SCOUTS’ JUNGLE DARING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 5, 1 October 1943, Page 6

SCOUTS’ JUNGLE DARING

Japanese Tricked EXPLOITS OF GERALDINE CAPTAIN The Allied forces in the jungles of New Guinea would have little chance against the Japanese without the men who are the eyes and ears- of the attacking units, writes Osmar White, correspondent of the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” in the Solomons. Feats of almost, unbelievable daring are being carried out behind (he enemy lines each night and sometimes by day. Here is a typical exploit: — Captain Charles Tripp, of Gerildine, New Zealand, who was in charge of the first commando of Fijian guerrillas, penetrated the Japanese lines on the night of July 12 to spot and plot strongpoints for the artillery.

After some hours’ travelling, he discovered that a Japanese unit had closed behind him, and he was trapped between them and a hilly strongpoint where machineguns and mortars were placed. He crept off into lhe jungle.

Tripp found himself in the middle of a large Ja'panesc group which encircled him, firing rifles and machineguns. He had lost touch with his patrol and decided to do the unexpected thing—to make directly back through the middle of the Japanese encampment. He almost fell into a Japanese machinegun pit. He tried to shoot the crew, but his rifle jammed, so he burled it at the amazed Japanese. He killed one of them with his pistol and ran off and hid till nightfall under a hollow log.

Tripp said: “I spent the time praying for rain, but it was brilliant moonlight. I was right in the middle of a Japanese bivouac. “Our artillery shelled it. I could hear the shells coming, but wasn’t too worried. “The Japanese knew I was there and threw grenades at me, but missed. “I kept on the move and found myself near a Japanese in a foxhole. I waited till he went to sleep, and again moved. “Then two more Japanese in a foxhole saw me.

“One of them leapt out and seized me by the shirt while the other tried to shoot me with his rifle.

“The bullet glanced off my cartridge clip and hit the cigarette lighter in my breast pocket, glancing down and nicking my wrist. Tlie powder scorched my chest. “I shot' both Japanese with my pistol and ran off. I realized the only way to get out was to pretend that I was a Japanese. “I stood upright and walked among the foxholes, making as much noise as possible. “Several times I trod on men, and they cursed me, but none fired and no one challenged me. “I could see them cooking food under their shelters on little snirit lamps . “Once clear of the bivouac areas the rest was simple. I came home the next morning.” Tripp immediately returned into the enemy country.