrols now being carried out.

N.Z. Units’ Encounter MORE THAN 60 JAPANESE KILLED.

[N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.] N.Z. BATTLE HDQRS. (Pacific) Feb. 23.

More than sixty Japanese were killed by units of New Zealanders at Nissan in a fierce encounter lasting from mid-day to nightfall. Our losses were remarkably light. The Japanese killed included four officers and this is believed to be the last of organisd resistance on Nissan. An area thought clear was being reconnoitered by a party under the command of Captain B Stronach, of Christchurch, for a possible brigade headquarters. The party was resting and bathing when a shot from a sniper revealed the presence of Japanese who had eluded the New Zaland sweep through the island by hidinv in caves and in the jungle. Stronach quickly organised his few men, forming a perimeter and holding off the Japanese until reinforcements arrived.

First on the scene was a platoon .of machine-gunners, then a squadron of tanks. The Japanese-occupied area was heavily pasted with shrapnel. A tank commanded by Sergeant R. H. H. Beetham, of Masterton, rescued one man who had lain on the field of fire for three hours. It was impossible io estimate the Japanese strength. Hidden among the trees, coral, and rock they poured rifle and machine-gun lire upon outmen. Major A. B. Bullen, of Auckland, had arrived with two platoons by 3.30 p.m. and he took command of the action, execuiing an encircling movement which relieved Stronach and his small party and slowly drove the Japanese into a small pandanus grove on the coast. The New Zealanders made the most effective use of hand 'grenades in this move. Though each order brought a rain of lead in his direction Bullen controlled all of the movements bv his voice, shouting above the din, firing, and grenade explosions. With only a quarter of an hour to daylight to finish the job he ordered the final assault, and the men stumbled and lurched over jagged coral rock, and splaying roots, as they ran forward under the cover of our own grenades and rifle fire. Fifty-one enemy dead were counted in the area, eight others were downed by tommygunners as they tried to escape along the coast, and four more were dead v. hen picked up next day. One wounded Japanese killed himself with a grenade. The action proved a stern test of the great qualities of the New Zealapders as jungle fighters. By their boldness and superior skill they, outfought and outwitted the Japanese hi junglle tactics. The men engaged are now receiving the highest praise for courage and. initiative the air cover over Nissan proving remarkably effective. Night fighters shot down bombers near the island.