WIPED RIGHT OUT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 19, 18 October 1943, Page 6

WIPED RIGHT OUT

New Zealanders Kill Party And Capture Barge (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) ADVANCED PACIFIC BASE, October 4. The capture of a large Japanese barge and killing of its entire personnel of 13 has been one of the most spectacular events of the New Zealanders’ initial contact ■with the enemy in the Pacific. The barge, powered with a three-cylinder Diesel engine, was apparently used for carrying men, munitions and rations to isolated Japanese garrisons in the Northern- Solomons. A patrol from a combat team commanded by a former New- Zealand Staff Corps officer of Wellington, now serving with the N.Z.E.F., sighted a party of Japanese in the north-western -bay of the island on which the New Zealanders were operating. This party, was busy cutting and camouflaging an entrance to a mangrove swamp large enough to accommodate a fairy big craft. The investigating force discovered a 60-foot barge cunningly concealed and well armed with machineguns at the bow and stern. The barge was also heavily sandbagged on top and at the sides of the bridge. The New Zealanders split into three parties, one to cover - the barge from a distance, one to capture the craft and the third to cut off enemy personnel who had been seen moving on -the shore toward the native village. . The barge -boarding party encountered no opposition and manned the enemy guns. The outflanking party, chasing 10 Japanese, was interrupted by fire from a Japanese occupied canoe in the centre of the bay. However, the main Japanese party became alarmed and took to the water, where all were killed. The occupants of the canoe reached the shore, but later were surrounded at the base of a tree and all were killed after a short ■exchange of fire. The barge was later towed to headquarters, where it is the object of considerable interest. It is the first major prize to fall to the soldiers of the New Zealand Pacific Division.