JUNGLE PATROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 4

JUNGLE PATROL

AMERICANS ON BOUGAINVILLE CLASH WITH JAPANESE (0.C.) BOUGAINVILLE, Dec. 23. In a 15-day patrol, during which they penetrated 32 miles into Japanese territory by the roughest of native trails, a group of four officers and 50 men of the 37th United States Army Division returned to their lines in good physical condition save for insect bites and a few cases of sore feet, heat rash, and ringworm. The route they took was the NumaNuma trail to Ibu, a native village barely 10 miles from the main enemy defence line, and their main adventure was an encounter, with a Japanese patrol of 12 men, of whom they killed 10 and wounded one without loss to themselves. This success was due in great measure to the loyal natives who served them as guides and were the first to reveal the enemy's presence. The encounter took place on the last day on the narrow trail just north of the Laruma River, a few miles from the American front lines.

The Japanese dead were examined, and it is estimated that they had been out for several weeks. Although their clothing and equipment were so torn as to be practically unserviceable, they did not appear to be emaciated, although native foods were found *in their packs.

At one time a mountain stream rose two feet while-the patrol was fording it, and many men narrowly escaped drowning. Another time the patrol, after reaching its objective of Ibu, which overlooks Japanese positions, was within a two-hour march of two largd concentrations of enemy The party was supplied with rations by aeroplanes, which dropped food on the narrow ridges of interior Bougainville. Parachutes were not used. Extra shoes were also supplied in this way, as it was 'known that the new shoes the patrol started out with might get worn out in a six-day period.