AMERICAN TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 4

AMERICAN TROOPS

NOUMEA LANDING AID AT CRITICAL TIME (0.C.) NOUMEA, March 12 At noon, a year ago to-day, the first convoy bringing American troops and material anchored in Noumea harbour and started landing operations which thereafter went on day and night ceasingly, transforming New Caledonia into a hive of activity. Governor Henri Montchamp to-day chose the anniversary of this great occasion to refer to Japanese aims and Japanese discomfiture in the South Pacific, while the American commander, Major-Gen-eral Rush B. Lincoln, in a radio address thanking the population for a year of helpful co-operation, explained that whatever ill-advised persons may say, America, tinlike Japan, has no designs on the sovereignty of France in New Caledonia. A Key Role The first American convoy, a special task force under General Patch, arrived in New Caledonia in the critical period following the disastrous actions in the Java Sea, when the invasion of Australia and even of New Zealand seemed possible. Since their arrival this island has played the key role assigned to it. _ . Before the Americans came the island was inadequately garrisoned by 2000 trained French and native troops unequipped for modern warfare, and a local untrained militia partly armed with old-fashioned deer rifles. These forces were aided by 400 veteran Australians scattered in small groups along the bush-clad coast. Many of the Australians, who were commanded by Colonel Matheson, had seen the Crete and Egyptian campaigns. The hardpressed Commonwealth Government wanted the men returned to Australia, but finally the Commonwealth reluctantly agreed to General Patch's request that they remain in the island some months longer to help train his force in jungle tactics. Fine Achievement The Americans' quick dispersal to strategic points round the island was a creditable achievement under unfavourable conditions, for Patch's force encountered the rainy and mosquito season in full swing. There followed busy months occupied with defence and offensive preparations, which included incessant manoeuvres. Eventually it became plain that these preparations were for the Solomons campaign. It was, in fact, General Patch's force which took over from the Marines when General Yandergrift's "leather-necks" were withdrawn. The training Patch's men received in New Caledonia was put to good account when faced with the problem of cleaning up the Japanese on Guadalcanar.

SHARK'S FIERCE FIGHT

SYDNEY BEACH CATCH

SYDNEY, March 18

A 12ft. whaler shark, which had been prowling in a channel on the northern end of Bondi Beach for nearly three weeks, was caught on Sunday afternoon. and hundreds of bathers saw a fierce fight when it was being hauled on to the rocks. The shark had been menacing bathers for some days. On Rtmday morning the shark made a grab at a salmon bait set by fishermen, but it got away. Another line was set with salmon on a large hook, and while thousands of bathers were in the sea on the main surfing beach a short distance away, it swallowed the salmon and the hook. It immediately lashed the water into foam, and for two hours four men fought to land it on the rocks. Frequently they were dashed to the rocks- and their legs and arms were bruised and cut, but eventually they were able to get a rope round its tail. Still lashing the water and hurling itself out of the sea. the shark was hauled on to the rocks.

STORM AT PERTH

MOST SEVERE FOR YEARS PERTH, March 17 The worst storm for several years struck Perth and the near suburban area early on Monday morning. Wind attained a velocity of 70 miles an hour, and reached 58 miles an hour in the city. Eight inches of rain fell at Wandering, 180 miles south-east of Perth, in two days. In the city and suburbs, trees were unrooted, sheds unroofed, and small river craft damaged and lost. Damage was more severe in the country, where houses were unroofed, haystacks destroyed, and roads blocked with fallen trees. At Brookton, 75 miles from the coast, seagulls appeared, blown inland from the sea. Orchards lost large quantities of apples and pears. The Divisional Meteorologist. Mr. Akeroyd. said that such a disturbance was unusual and barometric pressure had been extraordinarily low for the southern areas of Western Australia. CARRIAGE OF GOODS SETTING UP OF TRIBUNAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Thursday The setting up of a tribunal to prescribe and review charges to be made for the carriage of goods, including mails in goods services, is provided for in the Goods Service Charges Tribunal Emergency Regulations, 1943, gazetted to-night. The tribunal is to consist of not more than five or less than three persons to be appointed by the Minister and to hold office duriug his pleasure. In exercising its powers and functions the tribunal shall be deemed to be doing so under and for the purposes of the Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, 1942. The regulation's enumerate what organisations and persons may apply to the tribunal to prescribe, review or alter goods service charges. BUS SERVICES Decisions in connection with several applications which came before him last week were announced yesterday by the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan. As a result of the I authority's decision there will be a great improvement in the bus service for residents in Huapai and adjacent districts. Arrangements have been made for return services to be run to the city during busy periods. The new timetable, said Mr. Phelan in announcing his decision, would be of great value to the districts. An application by Alfred Doidge for improvement of the bus service between Beachlands and the city has been met by the granting of an additional return trip to the city on Saturdays only. Three applications for taxi licences from Otahuhu and Milford were declined ALIENS AND LAND (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Thursday Strong objection to the sale of land in the Pukekohe district to aliens was voiced by Mr. G. T. Parvin at a meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council last night during a discussion on rehabilitation. Later in the meeting a letter from a Hindu was read stating that he had bought land on both sides of a piece of land of an acre and a-quarter dedicated as a road, and asking whether the council would be prepared to lease or sell this property. The borough engineer, Mr. F. H. Turner, stated that the land was of no use as a thoroughfare. On the motion of the Mayor, Mr. M I?. (Jrierson, the question was referred to the Works Committee to investigate. An amendment moved by Mr. Parvin that the council was not prepared to sell or lease the road was not seconded.