FOUGHT FIERCELY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 18, 16 October 1943, Page 5

FOUGHT FIERCELY

Earlier Report Of Enemy Resistance (Ofiicial War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) ADVANCED PACIFIC BASE, Oclober 1. In their first action against Japanese troops, the 3rd New Zealand Division are holding the full initiative despite the fact that they are operating in atrocious weather conditions, and have been exposed for one night and a day in sustained torrential rain. The New Zealanders are closing in on the remaining Japanese in the north-west corner of the Solomons island on which they are fighting, and the two formations are now less than five miles apart. Though the troops in one area are temporarily held up by stiffening enemy resistance, other New Zealanders arc moving forward and making faster progress against little opposition. They are steadily pushing forward. It is impossible to estimate with accuracy I lie strength of the enemy forces or the number of their casualties, but their losses are steadily, mounting. The Japanese are well established in defensive positions on the coastal strip where planes apparently drop, supplies nightly. The enemy is using rifles, light machineguns and knee mortars. Approximately 90 Japanese who were attempting to escape from a New Zealand trap by moving in a north-easterlv direction were