JAPANESE IN PINCERS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15481, 16 October 1943, Page 3

JAPANESE IN PINCERS

NEW ZEALANDERS’ ACTION ON VELLA LAVELLA. NEATLY EXECUTED OPERATION United Press Assn.— By Eleourlc Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, October 15. The announcement of New Zealanders’ participation in the Pacific fighting for the first time comes a 6 tn© close of a nicely planned and neatly executed operation on Vella Lavella which caught the Jap»»ow* in a* trap, writes Winston Turner, Sydney Sun war correspondent in the Solomons, in a message to the New Zealand Press Association.

The pincers movement by New Zealanders pocketed the J apanese in a live mi.es strip on the northern coast of Vella Lavella, where they were brought under artillery fire ana desperately began an evacuation. The enemy deatliroll on Vella Lavella itseif was not high. At the most, SUOO Japanese troops are estimated as killed or dying at sea when our aircraft, and motor torpedo-boats attacked their evacuation barges. The New Zealanders did well in their first jungle operation, earning commendation from American observers. They should give an excellent account of themselves in bigger operations to come. The commander of th© New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific. Major-General Barrowclough has under his charge elements of the Third Division of th© New Zealand Army, including men who garrisoned Fiji and other islands early in the war. Aftei months of wearisome guard duty on island outposts, tire division, fit and highly trained, was eager to get a smack at the enemy. The division is armed with British weapons, which will enable it to co-operat© with the Australians when General Mac Arthur’s and Admiral Halsey’s drives merge in New Zritain and New. Ire land.