FOOD PROBLEM

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23257, 19 July 1945, Page 2

FOOD PROBLEM

Growing Own Crops

Bougainville Japanese Official R.N.Z.AT News Service BOUGAINVILLE. July 13. During the five months from May to September, 1944. thousands of Japanese died on Bougainville trom lack of food and from disease resulting from malnutrition. Gardens which have come into production .since then bare saved the enemy from mass starvation. When the Americans lande.'. at PoriLina, Empress Augusta Bay on (member 1. 1943. they quickly estab.shed air and naval lacilitics which ■.liulirely cul off the Japanese Irom ece'.viny outside sunplies by surface dripping’ The beleaguered Solomons ■garrisons were forced to embark on a ..elf-.mtliciencv programme. wnicn made little progress until after April, 1944, when the Japanese abandoned their offensive against the Torokina perimeter. Although at least one crop of rice was harvested on Bougainville before April of last year, it was not until October that supplies of garden produce began to be available in sufficient quantities to supply their forces. As gardens became more extensive and productive, the number of deaths, which in one unit alone passed 3500 in four months, decreased steadily. Since last November the Japanese gardens have yielded ample supplies of vegetables, and these, supplemented by fish and a small quantity of prepared rations, have provided them with a suitable diet. Enemy troops now encountered bv the Australians on all fronts, especially the south, are in good physical condition and do not appear to be suffering from any lack of food. Tire enemy has several thousand acres of gardens under cultivation in South Bougainville. Already he has lost more than 500 acres overrun by the Australians at Taitai. and this will impose a severe strain on the gardens in the Buin area. Continuous attention by New Zealand Corsairs, and the necessity’ to commit more and more troops to battle, are reducing the enemy's ability to tend his gardens and reap and store the crops. Although he may not reach the desperate straits of last year, his food situation is likely to deteriorate steadily.