BIZARRE BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 2 September 1942, Page 5

BIZARRE BATTLE

STORY BY EYE-WITNESS

SURPRISE FOR INVADERS CLASHES IN THE JUNGLE Sydney, Aug, 31. The first eye-witness account of the Allied victory at Milne Bay came from the only war correspondent on the spot, Walter Lucas, of the London “Daily Express.” Mr Lucas was in the Milne Bay area when the enemy attack began. He stayed there until Sunday morning when he returned to the Australian The first phase of the battle he reports consisted of an attack by a swarm of Zero fighters which pounced down from low clouds on patrolling Kittyhawks. This sally cost the Japanese five planes. The same evening Japanese landed on the north-east coast. Mr Lucas attached himself to a tough Australian patrol. He said: “Land units mov'd in complete silence with troops manoeuvring stealthily for position in dense jungle a few miles from the landing point. It was a bizarre battle. I reached Australia on Monday without having seen a single Japanese. I heard much bombing and saw much air activity, but apart from artillery explosions and sounds of machine-gun fire I saw no signs of land fighting.” Mr Lucas says: “The Japanese evidently did not expect to meet with resistance. The first landing party, comprising about 500 troops, brought ashore medium tanks and three-inch mortars. They started down a track towards Gili Gili, the soldiers chattering and laughing. They received a shock when about 400 yards down the track an Australian patrol opened fire The tanks immediately switched on searchlights while the troops disappeared into the jungle on each side of the tracks. The party had native guides. LANDING BARGES DESTROYED “On the second day our Air Force was very active. Bombers destroyed nine landing barges and set fire to supply dumps, while fighters strafed tree tops for snipers and dropped anti-per-sonnel b ,mbs. Three enemy tanks were destroyed in desultory jungle clashes. The enemy was compelled to retired next night. Japanese warships revsited the bay and inffectually shelled the jungle for three to four hours and departed after landing further men and supplies.

“Meanwhile,” continued Mr Lucas. “Japanese troops in the jungle came to life in patrol clashes and advanced, and Australian units often found them selves cut off. The Japanese used the old tricks in the jungle blackness in order to advance Commands were shouted in perfect English and one Australian unit almost fell into a serious ambush. It was war against an almost invisible army. Short sharp bursts of machine-gun fire were the only sounds breaking long periods of silence, giving the whole battle a macabre quality.

“One Japanese cruiser and eight destroyers were seen approaching through torrential rain on Saturday afternoon. During Saturday night no sound was heard excent the occasional burst of gunfire. Not a single light shone in our lines rid smoking was forbidden. It was certain death to wander in the darkness. Dawn revealed the bay cleared of ships, while early morning

reconnaissance showed no enemy anywhere.” According to Mr Lucas Australian casualties are not likely to be high. The enemy appeared to take most of their dead and wounded with them. Probably the e;)emy cruiser and destroyers arrived to extricate the Japanese land forces from a position they regarded as untenable.” —P.A.