CLASH IN SWAMP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25503, 5 April 1944, Page 6

CLASH IN SWAMP

MEETING WITH JAPANESE GREEK CORPORAL'S HEROISM (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, Apl. 3. Seventeen Japanese were killed in a’ recent clash between a small Australian reconnaissance boating party and- two barge loads of enemy troops. The incident took place in the swamps of Dutch New Guinea.

Outstanding heroism was displayed by a giant Australian-born Greek, Cor-, poral Angelo, Barbouttis, of Townsville, who was killed in the engagement. He -manned a heavy machinegun at' the prow of the Australians’ boat and poured a withering stream of bullets into the Japanese barges at a range of only 30 yards. When the heavy machine-gun was put out of action he seized a Bren and continued firing until it jammed. Then, under point-blank fire from Japanese mortars and machine guns, Barbouttis hurled grenades into the enemy barges.

A war correspondent who reports the clash says: “ Over six feet in height, with a long black beard, his body burned black by the sun, Barbouttis made a terrifying figure. The Japanese fire slackened and the Australians manoeuvred their , boat to safety. Then an enemy sniper picked Barbouttis off from the shore.”

This encounter took place in desolate swamp lands intersected by narrow streams navigable to flat-bottomed boats. The Australians encountered the Japanese head on. Only by a freak of circumstance could the two parties have selected the same channel out of the 1000 miles of waterways in the area.